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

Patrick Barry

Offered By

Good with Words: Writing and Editing SpecializationUniversity of Michigan

About this Course

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This second course in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing series will help you become an effective architect of information, both with your sentences and with your paragraphs. You’ll learn that the traditional advice to “Show, don’t tell” is incomplete and that skilled writers actually switch back and forth between showing and telling.
You’ll also learn more about the menu of time management techniques introduced in the first course of the series, including “deep work,” “studio time,” and “the Animal Farm Principle.” And as with the other three courses in this series, you will 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 2 of 4 in the

Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Requires a basic understanding of writing and the English language

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

What you will learn

Learn how structure can be used to generate content

Place corresponding ideas in corresponding forms

Add nuance to your writing by using anadiplosis

Identify and assess when to use sentences with varying lengths

Skills you will gain

PersuasionCreativityWritingTime managementEditing

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Course 2 of 4 in the

Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Requires a basic understanding of writing and the English language

Approx. 16 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Chinese (Simplified), Italian, Vietnamese, Korean, German, Russian, Turkish, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.92/5 (49 Ratings)

Patrick Barry

Clinical Assistant Professor of Law

Michigan Law School

43,168 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

Content Rating98%(1,151 ratings)

Week

Week 1

5 hours to complete

Sentence Flow

In this first week, you will be introduced to instructor Patrick Barry and begin to learn about sentence flow and structure. In-video questions will direct you to content previously covered in the first course of this specialization.

5 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 14 min), 16 readings, 7 quizzes

9 videos

Introduction1m

Sentence Flow53s

Architects of Information2m

Architects of Time3m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Deviations from Coordinating Conjunction Rules2m

Notes on Nuance: "If"1m

Takeaways1m

Student Takeaway: Old Friends34s

Student Takeaway: Architect of Time38s

16 readings

Teaching Style + Resources3m

Help Us Learn More About You!10m

Good with Words Chapter 8 ("Clarity and Coherence")20m

Class Clips10m

Exercise—Old Friends30m

Spotting Sentences3m

Exercise—Spotting Sentences (Percentages)10m

Edit Our Edits2m

Good Writing, Good Teacher5m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Introduction and Review10m

Notes on Nuance: Introduction and Review10m

Notes on Nuance: "If" and "If Not"10m

Exercise—Good Sentences (Finance)20m

Exercise—Takeaways Reflection5m

7 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice10m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Positive Deviance5m

Nuance Practice: "If" and "If Not"5m

Nuance Review: "If Not" and "Almost"5m

Weekly Review (Graded)20m

Week

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Corresponding Ideas in Corresponding Form

This week's content will focus on how structure can be used to generate content.

4 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 11 min), 15 readings, 9 quizzes

8 videos

Previously On1m

Previously On: Venn Diagram2m

Previously On: Architect of Information1m

Punctuation and Professionalism—Coordinating Conjunctions (Deviation Part II)2m

Notes on Nuance: "As"1m

Takeaways56s

Student Takeaway: Nifty Not19s

Student Takeaway: Agreement21s

15 readings

Previously On: Introduction and Review5m

Exercise—Previously On10m

Good with Words Chapter 7 ("Corresponding Ideas in Corresponding Forms")20m

Class Clips10m

Exercise—Agreement15m

Class Clips10m

Exercise—Omit20m

Exercise—Nifty Not20m

Nifty Not: Fan Favorite?2m

(Optional) Rhetorical Repetition10m

Rhetorical Repetition: Fan Favorite? 3m

Resource Request (Structure and Organization)5m

Notes on Nuance: "As"10m

Exercise—Good Sentences (War)10m

Exercise—Takeaways10m

9 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice 7m

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice (Awkward Repetition)5m

Low-Stakes Practice (Rhetorical Repetition)5m

Punctuation Practice: Positive Deviance Part II 5m

Nuance Practice: "As"5m

Weekly Review (Graded)15m

Week

Week 3

3 hours to complete

Show and Tell

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 11 min), 11 readings, 6 quizzes

7 videos

Previously On43s

Previously On: Symmetry is What You See at a Glance1m

Show and Tell1m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Conjunctions Affect Other Conjunctions3m

Nuance Spotlight: Jane Austen2m

Takeaways35s

Student Takeaway: Summary and Scene34s

11 readings

Exercise—Previously On: Reflection10m

Show and Tell10m

Exercise—Summary and Scene (Optional)20m

Exercise—Reverse Outline (Optional)1m

Student-->Teacher (Optional)20m

(Optional) Word Choice, Word Confusion10m

Exercise—Who vs. Whom5m

Nuance Spotlight: Jane Austen10m

The Jane Austen Centre (Quizzes and Movies)10m

Good Sentences (Intellectual Property)15m

Exercise—Takeaways Reflection10m

6 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Low-Stakes Practice (Who vs. Whom)5m

Punctuation Practice: Conjunctions Affect Other Conjunctions5m

Nuance Practice: Jane Austen5m

Weekly Review (Graded)15m

Week

Week 4

3 hours to complete

Paragraphing

3 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 10 min), 11 readings, 5 quizzes

7 videos

Previously On41s

Previously On: Old Information to New Information2m

Punctuation and Professionalism: Nonrules ("And" and "But")3m

Notes on Nuance: At Once1m

Takeaways29s

Student Takeaway: Paragraphing29s

Next Course43s

11 readings

Exercise—Previously On: Reflection10m

Paragraphing15m

Exercise—The Rhythm of Roth (Optional)15m

Raindrops vs. Waterfalls: What is the Structure of Your Text Messages?10m

Notes on Nuance: "At Once"10m

Good Sentences (Medicine)15m

Exercise—Takeaways Reflection10m

Book Recommendations (Travel)3m

Exercise—Thank You Letter (Optional) 3m

Course Feedback10m

Keep Learning with Michigan Online10m

5 practice exercises

Low-Stakes Practice5m

Punctuation Practice: Starting a Sentence with "And" or "But"5m

Nuance Practice ("At Once")5m

Weekly Review (Graded)15m

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.
Will I earn university credit for completing the Course?
This Course doesn't carry university credit, but some universities may choose to accept Course Certificates for credit. Check with your institution to learn more. Online Degrees and Mastertrack™ Certificates on Coursera provide the opportunity to earn university credit.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization