EDIT310
Substantive Editing
Substantive editing is the process of assessing and shaping material to improve its organization and content. We will discuss various editorial problems and solutions, and work through practical examples This course gives students opportunities to gain knowledge of and develop skills in the process of substantive editing. Topics include: considering the needs of the reader, identifying structural problems, reorganizing, reworking and rewriting material, working with visual elements, communicating with authors.
You should be prepared to invest time in completing substantial weekly assignments for assessment and in-class discussion.
Prerequisite(s):
Basic Copy Editing or copy-editing experience. Students taking this course should have experience of editing in general and copy editing in particular.
Related program(s)
This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):
| Section | Session(s) | Date/time* | Campus | Instructor(s) | Cost** | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDIT310-ON11371 | - | Sep 9–Oct 27, 2013 (Register by Sep 2, 2013) |
Online | Theresa Best | $485 | Register |
| EDIT310-VA11411 | 7 | Tuesdays Apr 2014 |
Van | Ruth Wilson | TBA | Begins Fall 2013 |
* This course involves 17.5 instructional hours.
** Members of the Editors' Association of Canada are eligible for a 10 percent discount. Please contact us to confirm your membership and register. You may not combine discounts.
What will I learn?
By the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:
- Understand the place of substantive editing in the production cycle, and identify how it differs from other types of editing
- Develop and use an outline to reveal the structure of a manuscript
- Query writers tactfully, understanding when to allow their writing style to override some editorial conventions
- Distinguish between issues that need to be negotiated with a writer and those that can be edited without question
- Devise a plan for editing a long and difficult manuscript
- Differentiate between line editing and copy editing
- Edit manuscripts for length, and line edit for the target audience
- Write or edit effective headings and transitions
- Identify when graphic elements will enhance text
- Identify and solve common stylistic problems
- Use Microsoft Word’s track changes feature to edit substantively on screen
How will I learn?
If you're taking a classroom course:
- Lectures
- Class discussions
- In-class exercises
- Group assignments
- Independent take-home assignments
- Extra reading
If you're taking an online course:
- Online asynchronous discussions
- Self-marking exercises
- A graded final exam.
How will I be evaluated?
If you're taking a classroom course:
- Self/peer evaluation exercises
- Four assignments (100%)
- In-class participation
If you're taking an online course:
- Online participation in discussion
- Self/peer evaluation exercises
- Final exam
Textbooks and learning materials
We will provide all course materials.