How to Copy and Paste

Many students have spent long, concentrated effort to complete online worksheets, only to lose all their answers when the computer freezes or some other disaster happens. When they get back online, they have to start all over with the worksheet. This does not make them happy.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to copy your answers, and save them into a word processing document. Even if you're not worried about getting kicked off the computer, power outages, computer freezes, or any of the multitude of crises that can hit you, it's a good idea to save your answers anyway. If your instructor says she never got your submission, you can go back to your answers, fill them in again, and resubmit.

First you need to have a word processing program open (besides your browser window with the assignment).
Type in the name of the class and the assignment title or number at the top of the document.
Now go back to the assignment webpage. You can move between windows by clicking on the appropriate rectangle at the bottom of your screen. (If you're working on a Mac, stagger the windows by dragging them around the screen, so that you can see the second screen peeking out from behind.)
Answer the question on your assignment sheet.
Highlight this answer by clicking and dragging your cursor across the answer.

Here's an example of a question answered:

And here's that same answer highlighted: highlighted answer

Now that you have it highlighted, you need to COPY the answer. The final step will be to PASTE the answer into your word processing document.

screen capture of the COPY option under the EDIT tab

While you're still in the Browser program,

click on the EDIT tab at the top of your screen.
From the list that drops down, highlight COPY and let go.

Now click into your word processing program (remember the rectangles at the bottom of the screen, or your staggered windows on a Mac).

Once again click on the EDIT tab at the top of the screen.
This time, highlight PASTE.

If the PASTE choice isn't in bold letters, available to choose, then you haven't COPY'd correctly. Go back to the browser screen, rehighlight your answer, and choose COPY from the EDIT menu. When you come back to the word processing program, the PASTE choice will be bolded and available.

screen capture of the PASTE option under the EDIT tab

This process works the same going the other way, also. You can compose your answers first in the word processing program, then copy and paste those answers into your assignment.

Here's a picture of my word processing document again. The top paragraph is the one I pasted in from my assignment. The second paragraph has been composed in answer to another question. I've typed in what I want to say, then clicked the cursor at the beginning of the paragraph and dragged to the end of the paragraph, highlighting the whole thing.

Once you have it highlighted, you'll have to COPY it, then place your cursor where you want it, then PASTE IT.

While you are still in the word processing software, click on the EDIT tab from the menu across the top of your screen.
Highlight COPY

Copy option from the word processing program

placement of the cursor in the answer box

paste option in the browser

Now click back into the browser software, to the assignment website.

Click your cursor into the box where you want your answer to be pasted.
Click on the EDIT option at the top of the screen.
From the list that drops down, highlight PASTE.

Your answer should magically appear in the box.

Copy and paste might seem like a clumsy, time-consuming process at first, but in the end, it can save you hours of time and frustration. It can also help you keep a record of everything you submit in your online courses. If you have any questions, please let me know, by e-mailing me at disted@gavilan.edu.