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SENECA COLLEGE OF APPLIED ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF ENGLISH AND LIBERAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF COMMUNICATION, ART AND DESIGN
SUBJECT OUTLINE
SUBJECT CODE: PRWR 3720 3.0
SUBJECT TITLE: Fundamentals of Editing
SEMESTER: Fall 2012
APPROVED BY:
__________________________________
Andrew Schmitz, Chair
School of English and Liberal Studies
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FACULTY OF LIBERAL ARTS AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES
WRITING DEPARTMENT
Course AP/PRWR 3720 3.0 - Fundamentals of Editing
Term Fall 2012
Course Instructor
Brooke Smith
416-764-3829
brooke.smith@rci.rogers.com
Course Consultation Hours See instructor to make an appointment.
Course Time and Location
Lectures:
T 3131
Wednesdays 3:20 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Expanded Course Description
This course introduces students to the range of editing activities that are required in the production of
periodical journalism. It 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 lectures by the instructor as well as in-class exercises and student participation.
Course Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to do the following:
• recognize the range of activities involved in editing words for print;
• 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 guide;
• copyedit onscreen;
• understand basic concepts of magazine layout, graphics and typography;
• demonstrate the ability to apply theory to practice in the context of case studies; and
• develop their ability to discuss and write about resource development issues.
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Course Text / Readings
Additional readings may be assigned or recommended during the course.
• The Canadian Press Stylebook, 16th edition (CP)
• Canadian Oxford Dictionary, 2nd edition (paperback)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Weekly Schedule
Sept 5
Introduction to the course / What is copyediting? / Reference books and sources /
Exploratory language quiz
Sept 12
Types of editing / Introduction to copyediting symbols / In-class exercises using copyediting symbols
Sept 19
Readings: CP, Singular or Plural, p. 395–397
Grammar review: parallel structure, verb agreement, who/whom, that/which
Sept 26
***** NO CLASS *****
NOTE: 4 classes will be extended by 30 minutes to make up for this class.
Oct 3
Readings: CP, Punctuation, p. 378–394
Punctuation: commas, colons, semicolons, dash, hyphen, quotation marks, apostrophe
Copyediting Quiz
Oct 10
Style guides / Creating a style guide / Style issues
Copyediting Assignment Distributed
Oct 17
Readings: CP, Abbreviations and acronyms, p. 253–259; Capitalization, p. 268–291;
Metric, p. 315–321; Numbers, p. 335–339; Trade Names, p. 415–416; Words, p. 421–440
Correct word usage / Style issues / Spelling
Oct 24
Structural editing
Copyediting Test
Revision Assignment Distributed
Oct 31
***** NO CLASS *****
Co-curricular Day
Nov 7
Structural editing / Onscreen editing
Copyediting Assignment DUE
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Nov 14
Parts of a magazine / Layout, graphics, typography / Magazine production process
Revision Assignment DUE
Nov 21
Review for in-class exam
Nov 28
In-class Exam
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Course Evaluation
The final grade for the course will be based on the following items weighted as indicated:
Copyediting Quiz (Oct 3)
15%
Copyediting Test (Oct 24)
20%
Copyediting Assignment (Nov 7)
25%
Revision Assignment (Nov 14)
10%
Participation
10%
In-class Exam (Nov 28)
20%
Grading, Assignment Submission
Lateness Penalties and 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)
* If an alternative number grade/percentage system is used for assignments or tests, it must be fully
described in the course outline.
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 (Faculty name) section of the
Undergraduate Calendar: (provide web link to calendar description of this option for the Faculty
offering the course)
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. Assignments are to be handed in (specify how, where and when if this information
was not provided in the Description of Assignments above).
Lateness Penalty: Assignments received later than the due date will be penalized (State penalty: e.g.,
one-half letter grade (1 grade point) per day that assignment is late). Exceptions to the lateness penalty
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for valid reasons such as illness, compassionate grounds, etc., may be entertained by the Course
Instructor but will require supporting documentation (e.g., a doctor’s letter).
Missed Tests: Students with a documented reason for missing a course test, such as illness,
compassionate grounds, etc., which is confirmed by supporting documentation (e.g., doctor’s letter)
may request accommodation from the Course Instructor. (State accommodation arrangement: e.g.,
allowed to write a make-up test on xx date.) Further extensions or accommodation will require students
to submit a formal petition to the Faculty.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Provide a brief description (e.g. field trips, special lab session, special tutorials), dates, times, required
materials or preparation, any fees or costs, etc.
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
For online course outlines, simply include the following statement and weblink. If paper copies of the
course outline are distributed, a copy of this information should be appended to the course outline in
place of this statement.
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
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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.