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Help in using Writing for University Courses
This page covers the following:
1 Technical information
2 Using Writing for University Courses off-campus
3 Information on accessibility
4 Using Writing for University Courses
1 Technical information
Writing for University Courses will run on all standard Sheffield
Hallam University computers (i.e. all computers in the Learning Centres,
CIS computer rooms, staff computers).
If you wish to use Writing for University Courses on any other
computer (i.e. a home computer, non-standard computers in specialist
areas in Departments/ Schools/Faculties), it needs the following.
1.1 Recommended Browser Settings
Writing for University Courses only runs on Microsoft Internet
Explorer 5.5 or above. For a list of browser accessibility features (e.g.
for people with disabilities), make sure the browser title bar is active
by clicking anywhere in the browser window, then press the F1 key. The
Internet Exporer help system will open. Select the 'Contents' tab from
the left-hand window, then select 'Accessibility'. Close the help
system when you have finished using it.
We recommend that you alter the Microsoft Internet Explorer Internet Options
settings as follows:
Select Internet Options from the Tools drop-down menu in Internet Explorer:
Select the Advanced tab and tick both options underneath the Accessibility
heading as follows:
1.2 Recommended Screen Settings
Writing for University Courses is designed for use on university
computer settings of a minimum screen resolution of 800
by 600 pixels, in thousands of colours. If you are working on an off-campus
computer please note the minimum settings required. You can increase
and decrease the text size by selecting 'Text Size' from the View menu
in the browser as follows:
1.3 Using the QuickTime Player
controls
When you access a page in Writing for University Courses that
contains video, you will need to click on the image to watch the video.
The QuickTime player controller bar will be displayed under the video
clip. The controller bar will also be displayed when listening to 'Audio
only' versions of the video clips. The QuickTime player controller bar
consists of:
- volume control
- play/pause
- slider - which can be dragged to jump to other parts of the video clip
- step back
- step forward
- QuickTime settings
2 Using Writing for University Courses off-campus
You can access Writing for University Courses (http://universitywriting.shu.ac.uk)
from any computer on campus at Sheffield Hallam University (go to the
Student Home page, click on Key Skills, then on Writing for University
Courses).
If you are a student or member of staff at Sheffield Hallam University,
you can also access Writing for University Courses off campus
(e.g. at home) by inserting your user name and log-in in the dialog box
which will appear.
3 Information on accessibility
This information is for those who need to use access keys instead of
a mouse.
Below is given a list of all the access keys used in Writing for
University Courses. Please refer to your browser's accessibility
guidelines for use of the ACCESS KEY feature, as it varies from browser
to browser. Also note that some older browsers may not support this feature.
List of Access Keys:
Alt+1 = Topic Menu
Alt+2 = Main Menu
Alt+3 = Help
Alt+4 = Contents List
Alt+5 = Definitions
Alt+6 = Print Guide
Alt+7 = Advice
Alt+8 = Practice
Alt+K = go to page content
Alt+N = go to menu on the page (navigation list)
Alt+L = link to larger practice exercise - on practice pages
Alt+A = go to link for audio only versions of video clips
Alt+T = go to links for transcript only versions of video clips, or to
text only versions of media
Alt+P = go to link for printing the content on transcript pages
Press the ENTER/RETURN key after pressing access keys to go to the
required location.
Further accessibility instructions:
If you are using the 'Tab' key to navigate (i.e. to move from one link
to the next), continue pressing the 'Tab' key until you reach the point
you need, then press the 'Enter' key.
4 Using Writing for University Courses
4.1 Navigation
Use the following links at the top of each page in the site to navigate.
- Main Menu - will take you to the Writing for University
Courses
Main Menu
- Topic Menu - will take you to the menu for the main topics: Main
Rules of Written English; Punctuation; Use of Words.
- Contents List - this will take you to a list of all the pages in
Writing for University Courses. Use this to find a particular item.
Once in a topic or section, use the Menu at the left of the page to navigate.
The following links are also always available at the top of each page
of Writing for University Courses.
- Definitions - this opens a pop-up window listing some possibly
unfamiliar terms used in Writing for University Courses.
- Help - will bring you to this help page.
- Print Guide - opens a pop-up window giving advice on how to print.
4.2 Moving between Practice and Advice
Each topic consists of Practice and Advice
sections. Guidance on using these is available on each of the topic menus
(i.e. Main Rules of Written English; Punctuation; Use of Words).
When in the topics, the tabs in the top left corner of the page allow
you to move between Practice and Advice.
Practice and Advice links also appear
within examples and exercises.
4.3 Examples
Writing for University Courses makes much use of examples.
To make clear the difference between examples of appropriate or correct
usage, and examples of incorrect usage:
• throughout Writing for University Courses any examples
of incorrect usage are marked with an asterisk (*) before them.
4.4 Printing
Writing for University Courses cannot save your work.
You will lose your responses to any activities:
- if you exit a Self Test or Skill Check while using Writing
for University Courses
- if you completely exit the whole of Writing for University
Courses.
You are therefore strongly advised to print any work you wish to keep,
as you go along.
Generally, you can print any page by going to File in the top browser
tool bar and clicking on Print.
There are a few exceptions. Here you will see a Print icon within the
page (e.g. some Practice exercises). If you find that
your printed page omits the right hand edge of the page on screen, then
print it in landscape (i.e. prints a wider page). You do this by: go
to File on the top browser tool bar; click on Page Setup; click on landscape,
click OK. Then click Print. Remember to go back to Page Setup and click
on Portrait to return to normal.
4.5 Saving your work
Writing for University Courses cannot save your work. As soon
as you exit it you will lose any responses to exercises. If you exit a
Self Test or Skill Check while using Writing for University Courses,
you will lose your responses.
You are therefore strongly advised to print or save any work you wish
to keep, as you go along.
You can save any page by:
- click on Print Screen
- open Word
- click on the paste icon on the top browser tool bar or press Ctrl+V
- save as a Word document.
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