San Jos� State University Department of English and Comparative Literature English 106, Editing for Writers, Section 1, Fall 2011 Instructor: Michelle Hager-Hernandez Office Location: Clark Building, Suite 126 (in Writing Center) Telephone: (408) 924-2279 or (408) 924-5073 Email: Michelle.Hager@sjsu.edu Office Hours: Tuesdays, 12:00-1:00; Thursdays, 4:30-5:30; and by appointment Class Days/Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:45 Classroom: Sweeney Hall 229 Faculty Web Page Copies of the course materials such as the syllabus, major assignment handouts, etc. may be found on my faculty web page at http://www.sjsu.edu/people/Michelle.Hager. Course Description �Editing is the same thing as quarreling with writers�same thing exactly.� --Harold Ross, New Yorker Editor Welcome to English 106, Editing for Writers! This course is required for English majors who have declared a concentration in Career Writing and students who have declared a minor in Professional and Technical Writing. However, the class will benefit all students who are seeking to improve their composition. The skills that you will acquire in this class will benefit your writing�both in the university and in your future careers. We will work on topics such as copyediting, proofreading, designing documents, editing and placing graphics, developmental editing, organizational editing, and working effectively with writers. From the SJSU Course Catalogue: �Copy-editing, substantive editing, and reorganization of technical documents. Review of grammar and punctuation to ensure technical mastery and ability to justify editing decisions. Graphics editing, access aids, and professional skills of an editor.� Prerequisites: English 1A and English 1B (or their equivalents) and upper-division standing. Course Goals and Student Learning Objectives 1. To learn the basic principles and techniques of copyediting and proofreading, including copyediting symbols and the design of style sheets. 2. To review English grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage so that you have both technical mastery of the language and the ability to justify your editing decisions. 3. To develop skill at analyzing the writing of others for organization and presentation. 4. To investigate special topics of concern to editors: online documentation, graphics editing, access aids, and cross-cultural considerations. 5. To learn the personal skills of an editing professional: author-editor relationships, planning and scheduling, and professional development. Academic Policies You are responsible for reading the SJSU academic polices about add/drop, disability, and academic integrity which are available online at http://www.sjsu.edu/english/comp/policyforsyllabi.html. Course Content Reading: In English 106, there will be reading assigned on a daily basis. This material will form the basis for our study of professional editing, so it is crucial that you complete every reading assignment by the beginning of each class period. Homework, quizzes, the research project, in-class assignments, editing activities, and material found on the examinations will relate to the assigned reading, so it will be difficult to excel in this course if you neglect to read the required material. Research Paper Project and Editorial Responsibilities: You will be responsible for writing a research paper on a topic related to professional editing and/or writing. You will receive an assignment sheet and topic list for the project; you will then tailor the topic so you can focus on your specific area of interest. We will also complete a significant peer review of the research essay, in which you will be paired with another student and asked to copyedit his or her paper and edit it on the developmental and organizational levels. Your performance as an editor will play an important role in your overall research paper project grade. Various steps of this project will be completed as we progress throughout the semester. This project is worth 25% of your course grade. This essay must be typed, double-spaced, and in 12-point, Times New Roman font. It must be in accordance with MLA citation guidelines. We will have a brief class discussion on MLA formatting; additional information can be found in The MLA Handbook for Writers. Your final research essay must be uploaded to http://www.turnitin.com. This website automatically checks essays for plagiarism; please remember to register as soon as possible. I will not accept your essay until it is submitted to turnitin.com. In order to register, use class ID number �4113086� and password �editing.� Examinations: There will be two exams throughout the semester and one comprehensive final examination. The tests will assess your comprehension and mastery of the topics that we will cover in our study of editing. The exam dates are noted on the course schedule, and each regular test is worth 10% of your class grade; the comprehensive final exam is worth 15% of your class grade. The format for the tests will be a combination of multiple choice, short answer, and lengthier essay questions. You will also be asked to copyedit sections of writing using the appropriate editing marks. Exercises and Homework: You must complete textbook exercises, editing assignments, and writing/editing projects on time. We will usually review textbook exercises in class. This work comprises 20% of your course grade, and along with in-class work, it will form the basis for our study of professional editing. It will be difficult to succeed in this course and understand the material if you do not complete the daily assignments. In-class Assignments and Participation: We will complete daily work in class that goes toward this portion of your grade; you will not be able to complete these assignments if you do not come to class. I expect you to attend class daily and come on time. Absences and/or tardiness will affect your grade because you will miss in-class work and fall behind with our coverage of the material. In addition, class participation does not simply mean that you are physically present in class. You must have all class materials, contribute to discussions, actively listen to your peers, and take notes as necessary. Editors must be assertive and confident, so I expect you to demonstrate those qualities through daily oral participation in our discussions and activities. In-class work and participation is 20% of your course grade. Turn off cell phones or put them on silent mode during the class period; you will lose all participation points for the day if I see your cell phone (this especially includes under the desk/table text messaging�I do see you!).This behavior is both rude and unprofessional. Texts and Materials Required Textbook . Rew, Lois Johnson. Editing for Writers, 1st Edition Other Material Requirements . English 106 Course Reader (to be purchased at Maple Press) . A college-level dictionary Recommended . MLA Handbook for Writers, 7th Edition Assignments and Grading Policy Grading Breakdown . Research Paper and Editing 25% . Exams (2 at 10% each) 20% . Comprehensive Final Exam 15% . Exercises and Homework 20% . In-class Assignments and Participation 20% Late Policy I am a prompt person, so I expect the same from you. While late assignments will be accepted up to one week after the due date, they will be graded down significantly. For each calendar day that your assignment is late, it will be graded down one full letter grade. If the assignment is turned in after the class period on the due date, it will be graded down half a letter grade. After one week, I will no longer accept the late work. If extenuating circumstances apply, you must contact me before the due date in order to request an extension or make necessary accommodations. Turn in all assignments on time! Departmental Grading Policy The Department of English reaffirms its commitment to the differential grading scale as defined in the official SJSU Catalog (�The Grading System�). Grades issued must represent a full range of student performance: A = excellent; B = above average; C = average; D = below average; F = failure. Courses graded according to the A, B, C, No Credit system shall follow the same pattern, except that NC, for No Credit, shall replace D or F. In A, B, C, No Credit courses NC shall also substitute for W (for Withdrawal) because neither NC nor W affects students� grade point averages. In English Department courses, instructors will comment on and grade the quality of student writing as well as the quality of the ideas being conveyed. All student writing should be distinguished by correct grammar and punctuation, appropriate diction and syntax, and well-organized paragraphs. SJSU Writing Center The SJSU Writing Center is located in Suite 126 in Clark Hall. It is staffed by professional instructors and upper-division or graduate-level writing specialists from each of the seven SJSU colleges. Writing Specialists have met a rigorous GPA requirement, and they are well trained to assist all students at all levels within all disciplines to become better writers. Make an appointment online through the Writing Center website: http://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter. English 106, Fall 2011, Course Schedule Assignments must be completed by the day they are listed! EW = Editing for Writers; CR=English 106 Course Reader ALWAYS bring Editing for Writers and your English 106 Course Reader to class. Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Thursday, August 25th Introductions, syllabus review, and editing diagnostic Tuesday, August 30th Chapter 1, �An Introduction to the Editing Process� (EW 1-10) EW Chapter 1, Exercises 1 and 2 DUE Thursday, September 1st In-class Review of �Levels of Editing� Chapter 5, �Style, Sentence-Level Editing, and Editing Marks� (EW 52-60) Tuesday, September 6th Chapter 6, �Final Editing or Proofreading� (EW 61-77) Morrison, �Black Day for the Blue Pencil� (CR 8-16) EW Chapter 6, Exercise 3 DUE Thursday, September 8th Chapter 7, �Editing Copy and Constructing Style Sheets� (EW 78-86) EW Chapter 7, Exercise 1 DUE�bring a copy of your style sheet template Tuesday, September 13th Review MLA Formatting Basics (CR 2-4) �Links to Style Guides� (CR 29) Response to Style Guide DUE Thursday, September 15th Chapter 8, �Capitalization, Spelling, Numbers, and Document Style� (EW 87-98) EW Chapter 8, Exercises 1 and 2 DUE Tuesday, September 20th Chapter 9, �A Review of Basic Grammar� (EW 99-109) EW Chapter 9, Exercises 1, 4, and 5 DUE Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Thursday, September 22nd Chapter 10, �Punctuating Sentence Types� (EW 110-121) EW Chapter 10, Exercises 2, 3, and 4 DUE Published samples of the four ways to punctuate compound sentences DUE Tuesday, September 27th Chapter 10 (cont�d), �Punctuating Sentence Types� (EW 121-137) EW Chapter 10, Exercises 5, 8, 9, and 11 DUE Thursday, September 29th EW Chapter 10, Exercises 12, 14, and 15 DUE Published samples of at least four relative clauses DUE Tuesday, October 4th Review for Exam #1 Thursday, October 6th Exam #1 Tuesday, October 11th Research Paper Assigned Chapter 11, �Punctuating within Sentences� (EW 138-155) EW Chapter 11, Exercises 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 DUE Thursday, October 13th Chapter 11 (cont�d), �Punctuating within Sentences� (EW 156-171) EW Chapter 11, Exercises 7, 11, and 13 DUE Tuesday, October 18th Chapter 12, �Choosing the Right Words� (EW 172-195) EW Chapter 12, Exercises 2, 4, and 6 DUE Thursday, October 20th EW Chapter 12, Exercises 9 and 13 DUE Tuesday, October 25th Chapter 13, �Building Effective Sentences� (EW 196-212) EW Chapter 13, Exercises 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 DUE Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Thursday, October 27th Chapter 13 (cont�d), �Building Effective Sentences� (EW 214-237) EW Chapter 13, Exercises 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 DUE Tuesday, November 1st Research Paper Outline DUE Review for Exam #2 Thursday, November 3rd Exam #2 Tuesday, November 8th Chapter 14, �Developmental and Organizational Editing� (EW 242-277) EW Chapter 14, Exercises 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 DUE Thursday, November 10th Chapter 15, �Graphics Editing� (EW 292-328) EW Chapter 15, Exercises 1 and 4 DUE Tuesday, November 15th Research Paper DUE for Editing�bring two copies to class Chapter 16, �Document Design� (EW 329-364) �Document Design� (CR 37-44) Thursday, November 17th Editing Instructions Assignment Document Design Exercise DUE (CR 42-44) Chapter 17, �Access Aids in Print and Online Documentation� (EW 365-389) In-class Work with Abstracts, Executive Summaries, and Navigational Aids Tuesday, November 22nd Research Paper Editing DUE Chapter 18, �Editing Online Documentation� (EW 390-411) EW Chapter 18, Exercises 3 and 7 DUE Thursday, November 24th No Class�Thanksgiving Holiday! Date Topics, Readings, Assignments, Deadlines Tuesday, November 29th Editing Instructions Assignment DUE Chapter 19, �International and Intercultural Issues for Editors� (EW 412-433) EW Chapter 19, Exercise 5 DUE Thursday, December 1st Chapter 3, �Editor-Author Relationships� (EW 27-36) Shields, �The Editor of the Breakfast Table� (CR 5-7) Tuesday, December 6th Chapter 4, �Working as an Editor� (EW 37-51) Nichols, Silici, and Ross, �When Editors Edit Editors� (CR 17-20) Original Draft, �I Want an Editor Who Won�t Drive Me Crazy!� (CR 21-23) Edited Draft,�I Want an Editor Who Won�t Drive Me Crazy!� (CR 23-25) Final Draft, �Writer vs. Editor: Collaboration or Wrestling Match?� (CR 26-28) Thursday, December 8th Research Paper DUE (with drafts, editorial documents, and style sheet) Comprehensive Final Exam Review In-class Letter Writing Wednesday, December 14th Comprehensive Final Examination, 12:15-2:30!!