Professor: Matt King (he, him, his; more on pronouns here and here)
Email: mrking@sbu.edu
Phone: 716.375.2457
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 10:00-11:15 and by appointment
Office Location: Plassmann 318 (also available via Zoom during office hours)
Class Website: https://mattrking.com/courses/e101/ and Moodle
Literary Editing and Publishing Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the B.A. in Literary Publishing and Editing will be able to
- Apply current editing tools and software used in literary editing.
- Critique and improve literary texts at the rhetorical and grammatical level.
- Explain the evolution of literary editing and publishing processes, including digital editing and publishing.
- Design literary editing and publishing processes and solutions.
University Writing and Communication Goal
University Learning Goal 3: Students will develop competence in multimodal communication with special emphasis on oral, written, and digital communication, including an understanding of key issues relating to their use.
Learning Objectives
- Students identify and respond to contexts using appropriate processes and modes of delivery.
- Students use effective content and approaches to organization, style, and design that are appropriate for the discipline and genre of communication.
- Students demonstrate control of syntax and mechanics by using language that communicates with clarity, fluency, and minimal errors.
Course Description
Building on basic elements of standard English grammar and style, this course extends knowledge of these areas with the aim of providing skills required for editorial work in literary studies, including proofreading and copyediting. (3 credits)
Course Objectives
Students who successfully complete the course will be able to:
- Identify the parts of speech, common sentence structures, and rules for punctuation as used in standard American English.
- Differentiate between commonly used style guides’ (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) rules of punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure.
- Apply knowledge of parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation through written editing assignments.
- Articulate an understanding of the sociolinguistic prestige of standard written English among other dialects of English.
- Express in oral and written communication how parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation affects meaning.
Class Texts
– Joseph M. Williams and Joseph Bizup, Style: Lessons in Clarity and Grace, Twelfth Edition (Pearson, 2020)
– Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz, The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, Fourth Edition (University of California Press, 2019)
– Purdue University Online Writing Lab (OWL)
– Other readings made available online as needed
Grading
Read my statement on grading here and our specific grading policy here. The grading statement also includes the policies for late work and attendance.
Student Success Center
Revising and responding to feedback will be an invaluable and necessary part of your development as a writer this semester. All students working on writing projects are encouraged to seek help from the SBU Writing Lab. Writing Lab tutors are available for both in-person and remote sessions (via Zoom). Even if you do not have a draft to share, a tutor can help you brainstorm or work through an outline for an upcoming project.
To meet with a writing tutor, stop by the Student Success Center in Plassmann 100 or email the Writing Lab at writinglab@sbu.edu with your request. You may either schedule a tutoring session in advance or simply attend drop-in hours. The Writing Lab’s schedule can be found on the Student Success Center page within the Academics section on MySBU.
Academic Honesty
The writing you submit for our class should be your own; when you draw on the work of others, you should acknowledge it and include appropriate citations. Instances of plagiarism can result in failed assignments and potentially failure of the course. A list of unacceptable practices and procedures to be followed in prosecuting cases of alleged academic dishonesty can be found here.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities who need academic accommodations should contact the Accessibility Services and Accommodations office at asa@sbu.edu or at 716-375-2115. Additional information about accommodations can be found here. Please reach out early in the semester so that we can assist you as soon as possible. Documentation from the Accessibility Services Office is required before the instructor can make accommodations.
Email
Email will serve as an official means of communication for this class, and you should check the email account you have registered with the university regularly. Feel free to email me with your questions and concerns.
Title IX
Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender are Civil Rights offenses subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, etc. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted, you can find the appropriate resources at the Health and Wellness Center or at the Campus Safety Office. For on-campus reporting, see the Title IX Coordinator (Katie O’Brien, Vice President for Student Affairs) and Residence Life Staff (RAs, RDs, and other professional staff). The University’s policy and procedures regarding gender-based and sexual misconduct can be found online.
In the event of an emergency, call Campus Safety (716-375-2525) or contact Rob DeFazio (Student Conduct, 716-375-2190, rdefazio@sbu.edu). Be aware that most university employees are mandated reporters.
Counseling Center and Crisis Services
Students who are full-time and currently enrolled in any of our on-campus undergraduate or graduate programs are eligible to see our counselors for crisis, individual, or group therapy. Services are generally provided throughout the academic year, excluding winter and summer break. An exception is when students are on-campus and enrolled in classes during the summer sessions. To schedule an appointment, you can complete the Counseling Request Form in the patient portal, or call 716-375-2310, option 1. Alongside our on-campus counseling services, SBU offers students free teletherapy sessions with our online therapy partner BetterMynd. BetterMynd serves as an alternative for students who may prefer teletherapy instead of in-person counseling with our SBU counselors. To register for the BetterMynd platform, visit the site and use your SBU email address (https://login.bettermynd.com/).
For students who would prefer another or an additional resource to counseling, we have partnered with Togetherall — an anonymous, 24/7 online peer-to-peer community where students can connect with others. You must use your university email to register and access the platform at https://account.v2.togetherall.com/register/student .
Additional resources include: SBU Safety and Security 716-375-2525; BetterMynd 24/7 Support Line: 1-844-BTR-MYND (287-6963); National Crisis Support: Text “HOME” to 741741 or call 988.
Other Concerns
If you have any other concerns that affect your ability to succeed in this course – for example, affording costs related to the class, dealing with mental health issues, having regular shelter and food, etc. – please let me know, and I will do what I can to help.
Matt King 