Course

Professional Editing

Faculty
Language, Literature & Performing Arts
Department
Communications
Course code
CMNS 3200
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 weeks
Max class size
30
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Seminar
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course develops professional competency in proofreading, copy editing, and structural and stylistic editing, including the process by which editors work with content creators (writers, groups, and organizations). Students are expected to have a good understanding of English grammar and usage.
Course content

1. Editing Fundamentals

Working with documents on screen and on paper, students will

  • learn how copy editing, proofreading, and stylistic editing differ from each other and from other types of editing
  • edit documents for spelling, grammar, readability, clarity, and appropriateness
  • check material for general accuracy and consistency of content
  • perform structural and stylistic edits of material, retaining the substance, voice, and intent of the original
  • edit material for bias, stereotyping, libelous statements, and sensitivities of the reader
  • learn how to use a selected conventional style (for example, Canadian Press style)
  • use standard copy-editing symbols and electronic markup (for example, track changes)
  • simplify editing notation for different audiences (for example, designer, author, client)
  • become familiar with basic editing tools, including style sheets
  • become familiar with basic legal issues involved in editing, including copyright and permissions
  • develop the skills required to present editorial feedback in an effective, professional way
  • examine the relationship between the writer and the editor in the creation of documents

 

2. Editing for Standards of Grammar and Usage

Students will

  • examine the functional importance of standardization and its limitations
  • become more familiar with Canadian English standards of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage
  • compare English, American, and Canadian language conventions
  • examine different style manuals, usage manuals, and other reference books
  • research and present grammatical concepts in easy-to-understand language
  • become aware of language that leads to bias, stereotyping, and insensitivity

 

3. Editing and Production

 Students will

  • become familiar with the role of editors in the production and publishing processes
  • learn which type of changes are appropriate at different points in the production process
  • use standard proofreading symbols, tools, and techniques to indicate changes in page proofs

 

Learning activities

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

Instructors may use a student’s record of attendance and/or level of active participation in the course as part of the student’s graded performance. Where this occurs, expectations and grade calculations regarding class attendance and participation will be clearly defined in the Instructor Course Outline.

Assessment will be based on course objectives and will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.

Example evaluation schedule:

 

Short editing assignments 25% 
Two major editing assignments 40%
Presentations 10%
Final exam 20%
Attendance/professionalism/participation  5%
Total 100%

 

 

 

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this course will

  1. acquire an understanding of the historical development of the editing process
  2. apply editorial theory in their professional practice
  3. edit documents for readability, style, substance, grammatical accuracy, and appropriateness for different audiences
  4. learn and use standard copy-editing and proofreading symbols
  5. practise techniques for copy editing, proofreading, and structural and stylistic editing (on paper and on screen)
  6. practise documenting and communicating editing decisions in an effective, professional way
  7. learn how to use a variety of software in the editing process
  8. develop an understanding of the editor’s role in the scheduling and production of print and electronic documents
Textbook materials

A list of required textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester. Example texts include:

  • coursepack of required readings
  • Canadian Press Stylebook (current edition)
  • Caps and Spelling (current edition)
  • a rhetorical grammar text such as J. Williams, Style (current edition) 
     

Requisites

Prerequisites

Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication 

OR

A minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher

OR

Permission of the Professional Communication Program Coordinator

Corequisites

None

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CMNS 3200
Simon Fraser University (SFU) No credit
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CMNS 3XXX (3) or TRU JOUR 3XXX (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit

Course Offerings

There are no course offerings this semester.