Course Outline

CMN109 Editing for Professionals

Course Coordinator:Jane Frank (jfrank@usc.edu.au) School:School of Business and Creative Industries

2026Trimester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

UniSC Moreton Bay

Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

Editing for Professionals examines the processes of copy editing for publications such as newspapers, magazines, blogs, in social media, and academic articles. You will gain understandings and skills needed to edit creative writing, professional letters, job applications, reports, essays, theses, and business documents, as well as learning how to edit material from one genre to another. 

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Asynchronous learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Synchronous and scheduled face to face workshops. 2hrs Week 1 10 times
Online
Learning materials – Asynchronous learning materials 1hr Week 1 12 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Interactive zoom laboratory 2hrs Week 1 10 times

Course Topics

1. Introduction to editing, punctuation, and basic grammar

2.  Editing for different genres: academic, journalism, and social media 

3. Advanced editing, plain language, and online editing

4. Editing and the law

5. Editing and your careers

What level is this course?

100 Level (Introductory)

Engaging with discipline knowledge and skills at foundational level, broad application of knowledge and skills in familiar contexts and with support. Limited or no prerequisites. Normally, associated with the first full-time study year of an undergraduate program.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming...
1 Effectively edit sentences applying the rules of grammar, style and punctuation Knowledgeable
2 Analyse and edit text to a required length, style and standard Creative and critical thinker
3 Effectively use computer-based editing methods and software Knowledgeable

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Not applicable

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

CMN213

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will be prepared for Assessment Task 1 as it is based on using the in-house Style Guide. Familiarity with the Style Guide will be provided during workshops 1 - 4 with substantial examples being provided in class with computer activities related to the task.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Quiz/zes Individual 20%
N/A
Week 5 Online Test (Quiz)
All 2 Written Piece Individual 35%
Not exceeding 1000 words
Week 9 Online Submission
All 3 Written Piece Individual 45%
Not exceeding 1500 words
Week 12 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Editing exercise 1
Goal:
You will demonstrate and develop your knowledge of the application of the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation in a series of sentences in an online quiz.
Product: Quiz/zes
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic format Correct a series of sentences based on the principles of editing discussed in the learning materials and computer workshops.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Effectively edit sentences applying the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Organisation
All - Assessment Task 2:Editing exercise 2
Goal:
You will demonstrate your ability to apply the skills acquired in the course to edit news, and/or an academic work provided to you.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic format
You will be provided with a selection of short written texts and you will complete a copy editing task in relation to these.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accurate use of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
1 2 3
2
Effectively edit different genres by applying the rules of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
1 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies
All - Assessment Task 3:Editing exercise 3
Goal:
This task is designed to develop your analytical and editing skills by reducing text to a required length, style and standard.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
Academic format You will be given a rough copy of a feature story, and an academic writing article that you will be asked to edit. You may choose one. In the process you will edit the article to an exact number of words while correcting errors of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation in accordance with the rules laid down in the learning materials, workshops and the style guide. You will write a headline for the article or a title for the academic work, and produce a 300 word report to provide to the author to explain your editorial suggestions.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Analyse and edit text to a required length, style and standard.
1 2 3
2
Accurate use of style, grammar, spelling and punctuation.
1 2 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

There are no required/recommended resources for this course.

Specific requirements

Nil

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: