Marks on the Page: Developing Our Editing Skills

Revision Strategies of Experienced Writers Sommers writes: “these revision strategies are a process of more than communication; they are part of the process of discovering meaning altogether. Here we can see the importance of dissonance ; at the heart of revision is the process by which writers recognize and resolve the dissonance they sense in their writing... Writing has spatial and temporal features not apparent in speech--words are recorded in space and fixed in time--which is why writing is susceptible to reordering and later addition. Such features make possible the dissonance that both provokes revision and promises, from itself, new meaning ” ( )

Revision Strategies of Experienced Writers In other words, for Sommers, editing is not just style and arrangement ; editing and revision represents strategies for the invention of meaning. The more you revise and edit, the deeper your thinking and understanding of the topic will be. As a result, your final product will not only be clearly communicated ( delivered ?) to an audience (real or imagined), but will be the culmination of your process of deeper understanding.

Revision Strategies of Experienced Writers And so, considering this way of looking at writing and revision, Editors are a vitally important part of that process.

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Writing as translation (382) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Writing as translation (382) Avoidance of repetition a major concern (382) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Writing as translation (382) Avoidance of repetition a major concern (382) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Writing as translation (382) Avoidance of repetition a major concern (382) Of “experienced” writers

Revision Strategies Of “student” writers Revision seen as a “rewording activity” (381) Selection and rejection of words as the determiners of success or failure (381) Writing as translation (382) Avoidance of repetition a major concern (382) Of “experienced” writers

Levels of Editing

Standard Proofreading

Levels of Editing Standard Proofreading Editorial Proofreading

Levels of Editing Standard Proofreading Editorial Proofreading Copyediting

Levels of Editing Standard Proofreading Editorial Proofreading Copyediting Substantive Editing

Levels of Editing

Stages of Editorial Review

The Preliminary Skim

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim (A “preliminary assessment” to get an overall sense of the document)

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass (Reading the document from the beginning; where “most of the editorial work gets done and is the slowest going”; development of the style sheet)

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass The Second Pass

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass The Second Pass (Looking for anything you might have missed on the first pass)

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass The Second Pass The Final (Short) Passes

Stages of Editorial Review The Preliminary Skim The First Pass The Second Pass The Final (Short) Passes (To verify other details; a “one-thing-at-a-time approach”)

Marks on the Page Here’s what I’d like you all to do today: We will go through several editing tests and samples together, in order to practice our editing skills and get practice in using the proofreader’s marks. You’ll be aiming to edit at all four levels and you’ll be expected to read the text several times. You’ll work on these tests and samples in groups, and then we’ll work together to share what you’ve all uncovered.

Marks on the Page Any queries? If you think of any, me:

Marks on the Page: Developing Our Editing Skills