MM13-c: Editing

MM13-cEditing a multimodal composition

Editing is a stage in which a composer takes a closer look at the composition and asks, Is it clear? Does it make sense? Editing a words-only composition means looking at words and sentences and the transitions between sentences and paragraphs. Editing a multimodal composition can be a bit more complicated, in part because multimodal projects require composers to work across different modes and sometimes across different software. As you edit your project, you might find the questions in the following chart helpful.

Editing multimodal compositions

Editing words

  • Have you chosen the clearest, most appropriate words for your purpose and audience?
  • Are your sentences and paragraphs in logical order?
  • Have you included transitions between sentences and paragraphs to improve the flow of your ideas?
  • Could your ideas be expressed in more concise language?
  • Do grammar or spelling errors distract from your message?

Editing sounds

  • Is the volume appropriate? Do any sounds drown out other elements?
  • Is the pace of the narration right? Not too slow or too fast?
  • Do you need more sound or more silence?
  • Is your sound synched properly to any static or moving images that go with it?

Editing static images

  • Have you chosen the clearest, most appropriate images for your purpose and audience?
  • Do you need more visual evidence? Do you have the right kind of visuals? Would a graph, for example, be better than a photograph for your composition?
  • Have you used captions as needed for the images? Some visuals can’t speak for themselves.
  • Are the images you’ve chosen presented at an appropriate size?

Editing moving images

  • If you’re using video clips, is the length appropriate?
  • Is the purpose of the moving images clear in your composition?
  • Are the moving images emphasizing the right content?

Editing for consistency and clarity

  • If you’ve made changes in one mode (edited words in the narration, for instance), do you need to make changes in another (edit words that appear on-screen)?
  • If you’ve produced slides, do they have a consistent design?
  • Are you using colors, font sizes, and headings purposefully and consistently?
  • If you have navigation elements in your project, is it clear to your users/viewers how to get from one place to another?

Crediting and citing

  • Have you cited the works you’re quoting from, paraphrasing, or summarizing?
  • Have you credited the artists whose music you’ve used?
  • Have you credited the creators of the paintings, photographs, or other images you’ve used?
  • Have you credited the composers of the video clips you’ve used?