Literary Editing Practicum
EN 311.01 Spring 2009
T/Th 2:00 - 3:15
Dr. Susan Swartwout office
phone:
Office: GB 318-O, office hours T/R 3:30 – 5:00, sswartwout@semo.edu
Texts required:
Chicago Manual of
Style, 14th
or 15th edition
Copyediting: A
Practical Guide
3rd
edition, by Karen Judd
a
recently published dictionary, preferably Webster’s Collegiate or American
Heritage
a
novel of your choice, published by an independent or university press in
2006, 2007, 2008, or 2009
(i.e. not by Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, or other commercial authors)
How to do well in
this class:
Both copyediting and this class are deadline intensive! Turn in each
completed assignment typed and on time:
Late work does not receive credit,
but it is accepted noncredit if you desire feedback from the professor regarding
the specific assignment. If you need an extension on an assignment due to
illness or a necessary absence, you must ask for the extension before the class
period in which it is due. Extensions for other reasons depend upon the
professor’s decision.
Be (well-)prepared with each assignment on its assigned date.
Your discussion of
the assignment and your supported opinions bring essential information to the
class. Be thorough. Do your research.
If you’re not 100% certain,
look it up! If you’re not
willing to be curious and particular (i.e. “picky”), then copyediting probably
isn’t for you as an occupation, but it will certainly help you in any writing
endeavor.
Some of the
documents you work on will be from magazines that we publish at the university (Journey
and Big Muddy). More than just “your
grade” is at risk. We take pride in our work. Take pride in your work.
Attend class and be in class on time: Your attendance reflects directly
upon your participation and on-time assignments.
Furthermore, when
you are absent, you detract from your fellow students’ college experience by
missing discussions, and you detract from your own grade by missing exams or
quizzes. There will be no “make-up”
quizzes. Exams, however, can be made up if you have my approval in advance.
Do all the reading.
The discussions, exams, and quizzes are all based on the readings and class
discussion. Since the reading is significant and detailed,
don’t attempt to wait until the last
minute to catch up on several reading assignments. A pop-quiz may be given
on any day, especially if class discussion is weak.
Students are
responsible for upholding the principles of academic honesty and classroom
civility in accordance with the "University Statement of Student Rights" found
in the STUDENT HANDBOOK
How your grade will
be assessed:
Daily assignments and participation – 20%
Quizzes – 10%
Midterm exam – 10%
Final exam - 10%
Editing project - 20%
Professional Writing packet - 30%
Your Professional Writing packet will be turned in at the end of the semester.
It consists of perfectly edited (i.e. one error or less) copies of:
1) your resume, page-designed and without any errors in spelling, syntax,
or formatting
2) a 300-word contemporary review of the small-press novel you’ve chosen
3) a press release for that same book
4) six selections of original (i.e. written by you) catalogue-copy
designed for a specific audience. You may choose any books that you’ve read in
the past for this assignment.
Syllabus: Have
assignments done on the date by which they are listed
Week 1
01/20: Introduction to the course.
Discussion of catalogue copy
01/22: read Chapter 1 in
Copyediting.
Week 2
01/27: Symbols. Read Chapter
2. In-class editing.
01/29: Chicago Manual of Style
basic usage. In-class Find-a-Thon.
Your one-page
resume draft is due.
Week 3
02/03: Stylesheets and editing awareness. Read Chapter 3.
Handout to copyedit.
02/05: Workshop of edited copy and stylesheet. Fact-finding online.
Week 4
02/10: Punctuation for Fun and Profit. Read pp 62–89. Quiz.
02/012: Dr. Swartwout is at AWP
Conference. No class.
Week 5
02/17: Grammar. Read pp. 89–108. Quiz
02/19: Workshop of grammar sheet.
Two catalogue-copy blurbs due.
Week 6
02/24: Spelling and Hyphenation. Read Chapter 5. Quiz.
02/26: Workshop of spelling sheet. Book reviewing in print and online.
Reviews handout.
Week 7
03/03: Numbers. Read Chapter 7. Quiz.
03/05: Style identification and application.
Two-page analysis of two book reviews
due.
Week 8
03/10: Presentation of
Treasure Hunt results.
Handout editing project.
03/12: Midterm exam.
Week 9 SPRING BREAK
Week 10
03/24: Poetry copyediting handout.
03/26: Two more catalogue-copy
blurbs due.
Week 11
03/21: Editing typography. Read Chapter 9.
Three-hundred-word book review due.
04/02: Special types of editing. Read Chapter 10. In-class practicum.
Week 12
04/07: Art placement and editing. In-class practicum.
04/09: Editing project due.
Workshop.
Week 13
04/14: Notes and Bibliographies in MLA format. Read Chapter 8 in
Copyediting.
Quiz.
04/16: Press release handouts. Discussion of press releases. In-class
editing.
Week 14:
04/21: Workshop completed bibliography assignments from Week 13.
04/23:
Press releases due. In-class
copyediting of press releases
Week 15
04/28: Bring clean, “finished” copies of your four Professional Writing
assignments for copyediting in class. This is your final opportunity to have
another set of eyes review your work before it is graded. To receive an “A” on
the packet, you must have clearly written, interesting copy in which only one
grammatical/punctuation error is allowed (in the entire packet).
04/30: more packet editing
Week 16
05/05: editing
05/07: Professional Writing packets
due. Open discussion of any problems/questions in editing the
packet. Review for final exam.
Final exam on
Tuesday, May 12, 2:00.