WRI 3400 (LUOA), WRIT 400 (LUO): Editing for Publishing

11/08/2019 to 04/16/2020 • Modified 09/05/2025

Course Description

Rationale

This course introduces the writing student to the fundamentals of editing for publishing original writing. The student will learn to critically analyze the purpose, audience, and message of verbal texts and to provide and implement editorial feedback based on his/her analyses. These skills are essential for understanding the world and impacting it for Christ.

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (3)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student will engage in peer discussion related to a variety of writing prompts specifically targeted to hone his/her writing and analysis of writing. The student is required to submit a thread of 300-500 words in response to the provided prompt listed in the discussion. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to two classmates’ threads, supplying a minimum word count of 200 words per reply. The student is required to interact with assigned materials, including textbooks and presentations, and cite all sources used (including textbooks and presentations) following the current MLA format. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

The student will submit his/her completed Creative Nonfiction One-Sheet and Essay (Module 3) and Fiction One-Sheet and Short Story (Module 5) to the corresponding Discussion: Editing Workshop thread. Then, the student will choose three peers’ writing assignments and edit these pieces. The student will upload these back to his/her peers’ threads as replies. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Writing Assignments (2)

The student will write a Creative Nonfiction One-Sheet and Essay, which will then be used for the Discussion: Editing Creative Nonfiction Workshop and the Editing Creative Nonfiction One-Sheet and Essay Assignment. The student will also write a Fiction One-Sheet and Short Story, which will then be used for the Discussion: Editing Fiction Workshop and the Editing Fiction One-Sheet and Essay Assignment. These writing assignments enable the student to produce, edit, and revise publishable work in a real-world context. 

Writing: Creative Nonfiction One-Sheet and Essay Assignment

The student will craft a one-sheet and corresponding creative nonfiction essay designed for publication in an existing print or online source. The one-sheet must not exceed one page. The essay must be between 500-1,000 words. For the ease of readers and editors, the student must double space the essay and utilize Times New Roman, 12-point font for the One-Sheet and Essay. (CLO: A, D)

Writing: Fiction One-Sheet and Short Story Assignment

The student will craft a one-sheet and corresponding fictional short story designed for publication in an existing print or online source. The one-sheet must not exceed one page. The short story must be between 1,000-1,500 words. For the ease of readers and editors, the student must double space the short story and utilize Times New Roman, 12-point font for the One-Sheet and Essay. (CLO: A, D)

Editing Assignments (2)

Editing: Creative Nonfiction One-Sheet and Essay Assignment

This assignment is related to the Discussion: Editing Creative Nonfiction Workshop and the Writing Assignments. For this assignment, the student will submit his/her three peer workshopped edits (where he/she edited his/her peers’ work) to the professor for evaluation regarding his/her editorial skills. The student will then respond to each of his/her classmates whose work he/she edited within the Discussion: Editing Creative Nonfiction Workshop; the student will attach the classmates’ edited files to the response. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Editing: Fiction One-Sheet and Short Story Assignment

This assignment is related to the Discussion: Editing Fiction Workshop and the Writing Assignments. For this assignment, the student will submit his/her three peer workshopped edits (where he/she edited his/her peers’ work) to the professor for evaluation regarding his/her editorial skills. The student will then respond to each of his/her classmates whose work he/she edited within the Discussion: Editing Fiction Workshop; the student will attach the classmates’ edited files to the response. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Revising and Analyzing The Editorial Process Assignment

The Revising and Analyzing the Editorial Process Assignment asks the student to revise one of his/her major writing assignments and analyze the intersection of writing and editing in producing publishable nonfiction.

The student will revise either the Creative Nonfiction or Fiction One-sheet and Writing. Then, he/she will analyze his/her experience of writing and editing in this course; explore the intersection of writing and editing in producing publishable nonfiction; and revisit his/her Discussion: Editing for Content, Focus, Language, and Grammar and reflect on how his/her ideas played out in the practice of writing, editing, receiving editorial feedback, and revising his/her nonfiction essay. The analysis component of the assignment must be between 300-500 words and use current MLA format. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)