SENECA COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
SUBJECT CODE: PWR 372 (York U: PRWR 3720)
SUBJECT TITLE: Fundamentals of Editing
SEMESTER: Fall 2012
APPROVED BY: __________________________________
Andrew Schmitz, Chair
School of English and Liberal Studies

FACULTY OF LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
Writing Department
Professional Writing Program
COURSE: PWR 372 (AS/PRWR 3720) – Fundamentals of Editing
TERM: Fall 2012
PRE-REQUISITE/CO-REQUISITE: Please refer to York’s department calendar.
COURSE INSTRUCTOR: Jeannine Maxfield jeannine.maxfield@senecacollege.ca office: T3110
COURSE TIME AND LOCATION: Mondays: 2:30-5:10; T3131
Course consultation hours: Mondays: 5:15-6:00; Wednesdays: 2:30-3:30 or by appointment
EXPANDED COURSE DESCRIPTION
“Fundamentals of Editing” introduces students to the range of editing activities that are required in the production of periodical journalism.
The course is designed to familiarize students with the process of editing, with a focus on copyediting, especially as it relates to magazines. Students will learn how the three Cs — correctness, consistency and clarity — apply to copyediting. They will refine their knowledge of grammar, usage and punctuation and become more proficient in editing comprehensively for matters of content, length and layout. As part of this process, they will become familiar with problems of style, organization and emphasis, as well as the necessity of understanding the human dimension of any solutions. Some attention will be given to matters of typography and the use of graphics, and the course will also touch on the ethical and legal aspects of editorial work.
Organization of the Course
The course involves a combination of formal lectures, discussion and practice. The lectures are designed to familiarize students with the concepts, tools, guidelines and issues that will be central to their work as editors. The discussion and practice components provide students with an opportunity to apply and examine, in depth, the material presented.
Course Learning Objectives
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the task of copyediting, while familiarizing them with the broad range of editorial activities and attendant functions involved in the process of editing words for print.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to
• draw upon their knowledge of grammar, usage and punctuation in order to produce correct, clean,
concise and readable copy;
• apply editorial rules for handling numbers, abbreviations, capitalization and so on;
• use and interpret standard copyediting symbols;

• evaluate the appropriate reference resources for solving typical editorial problems;
• develop a style sheet;
• copyedit onscreen;
• recognize the range of activities involved in editing words for print;
• understand basic concepts of magazine layout, graphics and typography, and create heds and deks
for magazine articles.
REQUIRED COURSE TEXTS
• The Canadian Press Stylebook, 16 th edition by The Canadian Press
• A Canadian dictionary (e.g., Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2 nd edition)
Supplementary handouts and practice exercises to be provided on a weekly or biweekly basis.
EVALUATION
The final grade for the course will be based on the following items weighted as indicated.
Copyediting Symbols Quiz 10%
Grammar/Punctuation Test
Copyediting Test
Revision Assignment
Copyediting Assignment
15%
20%
20%
15%
20% Final In-class Test

TENTATIVE WEEKLY SCHEDULE
PWR 372 (PRWR 3720) – Fall 2012
Professor Jeannine Maxfield
4
Oct. 1
5
Oct. 15
6
Oct. 22
7
Oct. 29
WEEK
1
Sept. 10
2
Sept. 17
3
Sept. 24
TOPIC READING
 Course introduction
 What a copyeditor does and does not do
 Reference books and resources
 Copyediting symbols
 What to look for
 Grammar review:
subjects and verbs
pronouns
parallelism
active and passive voice
modifiers
 Punctuation:
commas
semicolons
colons
hyphens
dashes
 Correct word usage
 Redundancy
 Spelling
 Avoiding bias
 Capitalization
 Abbreviations/acronyms
 Numbers



Style guides
Style issues
Creating a style sheet
 Handouts
 Handouts
 CP 378-394
 Handouts
 CP 421-440
 CP 18-24
 Handouts
 CP 268-291
 CP 253-259
 CP 335-339
 Handouts
 Handouts
ACTIVITIES/
ASSIGNMENTS
 Exploratory
Language Quiz
 In-class exercises using copyediting symbols
 In-class copyediting exercises
 Copyediting
Symbols Quiz
 In-class copyediting exercises
 Grammar/
Punctuation Test
 Copyediting
Assignment handed
out

10
Nov. 19
11
Nov. 26
12
Dec. 3
WEEK
8
Nov. 5
9
Nov. 12
TOPIC
 Author/editor relations
 Substantive editing and
cutting to fit
 Parts of a magazine
 Magazine production process
READING
 Handouts
 Typography
 Layout/graphics
 Legal matters
 Onscreen editing
 Exam review
 Final in-class test
 Handouts
 CP 235-245
ACTIVITIES/
ASSIGNMENTS
 Copyediting Test
 In-class exercise
 Copyediting
Assignment due
 Revision Assignment handed out
 In-class exercise
 In-class exercise
 Final In-class Test
 Revision
Assignment due

GRADING, ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION, LATENESS PENALTIES, MISSED TESTS
Grading
The grading scheme for the course conforms to the 9-point grading system used in undergraduate programs at York (e.g., A+ = 9, A = 8, B+ - 7, C+ = 5, etc.). Assignments and tests will bear either a letter grade designation or a corresponding number grade (e.g. A+ = 90 to 100, A = 80 to 90, B+
= 75 to 79, etc.) (For a full description of York grading system see the York University
Undergraduate Calendar - http://calendars.registrar.yorku.ca/pdfs/ug2004cal/calug04_5_acadinfo.pdf)
Students may take a limited number of courses for degree credit on an ungraded (pass/fail) basis.
For full information on this option see Alternative Grading Option in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Assignment Submission
Proper academic performance depends on students doing their work not only well, but on time.
Accordingly, assignments for this course must be received on the due date specified for the assignment and handed in during class sessions. Tests are to be completed within class time.
Lateness Penalty
Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized (by a reduction of a half letter grade per school day). Exceptions to the lateness penalty for valid reasons, such as illness or compassionate grounds, may be entertained by the Course Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s note).
Missed Tests
Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness or compassionate grounds, which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s note), may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. (An arrangement may then be made for the student to complete the missed test or quiz at Seneca’s Test Centre.) Further extensions or accommodation will require students to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
All students are expected to familiarize themselves with the following information, available on the
Senate Committee on Curriculum & Academic Standards webpage (see Reports, Initiatives,
Documents) - http://www.yorku.ca/secretariat/senate_cte_main_pages/ccas.htm
• York’s Academic Honesty Policy and Procedures/Academic Integrity Website
• Ethics Review Process for research involving human participants
• Course requirement accommodation for students with disabilities, including physical, medical, systemic, learning and psychiatric disabilities
• Student Conduct Standards
• Religious Observance Accommodation

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR SENECA PRWR STUDENTS
SENECA COLLEGE ACADEMIC REGULATIONS
As a student of a PRWR course, you are also a student of Seneca College. It is therefore your responsibility as a student of Seneca College to be aware of and abide by the academic and behavioural policies outlined in the Seneca College Academic Policy and the Student Handbook.
Here are some key policies:
ACADEMIC HONESTY (Section 9 and Appendix E – Academic Policy)
“Engaging in any form of academic dishonesty to obtain any type of academic advantage or credit is an offence under this policy and will not be tolerated by the College. “The penalty for a first academic honesty offence is a grade “0” on the work in which the offence occurred, and will result in a comment being placed on the transcript by the Academic Honesty Committee. The penalty for the second academic honesty offence is an “F” in the subject where the offence occurred, a second comment on the transcript and suspension from the College for a time period determined by the
Academic Honesty Committee, normally for a minimum of three (3) semesters.”
For more information on Academic Honesty go to: http://library.senecacollege.ca.
STUDENT APPEALS
Students must keep all assignments (including drafts and outlines) and exercises until they have received their final grade. No appeal will be considered unless a complete file is submitted at the time of appeal. A lost assignment is no excuse. If a student disagrees with the evaluation of an assignment or with a final grade, s/he must first discuss the matter with the professor in an attempt to resolve the disagreement. If the matter is not resolved, at this point the student should go to the
Chair of Seneca’s School of English and Liberal Studies. If the matter cannot be resolved, the student will be asked to take the appeal to York’s Professional Writing Program Office at 301
Calumet College and submit a Grade Reappraisal Form.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY AND PROTOCOLS
See the Student Handbook. Faculty and students are reminded that College correspondence should only be disseminated electronically through official College-provided e-mail. Alternate e-mail addresses, such as Yahoo mail or Hotmail mail, are not authenticable through Seneca.
COPYRIGHT – See the Student Handbook
“It is illegal to photocopy textbooks and other copyrighted materials (e.g. graphics from a web site).
Copyright information is available at http://library.senecacollege.ca …”
STUDENT RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES – See the Student Handbook
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT – See the Student Handbook
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the
College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Resolution, Equity and Diversity Centre.