Revision: CONVENTIONSRevision: CONVENTIONS

Anything a copy editor might deal with falls under Anything a copy editor might deal with falls under conventions: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, conventions: spelling, punctuation, capitalization, paragraphing, grammar and usage. Conventions paragraphing, grammar and usage. Conventions are the editing standards that we apply to a piece are the editing standards that we apply to a piece of writing to make it mechanically correct and, of writing to make it mechanically correct and, therefore, easy to read. We edit for conventions therefore, easy to read. We edit for conventions because we care about the reader. We want him or because we care about the reader. We want him or her to be able to follow our writing effortlessly and her to be able to follow our writing effortlessly and become immersed in our ideas, which can only become immersed in our ideas, which can only happen if he or she is not bogged down by errors.happen if he or she is not bogged down by errors.

CONVENTIONSCONVENTIONSSpelling completely under control (0-1 mistakes)Spelling completely under control (0-1 mistakes)Punctuation used correctly and effectivelyPunctuation used correctly and effectivelyCapitalization is correctCapitalization is correctConsistently appropriate usage (verb tense, Consistently appropriate usage (verb tense,

subject-verb agreement, etc.) subject-verb agreement, etc.) Clear mastery of the rules of standard EnglishClear mastery of the rules of standard EnglishInteresting, appropriate, and enhancing titleInteresting, appropriate, and enhancing title

CommasCommas

In order to understand when you use a In order to understand when you use a comma, you must understand comma, you must understand clausesclauses..

Clause presentationClause practiceClause practice

CommasCommas

Most of the time a comma is used if it fits Most of the time a comma is used if it fits one of eight rules. If one of these one of eight rules. If one of these situations is not present, then you situations is not present, then you probably don’t need a comma.probably don’t need a comma.

Review comma rule sheetReview comma rule sheetComma practiceComma practice

Conventions: Comma CheckConventions: Comma Check

Read each sentence of your essay and Read each sentence of your essay and evaluate for comma use.evaluate for comma use.• If it has a comma, which comma rule are you If it has a comma, which comma rule are you

using? Put the # of the rule over the comma. If the using? Put the # of the rule over the comma. If the comma use doesn’t fit one of the rules, eliminate comma use doesn’t fit one of the rules, eliminate the comma.the comma.

• If the sentence doesn’t have a comma, should it? If the sentence doesn’t have a comma, should it? Check to see if the sentence fits any of the situations Check to see if the sentence fits any of the situations on the comma rules sheet. If it does, add the on the comma rules sheet. If it does, add the comma and site the rule. If not, put a check next to comma and site the rule. If not, put a check next to the sentence so that you know you checked it.the sentence so that you know you checked it.

Read AloudRead Aloud

Read your essay aloud to yourself. If you Read your essay aloud to yourself. If you hear something that doesn’t sound right, hear something that doesn’t sound right, stop and re-read the part that didn’t stop and re-read the part that didn’t sound right. If you read it again and it sound right. If you read it again and it still sounds wrong, put a question mark still sounds wrong, put a question mark next to the awkward part and continue next to the awkward part and continue reading.reading.

Mechanics Mechanics

Make sure each sentence is a complete thought Make sure each sentence is a complete thought and makes sense by using the frame: It’s obvious and makes sense by using the frame: It’s obvious that ___.that ___.

Circle misspelled words or words that you’re not Circle misspelled words or words that you’re not sure of so that you can check them in a dictionary. sure of so that you can check them in a dictionary. Do NOT rely only on spell check. If you don’t Do NOT rely only on spell check. If you don’t know how a word is spelled, you could easily know how a word is spelled, you could easily choose the wrong word from the list spell check choose the wrong word from the list spell check gives you.gives you.

Make sure each word at the beginning of each Make sure each word at the beginning of each sentence and proper nouns are capitalized.sentence and proper nouns are capitalized.

Mechanics Mechanics Check punctuation. Check your comma use. Check punctuation. Check your comma use.

Make sure any abbreviations have periods. Make sure any abbreviations have periods. Example: U.S. not US.Example: U.S. not US.

Circle each verb. Check to see if verb tense Circle each verb. Check to see if verb tense changes between sentences. Verb tense changes between sentences. Verb tense should remain the same throughout the should remain the same throughout the essay.essay.

If you used any vivid or advanced words, If you used any vivid or advanced words, make sure they mean what you intended to make sure they mean what you intended to say.say.

TitlesTitlesLook at your own title. Is it effective or can it be Look at your own title. Is it effective or can it be

improved?improved?Looking back over your essay, what is the key point that Looking back over your essay, what is the key point that

should be hinted at in your title?should be hinted at in your title?What are some creative ways you can get your reader to What are some creative ways you can get your reader to

start thinking about that key point? Jot down some start thinking about that key point? Jot down some ideas for titles that will hook the reader, relate to your ideas for titles that will hook the reader, relate to your essay and prepare the reader to read the introduction.essay and prepare the reader to read the introduction.

NOTE: Do NOT punctuate your OWN titles with NOTE: Do NOT punctuate your OWN titles with quotation marks, italics, or underlining!quotation marks, italics, or underlining!

TitlesTitles

Title of the essay is size 12, Times New Title of the essay is size 12, Times New Roman, and is centered on the line Roman, and is centered on the line underneath the heading.underneath the heading.

Title of the essay is NOT underlined, bolded, Title of the essay is NOT underlined, bolded, italicized or put into quotation marks.italicized or put into quotation marks.

Title of any work you are discussing (article, Title of any work you are discussing (article, website, law case) is appropriately website, law case) is appropriately punctuated.punctuated.

Revision: PRESENTATIONRevision: PRESENTATION

Presentation is about the look of the piece—Presentation is about the look of the piece—its physical appearance, plain and simple. A its physical appearance, plain and simple. A visually appealing piece is a welcome mat. It visually appealing piece is a welcome mat. It invites the reader in. The whole purpose of invites the reader in. The whole purpose of this trait is to enhance readability—to make this trait is to enhance readability—to make information enticing and accessible. Layout information enticing and accessible. Layout might include appropriate fonts, white space, might include appropriate fonts, white space, graphic organizers, illustrations, and general graphic organizers, illustrations, and general presentation on the page.presentation on the page.

PRESENTATIONPRESENTATIONEnticing, pleasing layout—follows all the instructions Enticing, pleasing layout—follows all the instructions

for layoutfor layoutHeading is typed, complete, and in the upper right-Heading is typed, complete, and in the upper right-

hand corner.hand corner.Font is Times New Roman, size 12 Font is Times New Roman, size 12 Text color is black. Paper color is whiteText color is black. Paper color is whiteText on only the front side of the paperText on only the front side of the paperThe essay has one-inch margins on every side.The essay has one-inch margins on every side.Essay is double-spaced, but there are no extra skipped Essay is double-spaced, but there are no extra skipped

lines in the textlines in the textEach paragraph’s first line is indented. Each paragraph’s first line is indented. Works Cited page is formatted correctlyWorks Cited page is formatted correctly

Presentation Presentation Check for the following. If something isn’t Check for the following. If something isn’t

correct, make a note to fix it.correct, make a note to fix it.• Heading is typed, complete, and in the upper Heading is typed, complete, and in the upper

right-hand corner.right-hand corner.• Font is Font is Times New RomanTimes New Roman, size 12 , size 12 • Text color is black. Paper color is whiteText color is black. Paper color is white• Text on only the front side of the paperText on only the front side of the paper• The essay has one-inch margins on The essay has one-inch margins on everyevery side. side.• Essay is double-spaced, but there are no Essay is double-spaced, but there are no extraextra

skipped lines in the textskipped lines in the text• Each paragraph’s first line is indented. Each paragraph’s first line is indented.

HomeworkHomework

1.1. Finish all revisions & edits. Finish all revisions & edits.

2.2. Put essay in the correct layout Put essay in the correct layout using the guidelines given. using the guidelines given.

3.3. Print a newly revised copy of Print a newly revised copy of your essay and bring it to class your essay and bring it to class on TOMORROW.on TOMORROW.