ATAR Notes: Forum
VCE Stuff => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE English Studies => Topic started by: Roger Luo on October 03, 2020, 01:35:14 pm
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So I have the GAT soon and I think because of this COVID year, my handwriting skills are really bad. Do you guys know how you have fast but actually readable handwriting? Firstly, should I start to practice handwriting, if so what should I focus on, cursive print or D'Nealian.
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So I have the GAT soon and I think because of this COVID year, my handwriting skills are really bad. Do you guys know how you have fast but actually readable handwriting? Firstly, should I start to practice handwriting, if so what should I focus on, cursive print or D'Nealian.
Instead of trying to focus on learning a new style, see if you can work on your own handwriting.
Maybe try to write a bit bigger/more bubbly, that helps me make sure my writing isn't unintelligible. Also spacing out letters and words a bit wider helps make sure it doesn't look compressed. When I try to write cursive, all the letters tend to become longer and thinner (idk if this is the case with you too).
In the GAT give yourself ample time for each writing task so you don't freeze up and start writing faster/more messily than you're used to. (maybe 45 minutes for each piece?)
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So I have the GAT soon and I think because of this COVID year, my handwriting skills are really bad. Do you guys know how you have fast but actually readable handwriting? Firstly, should I start to practice handwriting, if so what should I focus on, cursive print or D'Nealian.
Hey there Roger,
When focusing on legibility and functionality, it's important to just find what's best for you. Cursive may be quicker but if your assessors can't read it, you won't be able to be marked. D'Nealian is the Australian manuscript handwriting standard - but you don't need to follow it perfectly. Everyone has individual and unique handwriting styles and if you think yours is illegible, I would recommend practicing and experimenting with letter spacing, print and block, the angle, and the way you connect your letters (for example, does the connection between your A and E change the readability of the word? Can you tell the difference between your I and L, F and Z?)
I would also recommend checking out your preferred fonts in Word or Google Docs. You could take some tips on the shaping of letters from standard fonts.
All the best with your practice - and remember you'll be okay. You may surprise yourself with just how legible your script is :)
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So I have the GAT soon and I think because of this COVID year, my handwriting skills are really bad. Do you guys know how you have fast but actually readable handwriting? Firstly, should I start to practice handwriting, if so what should I focus on, cursive print or D'Nealian.
A bit late, but I agree with everyone who's replied! Legibility is the name of the game here, and what works for one person might not work for another. That said, there are overriding principles for legibility - one is making sure that your words have enough space between them for your reader to recognise they are separate words, another is making sure that your ascenders and descenders (the tops of the t and the tails of g, for example) are occupying the same level in the lines. I explain it in more detail here: https://youtu.be/LzAnpzo7no8
If you're really struggling with legibility and need to improve quickly, my recommendation is to write big - even if it's the same level of messiness, at least if it's bigger you have a greater chance of being clearer.