PUB5004 Writing for Editors: Advanced

Contents

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

STAFFING

REQUISITES

RATIONALE

This course is a response to developments in the publishing industry. This course details many of the writing tasks editors undertake when in the process of producing print and online publications. Whereas the earlier course focussed on establishing an effective author-editor relationship, this course moves on in terms of the production process to responding to typesetters, briefing an indexer, negotiating with printers and developing written text for a variety of promotional and production needs. The topic on more complex author queries will cover the appropriate tone and register required when dealing with a manuscript that may need substantial rewriting. Online editing for electronic journals and magazines will bring students' skills up to the moment.

SYNOPSIS

This course further develops the skills editors will need to write in simple, polite language during the publishing process, specifically, to communicate with typesetters and designers in response to colour proofs and provide comprehensive briefs for printers and indexers. Instruction will focus on the writing skills required by editors to negotiate an acceptable result for print and electronic communication. Coverage will include writing back cover copy, brochure, box, catalogue and jewel case copy; ethical issues, writing and rewriting for non-print media. A text will be evaluated for tone and register and advanced author queries written. Throughout the course the focus will be on clarity and precision in decision-making and expression to develop and produce a wide range of professional publications. Skills will be practised in an online discussion group.

OBJECTIVES

On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Justify comments on design, typography and typesetting of a publication
2. Negotiate an acceptable result with others involved in the production process using appropriate terminology
3. Develop a brief to be sent to a printer for quotes for a print publication
4. Prepare various kinds of promotional copy such as jacket copy and brochures
5. Write captions for illustrative material
6. Write and rewrite material for non-print media, including converting text to dot point series suitable for on-screen publication
7. Restructure text for on-screen environments, including CD-ROM and the web
8. Analyse magazines and electronic journals, publishing and brief contributors
9. Write a magazine editorial
10. Evaluate the scope of a writing or publishing project and then complete a post-publication project evaluation
11. Demonstrate skills in advanced rewriting
12. Use electronic communication for negotiation and problem solving

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, Brisbane.
(Revised by Snooks & Co)

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

Mackenzie, J 2004, The editor's companion, Cambridge University Press, Port Melbourne.

Peters, P 2007, The Cambridge guide to English usage, 2nd edn, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Whitbread, D 2001, The design manual, University of NSW 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. Other web sites and texts are recommended in the study material.

Blake, G & Bly, R 1997, The elements of copywriting, MacMillan, New York.

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

Eagleson, RD, Jones, G & Hassall, S 1990, Writing in Plain English, Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

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

Huddleston, R & Pullman, G 2002, The Cambridge grammar of English language, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Hudson, N 1997, Modern Australian usage, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

Petelin, R & Durham, M 1992, The Professional Writing Guide: Writing Well and Knowing Why, Longman Professional, Melbourne.

Peters, P 1996, The Cambridge Australian English style guide, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Spender, L 2004, Between the lines: a legal guide for writers and illustrators, Keesing Press.
(Available from Australian Society of Authors, P O Box 1566, Strawberry Hills, NSW, 2012.)

Watson, D 2003, Death sentence: the decay of public language, Random House, Australia.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

This assessment item is aligned with Objectives 1 & 2

2.

This assessment item is aligned with Objectives 3, 4 & 5

3.

This assessment item is aligned with Objectives 6, 7, 8 ,9 ,10 & 11

4.

Participation in Discussion Group will be graded in terms of argument and depth of understanding of issues. Final submission date is 31 October 2008, but students must participate throughout the semester, using the online discussion tool. This assessment item is aligned with Objective 12.

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 / grades 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:
   Given the details under (6) above, there are no deferred exams for this course. However, if any deferred/makeup work is granted, it would have to be submitted by a date set by the examiner.
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 access to email and internet access to USQConnect for this course.

This version produced 27 May 2008.