Ross F. Collins Class Resources.
COMM 313, Editorial Processes (online)
Instructor: Ross F. Collins, Ph.D., professor of communication, North Dakota State University, Fargo.
Assignments
Reminder on required text (from syllabus): Ross F. Collins, ed., Editing Across Media. Content and Process in a Converged World (2012). A number of online readings will also be assigned.
Reminder on online design exercises (from syllabus): Design and make-up exercises are based on computerized pagination software commonly used by editors. If you do not have access to these, you will need to find the software to do your work. For those students who do not have access to campus clusters, InDesign software is often available at copy shops or libraries. You also can download a temporary copy from Adobe.
To complete and submit exercises: Drag over to copy the editing assignments from the web. Paste the text into a Word document. Complete assignments, and submit to me by email (ross.collins@ndsu.edu), either as attachment or copied and pasted directly into the body of email message. Submit makeup and design exercises by file attachment, saved as a pdf (see InDesign tutorial for instructions).
Note: Do NOT use Word's Track Changes tool or crossout tool to make editing changes. Simply make necessary changes in the copy.
Grading (from syllabus)The final grade will be based on:
Exercises: 200 pts.
Make-up/computerized pagination exercises: 140 pts.
Final exam: 260 pts.
Total: 600 pts.
Section One:
Words
Activity One
A view of reality
Total possible points: 5.
What do you think the "view of reality" is for your city's newspaper (online or published version)? Based on the questions below, compose a short essay (300 or so words) and submit to instructor by e-mail.
Name of your newspaper?
Daily or weekly?
What would you expect to see most often on the front page or home page feature?
Do you believe this view reflects the needs of the community? Why or why not? What changes would you make if you were editor?
Activity Two
Know your bias
Total possible points: 5.
Good editors need to recognize and understand their biases. To begin this process, consider a bias you have about a controversial issue. Write a short essay (300 words) based on the considerations below. Submit to instructor by e-mail.
Describe a strong opinion you hold about a controversial issue or group in society. Possible topics:
Describe how you reached your conclusion regarding this issue. Parental influence? Friends persuaded you? Religious teachings? Personal experience? Research or statistics? Influence of a politician or other leader? You might have to think about this for a while--many of us hold strong opinions without really knowing where they came from.
Do you believe your opinion is based on solid evidence or persuasive teachings? What part does your own emotions play in your belief?
If you served as an editor of a newspaper and received a story about this issue, how would you handle it fairly while considering your bias? What if you were the only editor, so could not give the job to someone else? Be specific.
Exercise One
Total possible points: 10.
Exercise Two
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Three
Total possible points: 20.
Exercise Four
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Five
Word Clutter, clichés, jargon, facts.
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Six
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Seven
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Eight
The summing up: final copy editing exercise.
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Nine
Editing for the Web: rewrite the assignment above for the Web, based on suggestions from Reading Thirteen.
Total possible points: 10.
Proofreading Exercise (2 pts. extra credit): Copy editing marks (PDF file). See Reading Six for reference sheet.
Download, print, correct as indicated, submit (scanned PDF attachment or mail) for extra credit.
Practice test: The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund offers prestigious editing internships to smart university students. Acceptance is based partly on the fund's editing exam. How well do you think you might do on this exam? Well, you can find out by trying out one of the old tests. For five points' extra credit, download this exam. Send your answers to me by email. I'll respond with the answers, and you can see if you're as smart as you think.
Section Two:
Headlines
Exercise One
Write a 1-18-3 above each of these short stories.
Total possible points: 15.
Exercise Two
Write straight-news style heds for the stories below as indicated.
Total possible points: 20.
Exercise ThreeThird headline exercise: label heds.
Total possible points: 15.
Activity One
Counting headlines; an optional hed-counting exercise (2 pts. extra credit).
Section Three, Part One:
Layout and makeup
Exercise One
Layout exercise using dummy sheets.
1. Print a copy of the dummy sheet (PDF) file. If your copier is loaded with standard paper (8 1/2 inches by 11) instead of legal size (8 1/2 inches x 14), it may print out in two sheets that you'll have to tape together. Alternatively, it might be reduced to fit the smaller sheet. You can still use the smaller sheet, although it will be a bit more difficult to work. Use a pencil (so you can erase) to complete the dummy sheet.
Total possible points: 10.
Section Three, Part Two:
Page make-up using computerized pagination (desktop publishing) programs
Exercise One
Flyer (basic skills practice).
Total possible points: 20.
Exercise Two
Total possible points: 40.
Exercise Three
Total possible points: 80.
Final examTotal possible points: 260.
When you have finished the other assignments, email the instructor to obtain the final exam. The exam is comprehensive, and comprises two parts. Part One is a set of multiple-choice questions based on readings and exercises. Part Two covers grammar/usage material from exercises you completed in Section One.