MS—word processing
 

(Open only to members in grades 5-9 who have affiliated middle level division.)

Word Processing challenges members to demonstrate their proficiency in using word processing software to create, edit, format, and produce professional documents. Through a production test, members apply essential skills used in academic and workplace settings.

Event Overview

Division: Middle School
Event Type: Individual
Event Category: Production
Event Elements: Production Test
Production Test Time: 1 hour, due by date specified in the SLC Registration Packet
Educational Alignments

Items Competitor Must Provide: Computer for Production Test, Printed Production Test Reference Guide, Attire that meets the Florida FBLA Dress Code
Items FBLA Provides: Production Test Tasks

Knowledge Areas

· Personal & Business Letters

· Press Release

· Meeting Agendas & Minutes

· Itinerary

· Memos

· Report Title Page

· Table of Contents

· Works Cited

Production tests are based on the knowledge areas and competencies outlined for this event. Detailed competencies can be found in the study guide included in these guidelines.

State

Eligibility

• FBLA membership dues are paid by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on February 1 of the current program year.

• Members must be registered for the SLC and pay the state conference registration fee to participate in competitive events.

• Members must stay within the official FBLA housing block of the official FBLA hotel block to compete.

• Each chapter may submit one individual or team in this event.

• Members may only compete in an event at the SLC more than once if they have not previously placed in the top 10 of that event at the NLC. If a member places in the top 10 of an event at the NLC, they are no longer eligible to compete in that event, unless the event has been modified beyond a name change. Chapter events are exempt from this procedure.

• Only competitors are allowed to plan, research, prepare, and set up their presentations.

• Each competitor must compete in all parts of an event for award eligibility.

·         If competitors are late for a production test, they may be either disqualified or permitted to begin late with no extension of the time as scheduled.  If competitors are late for a presentation time, they may be disqualified or placed later in the schedule.  The decision is solely up to the judges.

·         Participants must adhere to the Florida FBLA dress code established by the Florida Board of Directors or they will not be permitted to participate in the competitive event.

Recognition

·         The number of competitors will determine the number of winners. The maximum number of winners for each competitive event is 4.

Event Administration

o   This event consists of a one-hour production test that is proctored and completed prior to the State Leadership Conference at a site designated by the District Director.
o   Competitors will complete a set of tasks aligned to the event knowledge areas and competencies.

o   Submission Deadline: Production problems must be uploaded in the conference registration system by the date specified in the SLC registration packet.

o   The production test is administered and proctored by a faculty or staff member at a designed school-site prior to the SLC. Administration procedures for the production test are determined by the state chair/adviser.

o   The production test is a set of tasks based on the competencies for the competitor to complete.

o   Documents produced for this event must be prepared by the competitor without help from the adviser or any other person.

o   The Production Test Reference Guide, available on the Competitive Events section of the FBLA website (www.fbla.org), may be used during the test.

Scoring

·         The event will be scored by a rating sheet provided to the judges.
·         The event will be judged prior to the State Leadership Conference.
·         All judging decisions are final. Results announced at the State Leadership Conference are considered official and will not be changed after the conclusion of the State Leadership Conference.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

·         FBLA complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing reasonable accommodations for competitors. Accommodation requests must be submitted through the conference registration system by the official registration deadline. All requests will be reviewed, and additional documentation may be required to determine eligibility and appropriate support.

Penalty Points

·         Competitors may be disqualified if they violate the Competitive Event Guidelines or the Honor Code.

Electronic Devices

·         Unless approved as part of a documented accommodation, all cell phones, watches, electronic devices, and headphones must be turned off and stored away before the competition begins. Visible devices during the event will be considered a violation of the FBLA Honor Code.

National

If you are competing on the National level, be sure to see the National guidelines at https://www.fbla.org/collegiate/competitive-events/

Study Guide: Knowledge Areas & Competencies 

A. Related Application Knowledge 

  • Use the Production Test Reference Guide to create miscellaneous documents.  

  • Use a word processing program to create a document with headers and footers. 

  • Create, modify, and format tables (e.g., insert and delete rows and columns, merge cells and change height and width). 

  • Create bulleted list, numbered lists, and outlines. 

  • Create and use folders to keep documents organized (e.g., move, copy, rename, and delete files and folders). 

  • Insert special symbols or characters into a document. 

  • Insert the date and time into documents, both as an updatable and no changing date. 

  • Create and edit a document formatted in columns. 

  • Describe and explain when to and how to use leader tabs. 

  • Cut, copy, paste, and paste special using the clipboard. 

  • Create envelopes and labels. 

  • Use spell and grammar check in composing documents. 

  • Use the thesaurus to find synonyms. 

  • Copy and move text, using various cut and paste methods (e.g., keystrokes, mouse, menu options, and toolbar). 

  • Insert, change, and format page numbers. 

  • Use the Undo, Redo, and Repeat command. 

  • Use save and save as for name, location, or format of document. 

  • Create and apply frequently used text with AutoCorrect. 

  • Use the AutoComplete feature. 

  • Insert and modify tables, diagrams, and charts. 

  • Insert breaks. (Page, Section, Column, etc.) 

B. Advanced Applications 

  • Create and manipulate graphics (e.g., add color, rotate, resize, and crop). 

  • Insert and modify hyperlinks in all types of documents. 

  • Produce documents using appropriate style from a style library.  

  • Insert, position, and size objects into a document (e.g., pictures, images, text boxes, watermarks, diagrams, and charts). 

  • Use collaboration features and manage comments by inserting, modifying, deleting, tracking, accepting, and rejecting. 

C. Document Formatting Rules and Standards 

  • Edit and create documents that use the document and paragraph alignments of left, center, right, and justify. 

  • Set character, line, and paragraph spacing options such as single, 1.5 and double space and special spacing before or after the paragraph. 

  • Use indentation options (e.g., left, right, first line and hanging). 

  • Add borders and shading to tables, paragraphs, and pages using a variety of borders and shading in color and patterns. 

  • Create and use horizontal and vertical lines of various types and sizes to separate and emphasize. 

  • Change the margins for a selection or section of the text and/or a document (e.g., left, right, top and bottom).  

  • Change a document to use landscape orientation. 

  • Enhance documents by using different fonts, font sizes, and features such as bold, italics, caps, and underline.  

D. Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Proofreading 

  • Proofread documents to ensure correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation. 

  • Preview a document prior to printing. 

  • Edit documents using techniques such as delete, insert, move, and copy. 

  • Use the find/search and replace feature to edit a document. 

E. Printing 

  • Set printer specifications (e.g., choose printer, select page range, and number of copies).  

  • Demonstrate how to save or export a document as a PDF or other file format. 

  • Print in landscape and portrait orientations. 

  • Prepare/print envelopes and labels. 

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The Study Guide represents all knowledge areas that may be covered in the production test.