EMPOWERED to EDIT

1. EMPOWERED to EDIT A mini-workshop to teach students to revise their own writing before submitting it for evaluation A Student Support Services WorkshopTroy University (Main Campus)

2. First, Consider Where Editing Fits in the Writing process • Invention • Collection • Organization • Drafting • Editing/Revising • Proofreading (Finalizing) Slide Source: Purdue Online Writing Lab or Power Point

3. Empowered to Edit • Empowered – equipped or supplied with ability • Edit – to correct, revise or adapt Source: The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4th ed. Boston/ New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

4. Editing • Editing is what you begin doing as soon as you finish your first draft. • Editing requires you to re-read to see, for example, if the paper is well- organized, the transitions between paragraphs are smooth, and your evidence really backs up your argument.

5. Editfor: • Content Does essay or writing assignment satisfy requirements? • Overall Structure Introduction w/ topic sentence and thesis Body paragraphs w/ topic sentences, details, and transitions) conclusion (restated thesis)

6. Editfor: • Clarity Are important or unique terms clearly defined? • Tone and Style Is language audience-appropriate? jargon-free? slang-free? • Citations Have you correctly documented source material? Source: University of North Carolina. http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/proofanswer.html

7. Editing includes Checking for and Correcting Citations for . . . • Direct quotes • Paraphrases (rephrased or summarized material) • Phrases taken directly from sources • Words specific or unique to the author's research, theories, or ideas • Use of an author's argument or line of thinking • Historical, statistical, or scientific facts • Articles or studies you may refer to within your text Source: University of North Carolina. http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/proofanswer.html

8. Editing is not Proofreading • Proofreading is different from editing. • Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process, focusing on surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation. • You should proofread only after you have finished all of your other editing revisions.

9. Proofreading is a challenge • Professional editors proofread as many as ten times. Publishing houses hire teams of readers to work in pairs, reading out loud, and still, errors occur. • Remember that it is twice as hard to detect mistakes in your own work as it is to detect errors in someone else's work! Source: Division of Student Affairs. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. http://www.ucc.vt.edu/stdysk/proofing.html

10. When Editing or Proofreading • Prepare to read your draft carefully and multiple times. Patience is a requirement, not an option. • Prepare to accept criticism and suggestions. Pride stands in the way of much progress. • Prepare to rewrite portions of your draft if errors are abundant. Rewriting may be a necessary inconvenience.

11. Remember: • Editing is what you begin doing as soon as you finish your first draft. • Editing requires you to make corrections. • After editing and developing your revised draft, Proofread. Proofread last.

12. When Editing, Look for • Information (Processing) Problems Logic Problems (Fallacies) Context Problems (inappropriate word choice) When Proofreading, Look for: • Physical (Presentation) problems Usage Problems (Did you follow Standard American English usage guidelines?)

13. Standard American English (SAE) Usage Definition: The use or application of American English words or commonly-recognized American expressions, definitions, pronunciations, spellings, and grammar in oral and written communications

14. Remember: Edit to Correct Information Problems Information (Processing) Problems include: • Logic (Fallacies) Problems • Context (inappropriate word choice) Problems In other words, does what you have written make sense to you and will it make sense to others?

15. Edit to Correct Logic Problems If information does not make sense to you or others, then a LOGIC problem may be the “reason.” Logic: valid reasoning; one’s method of reasoning Source: The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4th ed. Boston/ New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

16. Is Your Writing Logical ? Examine Your Logic by looking at your premises. You can make a point (called the conclusion) by using two valid sentences called premises Example of clear Logic (Syllogism): • Premise: All dogs have a liver. • Premise: Loco is a dog. • Conclusion: Therefore, Loco has a liver. Source: abcteach.com This set of three (3) sentences = Syllogism.

17. Syllogism • The syllogismon the previous slideis valid. • Syllogism = a conclusion based on deductive reasoning • Deductive reasoning -- a specific conclusion based on generalizations. Example of Deductive Reasoning: You have a dog house in your backyard; so, I deduce that you have a dog. • Syllogismincludes these three parts: (1) a major premise; (2) a minor premise; and (3) a conclusion.

18. Syllogism • Syllogismincludes these three parts: (1) a major premise; (2) a minor premise; and (3) a conclusion. • Syllogism Equation is: Major Premise + Minor Premise = Conclusion Equation indicates the presence of balance.

19. Logic = A Powerful Balance Logic empowers writers by balancing their arguments. Remember: If the two premises are true, then the conclusionmust be true. That’s the balancing power of logic. Truths = Truths Facts = Facts Source: abcteach.com

20. Edit Fallacies A fallacy is an error or flawed deduction. Example Premise: Marney jumped inside the house. Premise: An earthquake then started. Conclusion: Therefore, Marney caused an earthquake. It’s unlikely that Marney or any other human being caused an earthquake, regardless of weight. Earthquakes are a geological phenomenon. Therefore, the syllogism is invalid ( fallacious). Source: abcteach.com

21. General Types of Fallacies • Non Sequitur (it does not follow): Stop Following Me! One does not necessarily or always follow two. Just because Marny jumped before the earthquake started does not mean that the earthquake started because Marny jumped. • Ad Hominem: You’re Wrong Because You’re Stupid. (a character attack) – Think about political advertisements and the divisive nature of those ads. • Distraction: Don’t Look Over Here! Laura Winslow, you’re either in love with Steve Urkle or you hate his guts. So you say you don’t hate his guts? Then you’re in love with Urkle! • Unsubstantiated Conclusions: Where did that come from? We need to ban soda-drinking in public places. Careless people throw soda cans all over the parking lot. Therefore, we need to make soda-drinking illegal. Source: abcteach.com

22. How to Edit Fallacies • Rethink your premises (statements given as evidence for reaching a conclusion). • Rethink your conclusion (opinion based on facts, evidence or premises). • Define terms to make sure you are using terms in logical context. Ask yourself: Does my language make sense to me? Will it likely make sense to others?) • Rewrite your premises and conclusion.

23. Edit Your “Self” :Is Logicbiasedbecause of Particularism? • Bias - logic that is weakened because of the infusion of prejudices or preferences; lacks objectivity. • Particularism – Interest in one’s own values to the exclusion of other’s values Source: The American Heritage College Dictionary. 4th ed. Boston/ New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

24. Edit to CorrectContext Problems Is your word choice clear? ~ Is your language appropriate for your audience? ~ Does your language add clarity or does it create chaos and confusion? ~ Are you using the right word? (Remember homonyms sound alike but have different meanings) Example: Effect / Affect Effect (noun: consequence or results) Affect (verb: to cause or make one to feel)

25. When Proofreading, Check Revised Draft for Physical Problems: • Subject-Verb Errors • Shifting or Vague Points of View • Non-Parallel Construction • Sentence Run-ons and Fragments • Word Errors: Misspelled, Repeated, or Omitted Words

26. WORKSHOP ACTIVITY • Please See Handout. • Please submit handout before leaving workshop. • Please complete evaluation sheet and return to workshop instructor before you leave today.

27. Sources Sources • Clip Art: http://school.discovery.com/clipart/category/anmt.html • Logical Fallacies. Retrieved 6 June 2006 <The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University @ http://owl.english.purdue.edu/writinglab/> • Logical Fallacies. Retrieved 6 June 2006 <Logical Fallacies retrieved athttp://abcteach.com> • Kennedy, X. J., Dorothy M. Kennedy, Marcia F. Muth, and Sylvia Holladay. The Bedford Guide for College Writers, With Reader. 7th ed. Boston: St. Martin’s, 2005.

28. Conclusion • SSS hopes this presentation has given you some useful information. • Please complete a Seminar Evaluation form before you leave and stop by SSS to complete an online Academic Seminar Summary so that we may document your participation. • Feel free to suggest any other topics that you would like to see presented. Phone: 334-670-5985. • Thank you, and have a great learning experience here at Troy University.

29. -- The End -- EMPOWERED to EDIT A Student Support Services WorkshopTroy University (Main Campus)