Course

Syllabus CM305 EDITING

COURSE INFORMATION CM305 Editing (3 credit hrs.) :: Spring 2012 1111:50 MWF :: Hess 51 Bruce Clary, Instructor :: Mohler 201 claryb@mcpherson.edu 242-0531 COURSE DESCRIPTION An introduction to editing. Students learn how to correct, tighten and clarify texts and how to apply design principles to a variety of documents and publications. REQUIREMENTS MET CM305 is required of all communication 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 AP Stylebook 2013. 46/e. Basic, 2011. Brooks, Pinson, and Wilson. Working with Words: A Handbook for Media Writers and Editors. 8/e. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013. 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; writing headlines and photo captions; and basic document design. We will make use of the eLearning LMS on Bulldog Connect; a collaborative online writing and editing environment such as Google docs; and some exercises and activities at other online locations as well as the website offered by our textbooks. To free class time for practicing editing skills, some lessons will be recorded and assigned as homework. 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 (well use AP, of course) and correct words. 3. Edit stories to improve their style, structure and content. 4. Write good headlines and cutlines. 5. Design attractive, readable pages. ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING Your learning in CM 305 will be assessed through daily activities, regular quizzes, three texts, and midterm and final exams. Some of the daily assignments and quizzes will be delivered through eLearning or (possibly) other websites. The final exam will be comprehensive. Final grades. The above components of the course will figure as follows in the computation of final grades:

Syllabus: CM305 Editing

Daily work, attendance, participation .................................................. 25 percent AP Stylebook project ....................................................................................... 5 percent Page design project .......................................................................................... 5 percent Quizzes ............................................................................................................... 15 percent Tests .................................................................................................................... 15 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. DISABILITY STATEMENT Students who, because of disability, may require reasonable accommodations to meet course requirements should contact the instructor or access coordinator, Carole Barr (ext. 2506), as soon as possible. ACADEMIC SERVICES The Royer Center for Academic Development (Miller Library, main level) is open to all students who need academic assistance in any class. INITIAL SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS Page numbers are for Working with Words. Readings must be completed before class on the day listed. F Aug 23 M Aug 26 W Aug 28 F Aug 30 M Sep 2 W Sep 4 F Sep 6 M Sep 9 W Sep 11 F Sep13 M Sep 16 W Sep 18 F Sep 20 M Sep 23 W Sep 25 F Sep 27 M Sep 30 W Oct 2 Introduction to course and lab Read 1-15 Basic sentence patterns and verbs (32-37, 56-60) Compound sentence parts Modifiers (96-100), prepositional phrases (106-08) Troublesome verb pairs Indirect objects, pronoun case (48-51) Compound/complex sentences, adverb clauses (28-30, 109-10) Adjective clauses (30-32) Noun clauses Gerund phrases, participial phrases Infinitive phrases, subjects of infinitives Assessment: No Class **Understanding the English Sentence Test** Study 15-37, Five Key Principles of Grammar Active voice (71-76) Parallel structure (94-95) Study 38-47, nouns Study 47-55, pronouns

Syllabus: CM305 Editing

F Oct 4 M Oct 7 W Oct 9 F Oct 11 M Oct 14 W Oct 16 F Oct 18 M Oct 21 W Oct 23 F Oct 25 M Oct 28 W Oct 30 F Nov 1 M Nov 4 W Nov 6 F Nov 8 M Nov 11 W Nov 13 F Nov 15 M Nov 18 W Nov 20 F Nov 22 M Nov 25 Nov 27, 29 M Dec 2 W Dec 4 F Dec 6 DISCLAIMER

Study 84-92, subject-verb agreement Study 92-94, pronoun-antecedent agreement, pronoun reference **Midterm Exam** Fall Break: No Class Examine 116-73, misused and confused words Misused and confused words (cont.) Misused and confused words (cont.) Study 177-97, punctuation Punctuation (cont.) Punctuation (cont.) Study 367-71, abbreviations Study 372-75, capitalization Study 376-77, numbers Study 287-300, isms; examine 301-16 **Usage and Mechanics Test** Study 252-57, tightening copy Tightening copy (cont.) Study 321-37, editing stories Editing stories (cont.) Editing stories (cont.) **Tightening and Editing Test** Page design, including writing headlines, cutlines and captions Page design (cont) Thanksgiving Break: No Class Page design (cont) Page design (cont) **Page design project due** FINAL EXAM

This syllabus is subject to modification. The instructor will communicate all substantial modifications both to the Chief Academic Officer and to students enrolled in the course, prior to enacting these modifications.