PUB5002 Writing for Editors: Basic

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Other requirements
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

This editing and publishing course is a response to changes in the publishing industry. It follows the stages in modern publishing during which editors need to write. It introduces students to styles of writing which foster productive relationships within publishing teams and appropriate tone and register in different situations. Editors should have an understanding of correct grammar, syntax, language usage, punctuation, and capitalisation and communicate clearly and concisely. They should be able to critically evaluate a range of written materials and identify discriminatory language and defamatory material as well as errors and inconsistencies. Electronic communication will be used for students to practise these skills online. Students undertaking this course are expected to have an undergraduate degree and possess basic literacy and computing skills. There is an expectation that students will be self-directed and will participate in an online discussion group.

SYNOPSIS

This course develops the skills editors will need to write a range of materials during different stages of the publishing process: specifically those needed to carry out editorial tasks such as readers' reports, author queries, and briefing the publishing team. Instruction will focus on the writing skills required by editors: specifically to develop an effective editor-author relationship, to analyse and evaluate texts with the focus on audience, to brief the publishing team including designers, illustrators, multimedia designers and freelancers. Emphasis will be on the principles of good writing including grammar, consistency, punctuation, jargon, syntax and expression. Intellectual property and other legal and ethical concerns will be examined in context. Electronic communication will be covered. Throughout the course the focus will be on clarity and precision in decision-making and expression in developing and producing professional publications.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Identify the writing tasks an editor needs to perform in the publication process
2. Critically appraise the extent, structure and focus of manuscripts
3. Communicate professionally in a range of media
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the communication process between key participants
5. Write briefs necessary for specific publishing tasks
6. Use appropriate grammatical construction, syntax, expression and punctuation to communicate well with the intended audience
7. Negotiate with other stakeholders in the preparation of a publication
8. Identify issues of legal and ethical concern, and effectively communicate such issues to an author
9. Demonstrate information literacy as well as effective electronic communication in directed discussion groups.

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

Macquarie Dictionary , 4th edn (unabridged) OR access to the online version through https://www.macquariedictionary.com.au

Commonwealth of Australia 2002, Style manual: for authors, editors and printers, 6th edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Brisbane.
(Revised by Snooks & Co)

Flann, E & Hill, B 2004, The Australian editing handbook, 2nd edn, John Wiley & Sons Australia, Brisbane.

Peters, P 2004, The Cambridge guide to English usage, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Whitbread, D 2001, The design manual, UNSW Press, Sydney.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Students are advised to browse through relevant Internet sites such as the Copyright Council's. Others, including web sites about legal issues, are recommended in the study material.

Bly, R & Blake, G 1997, The elements of copywriting: the essential guide to creating copy that gets the results you want, MacMillan, New York.

Brouhaugh, W 1993, Write tight, Writers Digest Books, Ohio.

Bryson, B 2001, Troublesome words: a fully revised and updated edition, 3rd edn, Viking.
(an imprint of Penguin Books)

Gross, G (ed) 1993, Editors on editing - what writers need to know about what editors do, 3rd edn, Grove Press, New York.

Huddlestone, R & Pullum, G 2002, The Cambridge grammar of the English language, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hudson, N 1997, Modern Australian usage, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
(Rev Edn)

Petelin, R & Durham, M 1992, The professional writing guide: writing well and knowing why, Pitman, Melbourne.

Peters, P 1994, The Cambridge Australian English style guide, Cambridge University Press, New York.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

This assessment item relates to Objectives 2, 3, 4, 6 & 7.

2.

This assessment item relates to Objectives 1, 3, 5, 7 & 8.

3.

This assessment item relates to Objectives 1, 3, 6 & 7.

4.

Participation in Discussion Group will be graded in terms of argument and depth of understanding of issues. Final submission date is 13 June 2008. This assessment item relates to Objectives 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   This course contains a discussion forum where students' participation is formally assessed and successful participation in that discussion group is required to complete the requirements to be awarded a passing grade in the course. There are no other attendance requirements for this course. However, it is the students' responsibility to study all material provided to them, or required to be accessed by them, to maximise their chances of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To successfully complete an individual assessment item, a student must achieve at least 50% of the marks or a grade of at least C-. This statement must be read in conjunction with Statement 4 below.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without extenuating circumstances and without prior approval, then a penalty of a maximum of 5% of the assigned mark may apply for each working day late, up to a maximum of 10 working days, at which time a mark of zero can be recorded for that assignment.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade, a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   There is no exam for this course.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   There is no exam for this course.
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6 Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. Students will require acces to e-mail and internet access to USQConnect for this course.

This version produced 27 May 2008.