Instructor: Dr. Neil P. Baird
Office: Simpkins Hall 326
Phone: (309) 255-7103
Email: np-baird@wiu.edu
Spring 2016 Office Hours:
Monday, 11:00-12:00
Wednesday, 9:00-10:00
Thursday, 11:00-1:00
ENGLISH 483.001 – EDITING & REVIEWING
Editing and Reviewing as Acts of Negotiation
“Copyeditors always serve the needs of three constituencies:
the author(s) – the person (or people) who wrote or compiled the manuscript
the publisher – the person or company that is paying the cost of producing the
printed material
the readers – the people for whom the material is being produced.”
–Amy Einsohn, The Copy Editor’s Handbook
“[Copyeditors] must think outside the rules. To copyedit is to confront an endless series
of problems, great and small.”
–Carol Fisher Saller, The Subversive Copyeditor
“It’s a creative job that should improve the quality of copy between writer and reader.”
–Karen Judd, Copyediting: A Practical Guide
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
In this course, you will learn about the field of professional editing. As the quotes above suggest,
you will come to understand professional editing as a creative act of negotiating language
problems between writers, publishers, and readers. In doing so, you will develop your skills in
the areas of copyediting and proofreading by applying professional copyediting techniques to
real manuscripts. As you work on real manuscripts, you will further develop your ability to solve
style, mechanical, and grammar problems.
CORE QUESTIONS:
You can expect to leave this course with emerging responses to the following questions:
1. What are the differences between copyeditors and proofreaders?
2. What are the best practices and procedures for successful copyediting?
3. What are successful strategies for managing relationships between writers, publishers, and
readers?
4. What are the rules for style, grammar, and mechanics, and when is it appropriate to think
outside these rules?
5. How can you best position yourself for successful careers in editing and reviewing?
REQUIRED TEXTS:
 The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate
Communications by Amy Einsohn (3rd Ed., ISBN: 0520271564)
 The Subversive Copyeditor by Carol Fisher Saller (ISBN: 0226734350)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (AT A GLANCE): In addition to the careful reading of
course texts and substantial participation in classroom discussion expected at this level,
this course will require the following:




Class Participation
Editing Exercises
Tests
Professional Editing Project
o Initial & Updated Prospectus
o Project Reviews
o Final Editing Project
o Transmittal Sheet
GRADING SUMMARY:
Class Participation
Editing Exercises
Tests
Professional Editing Project
Total
Letter
A
B+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
200 Points
150 Points
300 Points
350 Points
1000 Points
Point Range
1000-900
899-870
869-830
829-800
700-770
769-730
729-700
699-600
599-0
COURSE REQUIREMENTS (DESCRIBED):
1. Class Participation: Actively discuss our readings and activities, in small and large
groups. Write a self-evaluation in weeks 6 (75 points) and 15 (125 points).
2. Editing Exercises: Editing exercises will give you opportunities to put into practice
copyediting procedures as wells as practice the style, grammar, and mechanical
rules you will be learning.
3. Tests: You will take four tests, the final of which will be cumulative. These tests
model the editing tests often given in job interviews for professional editing and
reviewing positions.
4. Professional Editing Project: Copyedit a manuscript for a client outside of class.
You will propose your professional editing project through an initial prospectus
and update your prospectus after meeting extensively with your client. A draft of
your professional editing project will be reviewed by your peers before final
submission.
COURSE POLICIES:
Catalogue Description:
ENG 483 Editing & Reviewing (3). Theory and practice of editing and reviewing
documents. Focus on helping peers or colleagues improve their writing.
Prerequisites:
ENG 380: Introduction to Professional Writing, or permission of instructor.
Attendance:
Even though you should not miss any classes at this level, you are allowed to miss
three class sessions for any reason; after this, your final grade for the course may
be reduced by three points for each class missed. For example, if your final grade
averages 91%, missing four classes will reduce this to a final grade of 88%.
Arriving late and leaving early only disrupts the class, so make every effort to
arrive before class starts and remain until class ends.
Late Work:
No late work will be accepted. If you know you are going to miss class, make
arrangements to turn in work that is due ahead of time.
Student Decorum:
This course requires ethical and professional conduct, which includes academic
integrity, collegiality in class, and professionalism when dealing with the
community as part of course activities. Academic integrity violations will result in
a failing grade for the assignment and possibly the course. Refer to the following
for WIU’s policy on academic integrity:
http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php.
Students with Disabilities:
In accordance with University values and disability law, students with disabilities
may request academic accommodations where there are aspects of a course that
result in barriers to inclusion or accurate assessment of achievement. To file an
official request for disability-related accommodations, please contact the
Disability Resource Center at 309-298-2512, disability@wiu.edu, or in 143
Memorial Hall. Please notify the instructor as soon as possible to ensure that this
course is accessible to you in a timely manner.
University Writing Center:
The University Writing Center is available to assist you with general and specific
questions on writing assigned in any discipline and at any academic level,
assisting with generating ideas, talking about global-level issues such as
organization, and even working through grammatical problems. The University
Writing Center is located in Malpass Library (3rd floor, west side) and in satellite
centers in Simpkins, Bayliss, and Tanner. Call for an appointment (309-298–2815)
and be sure to bring a copy of your assignment.
Course Calendar: Formal notice will be given if any changes to the calendar need to be made. Einsohn =
The Copyeditor’s Handbook. Saller = The Subversive Copyeditor
1/20
Course Introduction
1/22
Introductions
1/25
What Copyeditors Do
Einsohn, p. 3-23
1/27
Einsohn, p. 23-28
1/29
The Subversive Copyeditor
Saller, p. 3-11
2/1
Basic Procedures for Copyediting
Einsohn, p. 29- 39
2/3
Einsohn, p. 39-56
2/5
The Good Launch
Saller, p. 13-22
2/8
Working for the Reader, Through the Writer
Saller, p. 23-30
2/10
Working with Difficult Writers
Saller, p. 31-53
2/12
No Class – Lincoln’s Birthday!
2/15
Style Editing: Punctuation
Einsohn, p. 71-93
2/17
Einsohn, p. 93-116
DUE: Initial Prospectus
2/19
DUE: Exercises A & B (Einsohn, p. 117-20)
2/22
Style Editing: Spelling & Hyphenation
Einsohn, p. 121-45
2/24
DUE: Exercises C & D (Einsohn, p. 146-50)
2/26
The Dangerous Manuscript
Saller, p. 59-70
DUE: Participation Self-Evaluation #1
2/29
Style Editing: Capitalization
Einsohn, p. 151-63
3/2
DUE: Exercises E & F (Einsohn, p. 164-70)
3/4
Style Editing: Numbers and Numerals
Einsohn, p. 171-91
3/7
DUE: Exercises G & H (Einsohn, p. 192-95)
3/9
Style Editing: Abbreviations, Acronyms, & Symbols
Einsohn (p. 216-33)
DUE: Exercise J (Einsohn, p. 234-41)
3/11
TEST #1
3/14
No Class – Spring Break!
3/16
No Class – Spring Break!
3/18
No Class – Spring Break!
3/21
Importance of Word Processors and Deadlines
Saller, p. 71-90
DUE: Updated Prospectus
3/23
Style Editing: Tables, Graphs, & Art
Einsohn, p. 243-70
3/25
DUE: Exercises K & L (Einsohn, p. 271-73)
3/28
Style Editing: Quotations & References
Einsohn, p. 196-212; 274-94
3/31
DUE: Exercises I (Einsohn, p. 213-15) & M (Einsohn, p. 295-96)
4/1
Style Editing: Front and Back Matter
Einsohn, p. 297-306
DUE: Exercise N (Einsohn, p. 307-08)
4/4
Managing Relationships
Saller, p. 91-102
4/6
No Class – College Composition and Communication Conference!
4/8
No Class – College Composition and Communication Conference!
4/11
Style Editing: Type Coding
Einsohn, p. 309-28
4/13
DUE: Exercise O (Einsohn, 329-31)
4/15
TEST #2
4/18
Language Editing: Grammar
Einsohn, p. 335-56
4/20
Einsohn, p. 356-68
4/22
Einsohn, p. 369-76
4/25
Beyond Grammar
Einsohn, p. 377-404
4/27
Einsohn, p. 404-20
4/29
TEST #3
5/2
DUE: Draft of Professional Editing Project
5/4
Seeking Copyediting Positions
Saller, p. 103-19
5/6
DUE: Project Reviews
5/9
TEST #4: 10:00-11:50 (Room TBD)
DUE: Participation Self-Evaluation #2
5/12
DUE: Transmittal Sheet & Professional Editing Project by Noon