ENG 483G: Professional Editing

Department of English & Journalism • Western Illinois University
Spring 2008 • Simpkins 119 • T Th, 9:30–10:45am
Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English

Contact information

Email: cb-dilger@wiu.edu
Mailbox: Simpkins 122, M–F 8:00am–4:30pm
Office: Simpkins 217, 309.298.2212 (hours tentatively T W Th 2:00–3:30pm)
Home: 309.836.1454 (before 9 pm; please leave a message)
Course web: http://faculty.wiu.edu/CB-Dilger/s08/483/

Objectives

Through careful reading, re-reading, collaborative work, class discussion, practice editing, and service learning, you will learn the following:

• Standard theories, practices, and conventions of professional editing, such as copyediting marks, style sheets, and editing terminology;

• Techniques for ensuring regular, accurate editing, such as multiple-pass editing, style sheet generation, bubble queries, and use of reference material;

• Methods for determining the amount and type of editing necessary for a document, given time constraints and audience, from light to comprehensive (substantive) editing and revision;

• How to use a style manual such as the Chicago Manual of Style, the Associated Press Stylebook, or the MLA Guide to Scholarly Publishing;

• How to identify and correct common shortcomings of English grammar and style;

• Common conventions for “nuts and bolts” elements of writing, such as punctuation, capitalization, spelling, enumeration, and abbreviation;

• Best practices for tracking editing work, for communicating with clients as a professional editor, and for managing editing projects.

Expectations

• Read this syllabus carefully and abide by all of its policies, in letter and spirit.

• Purchase and carefully read our course texts: Amy Einsohn, The Copyeditor’s Handbook (2/e), U of California P (ISBN 0-520-24688-8); course pack from Quickprinters (1120 E. Jackson, 309.833.5250).

• Plan for at least five hours of work outside of class every week.

• Come to class ready to discuss all the assigned readings and the current assignment. Take notes in class, and review your notes to ensure your progress.

• Speak up. Ask questions. Seek my assistance with the readings and your projects. I am easy to contact and willing to help you almost any time.

• Manage your time effectively. Begin assignments well in advance of due dates.

Assignments

Detailed assignments which divide assignments into milestones are available on the course web site.

1. Vulture portfolio (VP). Editing and developing style sheets for “found” documents. 200 points.

2. Leland essay (LE). Edit one of the winning essays in the Leland Essay Contest. 100 points.

3. Semester project (SX). An individual editing project involving experiential learning, including the production of materials related to professional editing. 350 points.

4. Final examination. Comprehensive; mixed format (short answer and essay). 100 points.

5. Class participation. Evaluated twice: weeks 1–6 (50 pts), weeks 7–15 (100 pts). 150 points.

6. Reading quizzes or notes. Required any week readings are assigned. 100 points.

Course policies

• Accommodations for special learning needs are gladly given. Contact me ASAP.

• Attendance and active participation are required. Under-prepared students may be asked to leave class. Reading and bringing course texts is part of preparation.

• Ethical and professional conduct is required: academic honesty, collegiality in class, and professionalism when dealing with the community as part of course activities.

• Feedback from you regarding the course is welcome at any time. Contact me, put a note in my mailbox, or speak to Dr. David Boocker, my department chair.

• Grading uses a 1,000 point system based on powers of ten: A=100–90, B=89–80, etc. Keep all graded assignments. Keep track of your grades.

• Milestones and drafts are graded with check-plus (100%), check (85%), check-minus (70%), or U (0%). If you receive a U grade, you must resubmit your work for regrading, and you will earn no higher than a check-minus. See the course web site for a detailed explanation of grading policies.

• Late work is not accepted unless you have prior permission from me.

• Your privacy is important to me. I don’t want to know your WIU or Social Security numbers.

WIU policies

In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. For the instructor to provide the proper accommodation(s) you must obtain documentation of the need for an accommodation through Disability Support Services and provide it to the instructor. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations (i.e. fire, tornado, etc.) should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2512 for additional services.

It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites for a course that he/she plans to take. Instructors who place the appropriate information on the syllabus and emphasize it during the first three class periods may exclude a student from the class who does not meet the prerequisites/corequisites by sending a note to the student with a copy to the registrar within the first two weeks of the term.

Course schedule

Please see the course web site for a more detailed, up-to-date schedule. Class will not be held Feb 12 or Apr 3.

Bradley Dilger, Associate Professor of English, Western Illinois U
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