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.
Offered By
Good with Words: Writing and Editing SpecializationUniversity of MichiganAbout this Course
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Shareable Certificate
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Course 4 of 4 in the
Flexible deadlines
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Beginner Level
Approx. 13 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
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
Flexible deadlines
Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.
Beginner Level
Approx. 13 hours to complete
English
Subtitles: English
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
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), 14 readings, 5 quizzes
6 videos
Ken Burns, Alice Waters, and Ira Glass3m
Punctuation and Professionalism: Dependent Clauses3m
Takeaways1m
Student Takeaway: Extra Ear30s
Student Takeaway: Sound and Sense20s
14 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
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
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Punctuation Practice: Dependent Clauses5m
Nuance Practice: James Baldwin5m
Weekly Review (Graded)30m
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), 10 readings, 7 quizzes
7 videos
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
10 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
Edit Our Edits2m
5 practice exercises
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Punctuation Practice: Isadora Duncan→Duncan, Isadora3m
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Weekly Review (Graded)30m
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 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 Practice5m
Low-Stakes Practice 5m
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Punctuation Practice: If, Then5m
Nuance Practice10m
Weekly Review (Graded)30m
3 hours to complete
Feedback Loops
This week, we will focus on improving the reading inputs that affect our writing output.
3 hours to complete
10 videos (Total 23 min), 9 readings, 3 quizzes
10 videos
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
9 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
3 practice exercises
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Low-Stakes Practice5m
Weekly Review (Graded)30m
Reviews
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 MSJun 25, 2020
The first time I didn't loathe the instructor or what they taught. That speaks way more than just volumes
by DJAug 3, 2020
The course is a very good course to enhance your skills and helps you become an architect of words
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.
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What will I get if I subscribe to this Specialization?
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Is financial aid available?
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