Writing and Editing: Revising from Coursera

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; and (3) a monthly “Good Sentences” email.

What's inside

Syllabus

Editing and Empathy

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

Uselessly Accurate

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

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Develops editing and proofreading skills, which are essential for various forms of writing and communication

Belongs to a series of other courses, which provide a more comprehensive study of writing and editing

Taught by Patrick Barry, who is recognized for their work in writing and editing

Provides opportunities for receiving feedback from others, which is essential for developing editing and writing skills

Requires students to read widely, which exposes them to different writing styles and techniques

Provides access to resources such as books and digital libraries, which support learning beyond the duration of the course

Reviews summary

Mastering professional writing revision

According to students, this course provides a highly practical and impactful approach to revising written work. Learners consistently praise its actionable steps and the immediate applicability of concepts like 'un-numbing the numbers' for data communication and the structured feedback framework. While largely seen as a game-changer for professional and academic writing, a minority found it less suited for creative or narrative editing, wishing for more diverse examples. Overall, it serves as an excellent capstone to the series, offering valuable additional resources and promoting confidence in self-editing.

Offers a treasure trove of additional learning materials.

"The wealth of additional resources is a treasure trove, and I've already started exploring them."

"The materials from Michigan and Chicago were top-notch and add significant value."

"The 'Good Sentences' email is a nice bonus that keeps the learning going even after the course ends."

Course excels for academic and professional writing contexts.

"This course was a game-changer for my professional writing."

"As an academic, I found the section on communicating statistics invaluable."

"I feel much more confident in my ability to self-edit for my reports and academic papers."

Excellent modules on communicating statistics and feedback.

"As an academic, I found the section on communicating statistics invaluable."

"The framework for giving and receiving feedback is something I'll use constantly."

"The lessons on communicating data effectively are worth the price of admission alone."

Concepts are highly practical and immediately applicable.

"This course was a game-changer for my professional writing. The concepts of 'un-numbing the numbers' and the structured feedback loops were incredibly practical."

"I immediately applied what I learned to my reports, and the clarity improved significantly."

"The course provides solid frameworks I can apply immediately to any type of writing project."

More suited for technical/academic writing than creative.

"I was hoping for more specific techniques on stylistic editing for narrative or creative writing."

"It felt more geared towards technical or academic writing."

"I felt some parts were a bit repetitive if you've done a lot of editing before, especially in non-technical areas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Writing and Editing: Revising with these activities:

Review the basics of grammar and punctuation

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Refresh your knowledge of grammar and punctuation to improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.

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Take an online grammar and punctuation quiz.
Read articles and books about writing well.
Revise your own writing with a focus on grammar and punctuation.

Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams

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Organize your course materials to improve your ability to find and review information.

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Gather all of your course materials.
Create a system for organizing your materials.
Review your materials regularly.

Feedback Loop Exercises

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Improve your ability to give and receive constructive feedback by completing regular exercises.

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Find a writing partner and exchange drafts of your work.
Use the feedback framework provided in the course to guide your critiques.
Revise your work based on the feedback you receive.
Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the quality of your writing.

Four other activities

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Un-numbing the numbers

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Practice visualizing data and writing about statistics clearly.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Find a dataset that interests you.
Create a data visualization using a tool like Google Sheets or Excel.
Write a brief summary of the data, including any trends or patterns you observe.

Attend a workshop on editing and revision

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Attend a workshop on editing and revision to learn from experts and connect with other writers.

Browse courses on Editing

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Research workshops on editing and revision.
Choose a workshop that fits your interests and schedule.
Attend the workshop and participate actively.
Follow up with the workshop organizers or presenters after the event.

Write a blog post about a topic related to editing and revision

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Create a blog post about a topic related to editing and revision to deepen your understanding of the writing process.

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Choose a topic that interests you.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post of 500-800 words outlining your findings.
Publish your blog post on a platform like Medium.

Contribute to an open-source project related to writing and editing

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Contribute to an open-source writing and editing project to improve your skills and connect with other writers.

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Find an open-source project that interests you.
Review the project's documentation and contribution guidelines.
Make a small contribution to the project, such as fixing a bug or adding a new feature.
Submit your contribution for review.

Career center

Learners who complete Writing and Editing: Revising will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Content Editor

Content Editors work to shape and edit written materials to ensure clarity, consistency, and correctness. Revising is a cornerstone skill of a Content Editor, and this course offers practice with revising, as well as giving and receiving feedback that leads to the creation of higher quality written work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Editor

Editorial Assistant

An Editorial Assistant often needs to evaluate and edit written materials for grammar, spelling, and consistency. The focus on revising and editing in this course is directly applicable to this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editorial Assistant

Information Architect

Information Architects often create and refine structured content. Taking this course will bolster a foundation in revising written content to make it clear, concise, and compelling.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Architect

Knowledge Manager

Knowledge Managers help organizations capture, store, and share knowledge. Taking this course will help hone revising skills which are key for the development and maintenance of knowledge management systems and communications.

See salaries and explore the career path for Knowledge Manager

Medical Writer

Medical Writers must communicate complex information clearly and accurately. This course may help develop the skills needed to effectively write and edit medical content, including the ability to accurately present medical data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Proposal Writer

Proposal Writers use strong writing skills to prepare persuasive proposals for clients. Revising is a vital aspect of this role, and this course may be useful for developing that skill.

See salaries and explore the career path for Proposal Writer

Public Relations Specialist

Public Relations Specialists must be able to produce compelling and persuasive written content. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Science Writer

Science Writers must present complex scientific information in an accessible and engaging way. This course may be useful for practicing editing and revising written work to meet these goals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Science Writer

Speechwriter

Speechwriters play a key role in crafting speeches and presentations. While this course focuses on revising written text, it may still be helpful for developing a foundation in refining and editing written work.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speechwriter

Technical Writer

Technical Writers must be able to effectively communicate complex technical information to a range of audiences. This course may be helpful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

User Experience (UX) Writer

User Experience Writers are responsible for creating content that enhances the user experience. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Writer

Web Content Writer

Web Content Writers are responsible for creating and maintaining engaging and informative web content. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

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Instructional Designer

Instructional Designers develop and deliver learning experiences. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for creating effective learning materials.

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Journalist

Jornalists must be able to write clearly and concisely to convey information to a wide audience. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Marketing Communications Manager

Marketing Communications Managers plan and execute marketing communications campaigns. This course may be useful for developing the writing and revising skills necessary for success in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Communications Manager