Course

Syllabus CM305 EDITING

COURSE INFORMATION CM305 Editing (3 credit hrs.) :: Spring 2012 2:30-3:20 MWF :: Mohler 204 Bruce Clary, Instructor :: Mohler 201 claryb@mcpherson.edu 242-0531 COURSE DESCRIPTION Study and experience in many aspects of editing, with an emphasis upon copyediting. Also includes photo editing, headline writing, typography, and layout and design. REQUIREMENTS MET CM305 is required of all Communication: Journalism majors. Communication minors may use it toward their required 20 hours in the field. English and English education majors may use CM305 toward required journalism hours. REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS AP Stylebook 2011. 45/e. Basic, 2011. Brooks, Brian, James L. Pinson, Jean Caddy Wilson. Working with Words: A Handbook for Media Writers and Editors. 7/e. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2010 ?? Harrower, Tim. The Newspaper Designers Handbook. 6/e. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2008. ?? COURSE STRUCTURE & PROCEDURES This course introduces basic principles and procedures for editing, including some of the skills needed to edit in the electronic environment of paginated publications and the World Wide Web. The course concentrates upon traditional copy editing skills such as grammar, word usage, punctuation, and spelling; checking facts and using reference works; and writing headlines and captions. We will make use of the course Moodle site; a collaborative online writing and editing environment such as a wiki or Google docs; and some exercises and activities at other online locations as well as the website offered by our textbooks. STATEMENT OF OUTCOMES & INDICATORS The following statements describe what you are expected to be able to do upon completion of this course. 1. Edit copy for grammar and punctuation. 2. Edit copy for consistent style and correct words. 3. Edit stories to improve their structure and content. 4. Write good headlines and cutlines. 5. Edit stories so that they work effectively as Web documents. 6. Design attractive, readable news pages. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING Your learning in CM 305 will be assessed through daily exercises, quizzes, and midterm and final exams. Some of the daily assignments and quizzes will be delivered through the course Moodle site or other websites. The final exam will be a comprehensive exam.

Syllabus: EN 305 Editing

Final grades. The above components of the course will figure as follows in the computation of final grades: Daily exercises and assignments ................................................ 35 percent Quizzes .................................................................................................. 30 percent Midterm Exam .................................................................................... 15 percent Final Exam ........................................................................................... 20 percent

Grades will be awarded according to a scale of 91-100 = A; 81-90 = B; 71-80 = C; 61-70 = D. Attendance. Class attendance is important. I reserve the right to lower final grades for four or more absences, regardless of circumstances. INITIAL SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS Ive learned from past experience that it is futile to establish a fixed schedule at the beginning of this course. When, and at what pace, material can be introduced depends upon the classs grasp of traditional grammar. Copyeditingwhich encompasses the first three of our course objectivesis little more than guesswork without a good working knowledge of traditional grammar. Therefore, I begin the class with my own crash course in traditional grammar, Understanding the English Sentence. While there are no dates associated with the following topics, this is the order we will follow. We will go as rapidly as we can without leaving some class member in the dust: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Basic Sentence Patterns Modifiers Pronoun Case Objects Compound Sentence Patterns Troublesome Verbs Clauses Punctuating Clauses Phrases

Upon completion of the crash course, we will sequentially tackle the chapters in Working with Words. A more systematic progression will be possible at that time.