Editing class resources

COMM 313, Editorial Processes

Instructor: Ross F. Collins, Professor of Communication, North Dakota State University, Fargo

Class resources

Begin with the warmup video, "The Drama of Editing." You know it's important. But is editing dramatic?

Introductory grammar video: "Ross's Big 5." Learn grammar in a (virtual) outdoor classroom.

Poster: Grammar Walks into a Bar....

Poster: The 10 Commandments of Logic.

Weird Ways of News: an online textbook.

Lecture synopses.

PowerPoint presentations.

Readings

Introduction:

Reading One: Editors and how they work.

Reading Two: Why editing is important.

Reading Three: A view of reality.

Reading Four: An editor's constraints.

Copy editing:

Ross's Best of AP Style (updated spring 2019).

Sneaky word list.

Proofreader's marks (PDF file).

Reading five: Editing nuts 'n bolts.

Reading Six: Proofreading, AP Style, grammar. Includes four videos cover aspects of grammar!

Reading Seven: Word clutter.

Reading Eight: Using quotations.

Reading Nine: Avoiding clichés.

Reading 10: Strong leads, active voice.

Reading 11: Writing concisely.

Reading 12: The big picture: what is a fact?

Reading 13: Editing for the Web.

Headlines:

Reading 14: Writing headlines and headings.

Sample Headline Schedule ("hed sked").

InDesign headline count guide (download as InDesign CS6 file. This will be converted to a newer version of InDesign).

InDesign headline count guide (download as CC2020 file. Will not convert to an earlier version of InDesign.)

Design and makeup:

Reading 15: Typography.

Reading 16: Handling photos and illustrations.

How to proportion a photo in Photoshop.

Reading 17: Dummy sheets and copy control.

Reading 18: Basic guide to InDesign software for editors.

Sample copy control sheet.

Dummy sheet (PDF file).

Practice photos for projects.