Week 15- Dana Shumway

I can’t believe we’ve made it to our final week in Communication Editing. This class has been a challenge for me, but I am happy to say that I’ve survived. I have learned a lot during this semester. 

This week we had the opportunity to put our editing skills to the test. I actually had the chance to edit a couple of papers for different individuals. I’ve always thought that editing strictly included correcting grammatical errors but this week I learned that it is so much more. Editing is a form of coaching. Editing requires you to take the time to meet with the writer to understand their thoughts about their piece. 

This week I was able help my sister in law with her paper; I talked to her about her different struggles and challenges with the paper. Through this experience I learned that editors need have an open mind and listening ear when they work with writers. Editors also need to realize that their way of writing isn’t “the only right way.” I think that each of have a different way of expressing our thoughts, and it is important as an editor to remember that our way isn’t the only way.

My grammatical error comes from Facebook again.

This should say the following:

“There’s nothing like sitting in your vehicle on the first day of December watching two policeman write out tickets for a three car wreck. Of course I was the one in the front (vehicle). Merry Christmas and slow the crap down.”