Proofreading Theses and Dissertations (e-learning)
Understand the principles and process of proofreading theses and dissertations. Each section includes study notes and a commentary on the exercises, with examples and model answers where appropriate. There are 10 exercises throughout the course, giving you plenty of practice at honing your skills.
About the course
This course takes you through the steps needed to successfully gain and work through a job of proofreading a thesis or dissertation. In many respects, the work required is the same as for any other proofread – you check for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and consistency – but it is complicated by the fact that the thesis or dissertation must be the student’s own work. By the end of the course, you will understand the ethical issues that come with working on theses or dissertations; be able to communicate clearly with students and their supervisors about the work; be able to negotiate an appropriate fee for the work; and much more.
What the course will teach you
In many respects, the work required is the same as for any other proofread – you check for errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar and consistency – but it is complicated by the fact that the thesis or dissertation must be the student’s own work.
By the time you’ve completed this training, you will:
- understand the ethical issues that come with working on theses or dissertations
- be able to communicate clearly with students and their supervisors about the work
- be able to negotiate an appropriate fee for the work
- have learnt new skills that will help you to decide whether to take on a proofreading job
- understand the different formats in which a thesis or dissertation may be presented
- be able to provide feedback to your student clients and/or their supervisors
Course contents
Unit 1: Introduction
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The nature of theses and dissertations
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Why you might want to work in this area
Unit 2: First contact
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What you need to do when someone asks if you can proofread their thesis
Unit 3: Negotiation
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What to do when a student replies
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Assessing a sample
Unit 4: Ethics
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The ethics of proofreading theses and dissertations
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The grey areas you will come across
Unit 5: Different formats
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Handling a variety of file formats
Unit 6: Putting it all together
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Reviews previous units
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Two final exercises to consolidate your learning
What skills and tools do you need?
This course follows British English spelling, grammar and punctuation conventions in the main. You’ll also need:
- a basic understanding of the principles and practice of proofreading
- fluency in English
- familiarity with the functions of word processing programs – this course assumes use of MS Word (Office 365).
Prices, timescales and upgrade points
- Member: £115 + VAT
- Non-member: £190 + VAT
- Access to the course: 6 months
- Approximate study time to complete: 20 hours
- CIEP upgrade points: 3
Key course features
Structured training
Structured units cover a range of topics relevant to your chosen course.
Self-paced learning
With our e-learning courses, learn when you want at a pace that’s convenient for you.
Training portal
Access your course via our user-friendly online training portal. All e-learning courses are accessible through the portal for six months from the date of enrolment.
Extra help
Additional tutor support is available on our self-assessed courses for a small fee.
Self-assessed exercises
Hone your skills with self-assessed exercises and quizzes, and mark your own work against model answers.
Certificate
The CIEP offers training in exactly what I need, when I need it (or when I have the time to fit it in). The tutors are friendly, professional and accessible.
Please note: By booking onto an event or training course via the CIEP website, you are entering into a formal contract with the CIEP and accepting the following terms and conditions. Please make careful note of them, particularly regarding refunds and cancellations. If you have any questions please get in touch with us via email here.
