Intermediate
60 mins
Teacher/Student led
+65 XP
Pupils work on their own device

Advanced Text Formatting: Professional Headline Colour

Learn to apply one professional colour and at most one light text effect to a newsletter headline. Understand that more formatting does not always mean better design. Practise selecting appropriate finishes and critiquing over-the-top styles on Word Online and Google Docs.

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    1 - Introduction ~5 mins

    Today you will

    • make a short practice page with a headline
    • give the headline one calm colour
    • put the same finish on your newsletter headline

    Illustration for IntroductionYou can use Word Online or Google Docs today.

    Warm-up

    Think of a title you saw this week, like a shop sign or a club poster. Did the styling help you read it, or did it slow you down?

    2 - Key Concepts ~6 mins

    For text colour, you pick one deep colour for the headline, like navy, instead of black.

    A light effect is one soft shadow. Only add it if your app clearly shows Text Effects.

    Restrained design means using less than your app can do. Your body text stays plain.

    Example: same words, two looks

    • Restrained: The headline uses Heading 1 and one navy colour, and nothing else.
    • Over the top: The headline has rainbow colours, an outline, a glow, underline and capitals all at once.

    3 - Step-by-step Task ~15 mins

    You will make a short practice page and give its headline one professional colour. Watch your teacher first, then follow the steps in the box below.

    Copy all three lines of this text into your new page:

    Pedal Fix Galway: Weekend Repair Clinic

    Bring your bike to the community hall on Saturday between 10am and 2pm for a free safety check.

    Our volunteer mechanics fix punctures, brakes and gears while you wait.

    Tip

    If you don't see Text Effects, you are finished after colour. That is a full pass.

    4 - Common Issues ~4 mins

    Common issues

    • The whole page changed colour. Press {{kbd:Ctrl+Z}} (or {{kbd:Cmd+Z}} on a Mac), then select only the headline and try again.
    • I can't find Text Effects. That's fine, because one colour on a heading is a full pass.
    • My headline looks too loud. Pick a darker, calmer colour.
    • The body text changed. Select it, then set the style to Normal and the colour to black.

    5 - Independent Practice ~20 mins

    Independent Practice

    Your goal: Give your newsletter headline the same calm finish as your practice page.
    Time: ~20 minutes
    Task: Keep your practice page open, then:
    1. Open your newest newsletter file. Its name starts with {{code:sm1_doc2_newsletter}}.
    2. Make a copy named {{code:sm1_doc2_newsletter_v3}} in {{code:09_specialism/sm1/}} and work in the copy. In Word Online, use {{menu:File -> Create a Copy -> Create a copy online}}. In Google Docs, use {{menu:File -> Make a copy}}.
    3. Select only the big title at the top.
    4. Give it one professional colour, and at most one light effect.
    5. Check the body text is still plain black.

    No newsletter yet? Save your practice page as {{code:sm1_doc2_headline_practice_v1}} instead.

    Success criteria:
    • Only the main headline is styled.
    • I used one colour and at most one effect.
    • The body text is plain.
    • My file is saved in {{code:sm1}} with the right name.
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