English 403
Dr. Willerton
Fall 2008

Levels of Edit (Review)

The JPL's document

The types of edit:

1. Coordination        5 4 3 2 1
2. Policy                  5 4 3 2 1
3. Integrity              4 3 2 1
4. Screening             4 3 2 1  
5. Copy Clarification  3 2 1  
6. Format                 3 2 1
7. Mechanical Style    2 1
8. Language              2 1
9. Substantive           1

See Jean Weber's page; check her categories of editing (substantive, copy editing, production editing) and types of editing (rule-based, analysis-based).

Editing and Document Development

The most effective editing occurs throughout the development process, not at the end of a project. The JoAnn Hackos model is similar to the life-cycle model of product development.

Without a life-cycle model, the tech writing process is usually "Write until someone tells you to stop." (Hackos in Managing Your Documentation Projects, Wiley, 1994)

Further description of Hackos' Information Process Maturity Model is online here.

1. Starting the project—information planning.

• Allow time for planning (and revising the plan) with each project.

2. Establishing specific tasks and deadlines—content specification.

• Develop specifications for the content.

• Identify different tasks, and different types of tasks

• Develop a schedule for each task.

• Set priorities.

3. Keeping the project running—implementation.

• Adjust priorities.

• Manage document reviews.

• Notify project members of progress.

4. Managing the production phase—production.

• Chart the progress.

• Keep records.

5. Ending the project—evaluation.

• Have a 'post mortem' meeting.

• Celebrate successes.

• Note areas of potential improvement.