EDIT110
Editors and Editing: An Introduction
Is editing the career for you?
Through course reading, exercises, and assignments, we will introduce you to the roles and responsibilities of editors, as well as the knowledge and skills editors need to succeed. We’ll also explore the world of the editor and examine different aspects of editing—structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing, and proofreading.
The final assignment is due one week after the course ends.
Instructional hours: 12
Overview
Location: Online
Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
Duration: 4 weeks
Tuition: $452
Can be applied to:
Editing Certificate
Upcoming Offerings
Register for a course at any time, with the option to apply to a program later.
- Wed, May 1 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 8 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 15 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 22 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jun 19 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jun 26 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jul 3 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jul 10 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Sep 11 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Sep 18 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Sep 25 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 2 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 2 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 9 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 16 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 23 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 16 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 23 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Oct 30 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Nov 6 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Nov 20 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Nov 27 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Dec 4 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Dec 11 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jan 15 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jan 22 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jan 29 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Feb 5 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Feb 19 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Feb 26 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Mar 5 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Mar 12 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Mar 26 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Apr 2 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Apr 9 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Apr 16 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 7 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 14 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 21 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, May 28 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jun 25 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jul 2 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jul 9 (self-paced all week)
- Wed, Jul 16 (self-paced all week)
What you will learn
By the end of this course, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify the role and responsibilities of an editor.
- Explain the four main types and stages of editing and how editors fit into the overall publishing process.
- Describe the author–editor relationship and the variables that help it succeed.
- Recognize basic weaknesses and errors related to structural editing, stylistic editing, copy editing and proofreading.
- Identify the skills and tools needed to work as an editor today.
How you will learn and be evaluated
Prepare to spend 6–10 hours per week on coursework, including:
- Readings
- Assignments and exercises
- Online discussions
You will be evaluated on:
- Participation in discussions
- 2 assignments (second assignment due 1 week after course ends)
Learning Materials
No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.
Recommended reading:
The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition. University of Chicago Press, 2017. ISBN 978-0226287058
Note: Courses use the author-date style from the Chicago/Turabian (17th ed.) citation guide.
Once you begin the course you’ll be sent SFU library access information for this text. Alternatively, you may wish to access a 30-day free trial of the online version of Chicago Manual of Style.
Technical Requirements
For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. For more information and online support, visit Online Learning.
This course requires:
- Microsoft Word (2010 or newer) and being comfortable with Track Changes function
- A printer
- A scanner or camera to create a digital copy of editing examples to be submitted for one of the assignments
- High-speed internet access
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
English language requirements
To succeed in this course, you will need an advanced level of written and spoken English. If you are unsure whether your English language skills are sufficient, we recommend you complete the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with the following minimums:
- Overall band score minimum 6.5
- No band below 6.0
- Writing band score minimum 8.0
Please note we can’t refund your registration fees after the course start date if you find your English language skills are not adequate.
If you have questions or concerns about your English language proficiency, we encourage you to contact your local IELTS Test Centre.