Course Title: Refine editing skills

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2019

Course Code: COMM7307

Course Title: Refine editing skills

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5314 - Diploma of Professional Writing and Editing

Course Contact: Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925-4815

Course Contact Email: mctafe@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Course teacher:
Melissa Cranenburgh
melissa.cranenburgh@rmit.edu.au

Course coordinator:

Stephanie Holt

stephanie.holt@rmit.edu.au

 

Nominal Hours: 120

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This course covers the knowledge and skills required to apply advanced editing skills to a range of texts in different media.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

VU20278 Refine editing skills

Element:

1. Appraise the suitability of written material for a specific purpose or readership

Performance Criteria:

1.1    Broad characteristics of the readership and the publication are clarified

1.2    Length, structure and focus are evaluated against the requirements of the intended readership and the publication

1.3    Quality of writing is assessed in terms of basic editing required

1.4    Promotional aspects of the publication are identified

 

 

Element:

2. Liaise closely with the author and/or client to make all significant substantive editing decisions.

Performance Criteria:

2.1    Appraisal of text is discussed with author and/or client to establish broad editing approach 

2.2    Actions necessary to achieve a complete and coherent text are established in outline

2.3    Questions of balance are addressed where necessary and any legal issues identified.

2.4    Broad action plan and the roles of the writer and editor are clarified.

Element:

3. Undertake substantive editing of a text

Performance Criteria:

3.1    Text is restructured and reworded where necessary and material added or deleted 

3.2    Paragraphing, emphasis and lists are added if necessary to help readers scan the text.

2.3    Headings and other labelling devices are added where necessary with attention to relevance, logical grading, consistency and appropriateness

3.4       Supplementary material is added where required

Element:

4. Undertake editing of the style of the text

Performance Criteria:

4.1    Language is edited for consistency, appropriateness and clarity

4.2    Reading level, terminology and formality of language are edited to render them appropriate to publication and readership

4.3    Punctuation and grammar are checked for consistency and adherence to determined protocols

4.4    Conventions for quoting material are maintained throughout

Element:

5. Edit for completeness and consistency

Performance Criteria:

5.1    Parts of the text are edited for consistency and internal integrity

5.2    Cross-references and links are checked for accuracy and completeness

5.3    Screen-based publications are tested for performance and usability

5.4       Format and layout are checked against any design specifications and checked for consistency


Learning Outcomes


You will be able to work independently and collaboratively to edit different kinds of text at a professional level and across a range of media.


Details of Learning Activities

Online modules contain weekly instructional material, including quizzes, videos, readings and suggested activities relevant to current focus week to week. Regular intensive classes throughout the semester provide further support, discussion and class-based learning activities. A structured folio of editing tasks allows students to develop and apply their skills and receive detailed feedback. A weekly scheduled drop-in session provides additional support.


Teaching Schedule

 

Week

Teaching and learning focus

Assessment due

1

English language convention:
Grammar and punctuation terminology

Editing process and practice:
What does an editor do?

 

Orientation class
Week 1

Navigating the weekly online instruction, work requirements and course pages

 

Week 2

English language convention:
Sentence structure

Editing process and practice:
What is ‘correct’ English?

Week 2 online test

Saturday class 1
Week 2

English Language Conventions:
Sentence structures 2

Editing Process and Practice:
Making style choices and creating a stylesheet
Editing Folio (Assessment 2) intro

 

Week 3

English language conventions:
Sentence structure 1

Editing process and practice:
What is ‘editorial style’?

Week 3 online test

Week 4

English language conventions:
Punctuation·, Variations in style 1

Editing process and practice:
Creating and following editorial briefs·    
Identifying what will make a publication successful for its audience and purpose

Week 4 online test

Week 5

English language conventions:
Complex sentence punctuation
Variation in style 2

Editing process and practice:
The author–editor relationship·
Managing project expectations

Week 5 online test

Saturday Class 2
Week 5

Manuscript assessment - substantive edits
Managing projects and documents
Digital markup in word (styles, tracked changes and comments)
Editing project

 

6

Structure and substance:
Constructing strong paragraphs

Editing process and practice:
Author queries
Effective feedback

Week 6 online test

Editing folio:
2a.1 original text

2a.2 publication and audience summary sheet

Upload to Canvas

C/NYC

7

Structure and substance:
Text structure

Editing process and practice:
Legal issues 1

Week 7 online test

8

Structure and substance
Assessing content

Editing process and practice
Legal issues 2

Week 8 online test

Editing folio:

2b.1 Substantive edit (tracked word doc.)

2b.2 Editorial report

Upload to canvas
Substantive edit: Graded 15%
Editorial report: C/NYC

Week 9

Copyediting and proofreading:
Sentence structure

Editing process and practice:
Assessing house style and voice

Week 9 online test

Saturday Class 3
Week 9

Copyediting and proofreading:
Hardcopy copyediting markup symbols and technique

Editing Process and Practice:
Giving feedback
Substantive editing meetings

 

10

Copyediting and proofreading:
Complex sentence punctuation

Editing process and practice:
Professional standards

Week 10 online test

Editing folio:
2c.1 Substantive edit (tracked word doc.) 

2c.2 Email to author

Email both to author and upload to Canvas

Complete/Incomplete

11

Copyediting and proofreading:
Common word errors (pronouns, confusing word pairs, compound words, hyphenation)

Editing process and practice:
Working with a style sheet throughout a project

Week 11 online test

Completion of online test series: Graded 20%

12

Copyediting and proofreading:
Plain English and clarity through word choice    
Diversity and cultural sensitivity

Editing process and practice:
Assessing sources and resources

Editing folio:

2d.1 Copyedit of revised author text (tracked word doc.)

2d.2 Draft stylesheet (Word doc)

Upload to canvas
Copyedit: Graded 15%
Stylesheet: Complete/Incomplete

13

Copyediting and proofreading:
Format, visual elements and cross-references·   
Screen-based performance issues

Editing process and practice:
Issues specific to online content editing

 

Saturday Class 4
Week 13

Copyediting and proofreading:
Proofreading technique (hardcopy and digital with pdfs)

Editing Process and Practice:
Copyediting meetings

 

14

Copyediting and proofreading:
Practice tasks and revision

Editing process and practice:
Editing project reflection

Editing folio:
2e.1 Final copyedit (tracked Word doc)

2e.2 Final stylesheet (Word doc)

Upload both to Canvas
Email both to author
Copyedit: Complete/Incomplete
Stylesheet: Graded 10%

15

Revision and folio completion

Editing folio:
2f Report
Graded 20%

Saturday Class 5
Week 15

Proofreading test
Where to from here?

Week 15 proofreading test
Graded 20%

16

Revision and resubmission if required

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment is on-going throughout the course. Assessment will incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of knowledge and skills and will include:

  • participation in written exercises, in class and online
  • the application of learned skills and insights to the editing of  writing tasks.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment 1: Weekly Tests

A series of 10 online tests, due in weeks 2-11 (Monday following)
Due: midnight on 22 July, 29 July, 5 August, 12 August, 19 August, 26 August, 2 September, 16 September, 23 September, 30 September.

Weighting for grading 20%

 

Assessment 2: Editing Folio

A series of writing, analysis, editing and copyediting tasks in which you will act as writer, substantive editor and copyeditor in sequence. On completion, you will write a reflective report.

Folio completion due: 3 November

Weighting for grading: 60%

 

Assessment 3: Proofreading test

A test of proofreading skills of varied kinds, accompanied by final revision and checking questions.

Test: October 26

Weighting for grading: 20%


Assessment Matrix

Assessment matrix is available on request.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview