Editing II: Stylistic and Structural

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
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Print Guideline
Course
PRFU 2330
Discontinued
Yes
Course code
PRFU 2330
Descriptive
Editing II: Stylistic and Structural
Department
Print Futures
Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
201710
PLAR
Yes
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
30
Contact hours
2 hours lecture per week 2 hours seminar per week
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Learning activities

The course will use a combination of lecture, discussion, individual work, and group work, with emphasis on hands-on editing of documents.

Course description
This course develops an understanding of the processes involved in structural and stylistic editing. Students will assess and edit material for content, structure, style, readability, and marketability. They will also look at the structural/stylistic editor’s role in the publishing process, and become more familiar with the editor’s role in scheduling and production. Students will apply editing and business skills to communicate with others and produce professionally presented, edited materials.
Course content
  1. Editing
    Successful students will:
    • examine the various relationships an editor has with a writer and/or client, including
      • editor as teacher
      • editor as assistant
      • editor as publisher
      • editor as censor
      • editor as manager
    • examine the editorial demands of various writing genres and publication formats
    • practise methods for editing various materials for style, organization, substance, grammar, and length
    • discuss and practise methods for rewriting print and electronic materials
    • use the copyediting and proofreading skills acquired in PRFU 1230
    • evaluate documents for content, structure, style, readability, and marketability
  2. Working With Writers and Clients
    Successful students will:
    • discuss purpose, approach, organization, style, sensitivities in pre-writing stage
    • discuss revisions for substance, organization, style, and grammar on various types and lengths of manuscripts
    • apply editing and business skills to communicate with others and produce professionally presented, edited materials
    • estimate the time an editing project will take
    • contrast and compare editorial issues and tasks involved in different kinds of projects, such as Web sites, books, magazines, literary journals, newsletters, brochures, and instruction manuals
  3. Editing and Production
    Successful students will:
    • practise creating a production timeline for print and/or Web material
    • look at the structural/stylistic editor’s role in marketing and promotion
    • communicate clearly and effectively with others involved in a project
    • become aware of the tasks involved in managing different kinds of projects
    • proof written materials to check for errors, omissions, type consistency, and other irregularities
    • edit, rewrite, produce, and present a complex print or Web document
Learning outcomes

Using standard editing tools and techniques, students will practise restructuring and rewriting complex documents for readability, style, substance, and grammatical accuracy. They will develop an understanding of the role of the editor in a variety of written genres and publication formats, and become more familiar with the scheduling and production of print and electronic documents.

Means of assessment

Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.

Evaluation will be based on this general format:

Short editing assignments (3) 20%
Major assignments (2) 40%
Final exam 25%
Professionalism (as defined) 15%
  100%

 

Textbook materials

Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students

Textbooks may include:

Editors’ Association of Canada. Editing Canadian English. 2nd ed. Macfarlane, Walter & Ross, 2000.

Prerequisites

PRFU 1230 or permission of the coordinator