This course is part of the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

4.8
stars
162 ratings

Patrick Barry

7,663 already enrolled

Offered By

Included with

Unlimited access to 3,000+ courses, Guided Projects, Specializations, and Professional Certificates.

Learn More

Good with Words: Writing and Editing SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

About this Course

22,612 recent views

This fourth and final course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will help you master perhaps the most important step in the writing process: revising. You’ll learn about the difference between editing and proofreading. You’ll practice “un-numbing the numbers” so that data and statistics you use are clear and compelling. And you’ll be introduced to a framework for giving and receiving feedback that helpfully systematizes what should be cut and what should be kept from each draft.
As with the other three courses in this series, you will also get access to a wide range of books and other resources you can use even after you finish the course. These include:

(1)the readings and exercises provided to the students who have taken the in-person version of this course at the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago;

(2)two digital libraries of excellent writing from a diverse collection of journalists, scientists, novelists, poets, historians, and entrepreneurs; 

(3)a monthly “Good Sentences” email.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 4 of 4 in the

Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Javanese, Russian, English, Spanish

What you will learn

Learn how to become a better reader of your own writing

Apply the E-D-I-T framework

Identify uselessly accurate information

Create multiple ways to communicate the same data

Skills you will gain

PersuasionCreativityWritingTime managementEditing

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 4 of 4 in the

Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 14 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Portuguese (Brazilian), Vietnamese, German, Javanese, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.92/5 (42 Ratings)

Patrick Barry

Clinical Assistant Professor of Law

Michigan Law School

53,589 Learners

4 Courses

Offered by

University of Michigan

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Editing and Empathy

This week, we will focus on becoming better readers of our own writing.

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 10 min), 15 readings, 5 quizzes

6 videos

Introduction1m

Ken Burns, Alice Waters, and Ira Glass3m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Dependent Clauses3m

Takeaways1m

Student Takeaway: Extra Ear30s

Student Takeaway: Sound and Sense20s

15 readings

Teaching Style + Resources 2m

Help Us Learn More About You!10m

Editing and Empathy10m

User-friendly 1m

Class Clips: Editing vs. Proofreading15m

Exercise—Proofreading Practice10m

Good with Words Chapter 4 ("Sound and Sense")20m

Class Clips10m

Edit Our Edits2m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Introduction and Review10m

Notes on Nuance: Introduction and Review15m

Nuance Spotlight: James Baldwin 3m

Good Sentences: Introduction and Review5m

Good Sentences (Style)10m

Takeaways Reflection Activity10m

5 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Punctuation Practice: Dependent Clauses5m

Nuance Practice: James Baldwin5m

Weekly Review (Graded)30m

Week

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Uselessly Accurate

This week, we will focus on eliminating uselessly accurate information.

4 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 13 min), 9 readings, 7 quizzes

7 videos

Previously On1m

Steve Jobs3m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Isadora Duncan → Duncan, Isadora3m

Nuance Spotlight: William F. Buckley, Jr.2m

Takeaways39s

Student Takeaway: 100 Words16s

Student Takeaway: Uselessly Accurate26s

9 readings

Previously On: Reflection Activity10m

Class Clips10m

Exercise—The Writer's Diet (Flabby or Fit?)7m

Good with Words Chapter 6 ("Uselessly Accurate")20m

Experiment ("100 Words") 1m

Class Clips10m

Nuance Spotlight: William F. Buckley Jr.5m

Good Sentences (Punctuation)10m

Activity - Takeaways Reflection5m

5 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Punctuation Practice: Isadora Duncan→Duncan, Isadora3m

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Weekly Review (Graded)30m

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Writer→Reader

This week, we will focus on how to better communicate statistics.

3 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 19 min), 8 readings, 7 quizzes

8 videos

Previously On49s

Previously On: Clutter2m

Writer → Reader3m

Discipline of Breaks3m

Attention Restoration1m

Punctuation and Professionalism: If, Then4m

Notes on Nuance: "What _____ is to _____"1m

Takeaways1m

8 readings

Activity - Previously On Reflection10m

Class Clips10m

Multitasking Sentences2m

Exercise—Word Choice, Word Confusion10m

Notes on Nuance: "What _____ is to _____"5m

Good Sentences (Corresponding Clearly)10m

(Optional) Exercise—Credit Check15m

Takeaways Reflection Activity10m

7 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice 5m

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Punctuation Practice: If, Then5m

Nuance Practice10m

Weekly Review (Graded)30m

Week

Week 4

4 hours to complete

Feedback Loops

This week, we will focus on improving the reading inputs that affect our writing output.

4 hours to complete

10 videos (Total 23 min), 10 readings, 4 quizzes

10 videos

Previously On35s

Previously On: The Discipline of Breaks2m

Shot Selection51s

Un-numb the Numbers 3m

Keep/Cut4m

E-D-I-T5m

Takeaways: Premortem4m

Student Takeaway: Premortem26s

Student Takeaway: Keep/Cut42s

Student Takeaway: Un-numb the Numbers38s

10 readings

Previously On: Reflection Activity10m

Shot Selection15m

Exercise—Shot Selection10m

Un-Numb the Numbers10m

Exercise—"E-D-I-T"10m

Good Sentences (Habits and Habitats)10m

Takeaways Reflection Activity5m

Book Recommendations (Memoir)10m

Course Feedback10m

Keep Learning with Michigan Online10m

4 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice: Un-numb the Numbers2m

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Weekly Review (Graded)30m

Reviews

4.8

37 reviews

5 stars
86.58%
4 stars
11.58%
3 stars
1.82%

TOP REVIEWS FROM WRITING AND EDITING: REVISING

by KZJul 9, 2020

A wonderful course. It has opened my eyes to the power of editing and has given me the tools to maximize the impacts of my revisions of the final writing product.

by SKSep 7, 2020

I have learned how to write and edit with practical examples. The course is good to learn and practice, I am so grateful to Prof. Patrick Barry and Coursera.

by MLMar 29, 2021

Excellent course. Professor Barry brings English to life through engaging lectures and video presentations, to recommended readings, the course flows.

by SONov 12, 2020

Never knew learning could be so much fun. This course has really made me review and improve on my drafting and editing skills. Highly recommended

View all reviews

About the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Perhaps the most important thing students and professionals of all kinds can do to improve their effectiveness is embrace the following advice: become good with words.

This series of courses targets the writing side of that recommendation. The skills it focuses on include everything from how to arrange a complex set of information in a reader-friendly way, to how to give and receive high-quality feedback, to how to consistently hit deadlines. Part of Professor Barry’s proceeds from this course will be donated to the COVID-19 relief efforts of Ozone House, a shelter for homeless youth in Southeastern Michigan where he regularly conducts job-training workshops. These proceeds come from purchases of the version of the course that earns you a certificate. The course remains free for anyone who is simply auditing.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes, Coursera provides financial aid to learners who cannot afford the fee. Apply for it by clicking on the Financial Aid link beneath the "Enroll" button on the left. You'll be prompted to complete an application and will be notified if you are approved. You'll need to complete this step for each course in the Specialization, including the Capstone Project. Learn more.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Writing and Editing: Revising