Write On!, 0621 WYBJ, Vol. 44 No. 3. 52

• Author: John H. Ridge, J.D., Ph.D. Fort Collins, Colorado
• Position: Vol. 44 3 Pg. 52

Write On!

Vol. 44 No. 3 Pg. 52

Wyoming Bar Journal

June, 2021

Developing Effective Editing Skills: Part 2

John H. Ridge, J.D., Ph.D. Fort Collins, Colorado

In Part 1 of this article series we introduced the six stages of effective editing: (i) familiarization, (ii) organizational editing, (iii) stylistic editing, (iv) grammatical editing, (v) proofreading, and (vi) rule compliance.^[1] Part 1 also discussed the elements of the first stage, which include reading the entire document before making editing changes, and engaging the writer to better understand the writing's purpose and intended audience. In this Part 2, we will discuss the second and third stages.

Stage Two: Organizational Editing

Organizational editing focuses not on the words of the writing itself, but on the general structure of the writing. It looks at the organization of the sections, paragraphs, and sentences, and the reasonableness of the arguments and explanations. Here, editors are looking to assist the writer by improving a document's effectiveness, organization, and coherence.

Examining the Purpose: Having determined what the purpose of the writing is in Stage One, effective editors then look to see if that purpose has been satisfied. For example, if we are editing a client letter, we need to determine if it successfully informs the client by responding to the questions asked. If we are reviewing a dispositive motion, we need to establish whether it persuades the court by clearly explaining what is being requested and why the requested relief should be granted. The purpose of the writing should be easily identified—preferably at the beginning of the writing—and the rest of the writing should reasonably and cogently support that purpose.

Reviewing the Introduction: If the purpose has been met, effective editors then turn to the introduction and ask whether it contains an adequate roadmap that guides a reader through the body of the document. This does not have to be a step-by-step playbook, but it should at least address the major issues to come.

Reviewing the Headings: Next, effective editors check the headings to ensure that they adhere to the roadmap provided in the introduction, and that they adequately convey the issues or arguments. In a brief or motion, the headings should give a reader a short preview of the pending arguments, providing the reader with an introduction to and the logical flow of...