TC 402: Introduction to Scientific and Technical Editing
Instructor: Natasha N. Jones
Contact Information: Email jonesnn@u.washington.edu or in-person Sieg 429
Time and Location: Tuesday and Thursday 10:30am to 12:20pm in Loew 219
Textbooks:
Carolyn D. Rude, Technical Editing, Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon,
2006. (Fourth edition)
Chicago Manual of Style, 15th ed., Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press,
2003.
Amy Einsohn, The Copyeditor’s Handbook, University of California Press,
2000 (First edition)
It is also wise to invest in a good dictionary to use throughout the quarter for your
editing projects and assignments.
Objective: To prepare students for technical editing in the workplace, while providing
practical experience and a theoretical framework for their practice. More specifically,
after completing this course, students should be able to:
 Develop an understanding of editing and its role in document development,
publication, and use
 Mark a document using the established symbols and conventions
 Learn how to use an editorial standard
 Know the function of style sheets for a document and know
how to create and use a style sheet
 Increase mastery of grammar, mechanics, punctuation, and spelling
 Edit documents and illustrations for correctness, consistency, and accuracy
 Edit documents for style and organization
GRADED ASSIGNMENTS
Assignment
Grammar Quiz
Editing Assignment 1
Midterm Exam
Editing Assignment 2
End of Qtr Quiz
Editing Assignment 3
Participation
Due Date
April 6
April 15
April 27
May 11
May 27
June 8
Weekly
Weight
10%
10%
15%
15%
20%
20%
10%
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010
Note: Assignments must be turned in at, or before the beginning of class (10:30 am on
class days) on the day that they are due. Late assignments are absolutely not accepted. I
do not grant “extensions,” nor do I offer “make ups.”
PARTICIPATION
Your attendance in this class is expected and necessary. It is also imperative to attend in
order to participate in class activities and discussions. You will not be graded based on
your attendance. However, participation (or the lack thereof) will affect your grade.
Active participation in class discussions, in-class workshops, and GoPost discussions will
also factor into your participation grade.
GOPOST
I will some of your assignments on GoPost. In addition, I will post additional readings
and supplemental exercises to help you prepare for assignments and examinations. You
will also be asked to use the GoPost discussion forum as an extension of classroom
participation. You will need to make at least one INSIGHTFUL post per week. This can be
questions or comments about class discussions, interesting ideas, or any other
contributions related to technical editing. GoPost counts toward your participation
grade and participation on GoPost is required!
CLASS SCHEDULE
Date
Class topic
March 30
Course introduction
Key concepts and
definitions
Grammar introduction
April 1
Introduction to standard
copy markup and
copyediting
Grammar Review Today!
Readings due
Assignments due
Rude: Chs. 4 & 7
CMOS 2.92-2.103
Lecture will include
punctuation!
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010
April 6
Editing for consistency,
style manuals, and style
sheets
Rude: Chs. 8 & 9
As necessary: Chs
10 & 11
Introduce Editing
Assignment #1 (due on
April 15th)
Lecture using
Einshohn Chpt on
Style Sheets (pg47)
April 8
Guest Lecturer: Anya
Luke-Killam, Fred
Hutchinson
April 13
Editing quantitative
references
Visuals and Figures
Editing Tables
April 15
Einsohn Chpt 10 for
Lecture
Grammar Quiz
Quiz includes
punctuation
Rude: Ch 12
CMOS: Ch 14
Rude: pp 205-211
CMOS: Ch 13
April 20
Proofreading and Final
Checks
Rude: Ch 13
CMOS: Ch 3
April 22
Relations with Authors
Discuss Midterm
Rude: Ch 3
April 27
Midterm Exam
Editing
Assignment #1
Due Today!
Midterm Review
Midterm Exam
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010
Marking Digital Copy /
XML
Guest Lecturer: Paul Foy,
Microsoft
April 29
Rude: Ch 5
Introduce Assignment #2
(due on May 11th)
Meet in the computer lab
On-Screen Editing
May 4
Rude: Ch 6
Meet in the computer lab
May 6
Class Canceled
May 11
Developmental
(Comprehensive) Editing
May 13
Visual Design Editing
Illustrations
Rude: Chs 14, 15,
16, & 17
Editing
Assignment #2
Due Today!
Rude: Chs 18 & 19
CMOS: Ch 12
Legal and Ethical Issues in
Editing
May 18
Introduce Editing
Assignment #3 (due on
June 8th)
Rude: Ch 22
CMOS: Ch 4
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010
Language and Cultural
Issues in Editing
May 20
Editing and the Workplace
Possible Guest Lecturer:
TBA
Rude: Ch 20
Meet in the computer lab
May 25
Project Management
May 27
End of Qtr Quiz Today!
June 1
Rude: Ch 24
End of Qtr Quiz
Review
End of Qtr Quiz
Work on Final Editing
Assignment in HCDE Lab
Meet in the computer lab
Work on Final Editing
Assignment in HCDE Lab
June 3
Meet in the computer lab
Course Evaluations
June 8
Finals Week—No Class
Editing
Assignment #3
Due Today!
(Catalyst Dropbox
by 12:00pm)
DEPARTMENT POLICIES
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010
Please read the following policies for students registered in TC courses regarding
student rights, plagiarism, and the TC human subjects pool:



Student rights:
https://intranet.uwtc.washington.edu/public/docs/student_rights_policy.php
Plagiarism:
https://intranet.uwtc.washington.edu/public/docs/plagiarism_policy.php
TC Human Subjects Pool: http://www.uwtc.washington.edu/research/hsr/
Students registered in TC courses are part of the TC Human Subjects Pool, which means
that they may be asked to participate in research studies. Because participation in
research studies is voluntary, students who do not wish to participate will be offered an
alternative assignment.
Instructor: N. Jones
TC 402
Spring 2010