ENGL4849 (typos) SP15 1

ENGL 4849
Professional and Technical Editing
Spring 2015, CRN 21910
Tu & Th 23:15
DeBartolo 207
Instructor information

Dr. Karen Kaiser Lee

Office: DeBartolo 236
Office hours, Spring 2015:
Tu/Th 10:30 noon
Wed 9:30 11:30
and by appointment
Email: kklee@ysu.edu (best way to reach me)
Twitter: @KKaiserLee
Office phone: 330-941-1633

Tshirt design, Threadless.com

Prerequisites

Successful completion of ENGL 1551, junior or senior standing. Ideally you will have
taken ENGL 3743, Professional and Technical Writing, before taking this course.

Textbooks

Eisenberg, Anne. Guide to Technical Editing. ISBN 0195063066

Einsohn, Amy. Copyeditor's Handbook. ISBN 9780520271562
Microsoft Corp. Microsoft Manual Of Style. ISBN 9780735648715
Williams, Joseph. Style: Basics Of Clarity & Grace. ISBN 9780205830763

Catalog course description

Study of the skills needed to make appropriate decisions about the content, grammar,
mechanics, style, organization, and format of scholarly, trade, journalistic, and other
professional publications, including newsletters and electronic publications. Topics
include stages in the publishing process, proofreading, hard-copy versus online editing,
mechanical and substantive editing, and the use of house and press styles. 3 s.h.

Course objectives

This course will show you how to:

Edit your own work.
Edit the writing of others, and how to work with writers throughout the editing
process.

Dr. K. Kaiser Lee

ENGL4849 (typos) SP15 2

Edit documents consistently through the use of a style guide.

Edit accurately not only for grammar and usage but also for facts and content.
Plan an editing project with an understanding of the levels of editing
(proofreading, copy-editing, substantive editing, and global editing).
about 15 grammar/spelling/layout errors in these policies from this point fo
There are about 10 grammar/spelling/usage errors in these policies from
this point forward. Youre first assignment is to find them.

Assignments, projects, course work

In-class work, homework throughout the semester (10 points)

Exam text designed to help you prepare for the Midterm (10 points)
Midterm exam covering grammar, proofreading, and editing (20 points)
Copyediting project you'll have a choice of documents to copyedit and write queries
(20 points)
Technical editing project (20 points)
End-of-semester editing project find a writer who needs the services of an editor
on a suitable project (20 points)

Evaluation

Please see the individual project and course work assignment descriptions for specific
evaluation criteria.

Grading Scale

There are a total of 100 points available.

100 90: A
89 80: B
79 70: C
69 60: D
59 and under: F
To be eligible to pass the course, you must (1) complete and submit each of
the major projects, (2) engage in class activities on a regular basis, and (3)
meet the minimum attendance requirements as described below.

Succsessfull strategies for professional and technical writers

The following course police were developed to help acclimate you to life as a
professional / technical writer

Project due dates and late work: This is a course designed to prepare you for the
workplace, where deadlines are crucial, therefore, late work is not acceptable. If you are
going to be absent on a project due date, please make arrangements to turn your work in
early. If a serious and unavoidable problem arises that keeps you from completing an
assignment ontime, contact me either via email or in person prior to the due date to
discuss possible arrangements for a new due date.

Dr. K. Kaiser Lee

ENGL4849 (typos) SP15 3

Technology: In this class, as well as in your future work as a professional writer, lost
files, problems with your computer, or Internet connectivity issues do not excuse late
work. To avoid technological complications, you should:
Complete your assignments early.
Plan ahead and find a solution in case your home Internet service goes down
(school lab, public WiFi spot.)
Find another option (YSU labs, public library labs) if your personal computer
breaks.
Find a way to get assignments and projects done on time in spite of any
technological problems.
Email: I may e-mail the class through YSU's system, so please be sure to check your
school email regularly. The best way to contact me is by email (kklee@ysu.edu); please
dont use Blackboards message feature.
Digital devices: I'm fine with you using laptops, tablets, and smart phones to access
readings, notes, homework, and the like. Im also okay with you occasionally glancing at
Facebook, Twitter, or IMs, as long as its truly occasional, it doesnt happen during
discussion or presentations, and that your extracurricular activities arent causing you to
miss the course material,. Or are overly distracting to fellow class members or to me. Be
professional consider whether or not you would behave the same way on the job.
Attendance, punctuality, leaving class early: I expect you will attend every class.
There are no excused versus unexcused absences in this class if you miss more than
five classes (thats over two weeks of the semester) you will likely fail the course. In-class
work cannot be made up, but you are still responsible for learning any material missed
due to absences. Exceptions are made for University athletic and academic events (will
need an appropriate note before the absence) or religious observances not recognized on
the University calendar (talk to me ahead of time).
Coming to class late is distracting to other members of the class and will cause you to
miss important information. Cultivate good work habits now by arriving to each class
session on time. Please wait for class to be dismissed before gathering your belongings
and leaving. Habitual offenders will have up to five points deducted from their final
grade.
Class discussion guidelines: We are responsible for creating a civil and nondisruptive forum for the class. Students are expected to conduct themselves at all times
in this classroom in a manner that does not disrupt teaching or learning, and I as your
instructor will do my best to respect all opinions while ensuring civility. Differences of
viewpoint or concerns should be expressed in terms which are supportive of the learning
process and fellow class members. The short version of this, as Abraham Lincoln tells
Bill and Ted, is be excellent to each other.
Plagiarism: As a professional writer, representing writing done by someone else as
your own work should never be an option. Cheating on projects and exams, plagiarism,
Dr. K. Kaiser Lee

ENGL4849 (typos) SP15 4

falsifying reports or records, and unauthorized collaboration, access, or modifying of

computer programs and templates are considered serious breaches of academic conduct.
Plagiarism includes copying information from written sources and cutting and pasting
from web sites without quoting the material, even if some of the words are changed. If
you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism, please ask, either in class or
during office hours.
Any confirmed instance of plagiarism in this course will be reported to the Chairperson
of the English Department and the Director of the Professional and Technical Writing
program. Plagiarized work will also result in an F on the assignment; revision of the
work for no higher grade than C may or may not be allowed, depending on the nature
and scope of the plagiarism. Especially egregious cases may result in an F in the course
and a report to the university discipline officer.
YSU Policy on Incomplete grades: The instructor may assign a grade of Incomplete
(I) only if the following conditions are met
1) The student has requested the Incomplete ahead of time;
2) All course work prior to this request has been satisfactorily completed;
3) The Instructor agrees that an I is warranted.
YSU policy states that students have at maximum one semester to complete an
Incomplete; instructors are permitted to require that the work be completed in a shorter
amount of time.
Please note that I only grant a grade of Incomplete in extreme instances such as a
major, documented illness or a death in the immediate family.

Computer fees

This class carries a computer fee that supports programs and equipment needed by
PTW students.

YSU Syllabus Requirements

Per YSU/YSU-OEA Agreement, Article 25.3, all syllabi must include a grading policy
and an attendance policy. These policies are described in this document on pages 2-3.

Center for Student Progress & the YSU Writing Center

The Marion G. Resch Center for Student Progress is a resource on campus

established to help students successfully complete their university experience. Please
phone (330) 941- 3538 or visit the Center for assistance in tutoring or for individualized
assistance with social and academic success. The main Center is located in Kilcawley
West below the bookstore.
The goal of the YSU Writing Center is to help students become more independent,
confident and successful writers. Their consultants can assist YSU students with services
including:

Dr. K. Kaiser Lee

ENGL4849 (typos) SP15 5

Consultations for individuals or small groups

Assessment of writing strengths and weaknesses
Guidance for essays and other writing projects in all disciplines
Tutoring for ESL students
Visit ysu.mywconline.com for more information.

CSP Disability Services

In accordance with University procedures, if you have a documented disability and

require accommodations to obtain equal access in this course, please contact me
privately to discuss your specific needs. You must be registered with the Center for
Student Progress Disability Services, located at 275 Fifth Avenue, and provide a letter of
accommodation to verify your eligibility. You can reach CSP Disability Services at 330941-1372.

Married to the Sea webcomic http://www.marriedtothesea.com/index.php?date=091508

Dr. K. Kaiser Lee