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KnowledgeCity

Structural Editing

Learn structural editing skills
Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 6 lessons.
Course: On-Demand
Advanced Provider Genelle Richards  6 Lessons ·  14m  in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese 

Course Description

As an editor, you may be asked to look at a complete document and ensure that its overall structure works for its purpose. This can involve doing major rewrites, restructuring, examining word choice, and ensuring textual flow. Understanding how to successfully perform structural editing is crucial for any editor looking to make sure that the document is in the best possible shape and can properly convey the needed information.

In these lessons on Structural Editing, you’ll receive an in-depth look at this comprehensive editing process, in which a review of the entire document is necessary. We’ll start by defining what a document’s angle is. You’ll learn how you can determine a document’s angle while you’re reading it. From there, the next lesson will explain how to find the document’s key points and how that helps guide your structural edits. After that, you’ll learn about the four different narrative types—linear, nonlinear, historical, and descriptive—and the unique methods they use to provide information.

What You'll Learn

  • Describe the importance of structural editing and the comprehensive document review it requires
  • Define a document's angle and determine it while reading the document
  • Identify a document's key points and use them to guide structural edits
  • Explain the four narrative structures: linear, nonlinear, historical, and descriptive
  • Create a narrative structure for a document

Key Takeaways

  • Structural editing involves reviewing a complete document to ensure its overall structure works for its purpose.
  • It can involve major rewrites, restructuring, examining word choice, and ensuring textual flow.
  • Knowing a document's angle and key points helps guide structural edits.
  • The four narrative types—linear, nonlinear, historical, and descriptive—each use unique methods to provide information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is structural editing?

Structural editing is a comprehensive editing process in which an editor reviews a complete document to ensure its overall structure works for its purpose. It can involve major rewrites, restructuring, examining word choice, and ensuring textual flow.

Who is this course for?

It is for any editor looking to ensure a document is in the best possible shape and can properly convey the needed information.

What narrative structures does the course cover?

The course covers four narrative types: linear, nonlinear, historical, and descriptive, and the unique methods they use to provide information.

What lessons are included?

The course includes Introduction; Defining the Angle; Determine Key Points and Structure; Creating a Narrative Structure, Part 1; Creating a Narrative Structure, Part 2; and Test Your Knowledge.