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Patrick Barry
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
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.
Register for this course and see more details by visiting:
OpenCourser.com/course/nydifr/writing
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Writer→Reader
This week, we will focus on how to better communicate statistics.
Feedback Loops
This week, we will focus on improving the reading inputs that affect our writing output.
Good to know
Good to know
Know what's good ,
what to watch for , 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
Save this course
Save Writing and Editing: Revising to your list so you can find it easily later:
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Reviews summary
Engaging writing and editing skills
Learners say this course is largely positive. It offers engaging assignments and insightful videos that make learning enjoyable. They especially praise the instructor, Professor Barry, for his clear and engaging teaching style. The course covers core concepts of writing and editing, including revision, structure, and style. Students highlight the practical examples and helpful exercises that enhance their understanding. They also appreciate the diverse range of readings and writing samples provided. Overall, students find this course effective in improving their writing and editing skills.
The course emphasizes the importance of revision.
"This course is about writing, and I learned so much about reading also."
"Wonderful finish-off for this specialization. I would say the most effective thing about Professor Barry and his assistants' teaching style is how they encourage personalization, self-pacing, and empathy."
The course provides wide-ranging readings and writing samples.
"The course is very helpful for both my professional and personal life."
"Professor Barry's essays are an excellent addition for this course; reading them helped me see how to apply many concepts I learned throughout this specialization, including the nuance moves and punctuation best practices."
The course includes hands-on assignments and exercises.
"I have learned how to write and edit with practical examples."
"I did forget to leave this feedback on a previous review I gave, but I wish I had known this course was 4 of 4 prior to joining this class."
"In this course, I reinforced my editing skills and learned many others. It is a dynamic course with practice exercises that will challenge your editing knowledge."
Professor Barry is knowledgeable and engaging.
"Professor Barry is a great teacher. He explained the whole "menu of concepts" clearly, warmly and well."
"Professor Barry made everything enjoyable, and he made me love writing more."
"Thank you for a very insightful, inspiring, and engaging course!"
The course is tailored for law students.
"The course was a bit boring and not very well organized."
"The course was interesting and insightful. It helped me to systematize the knowledge I had before and taught me how to work with writing and in the process of writing."
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
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge of grammar and punctuation to improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.
Browse courses on
Grammar
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Organize your course materials to improve your ability to find and review information.
Browse courses on
Organization
Show steps
-
Gather all of your course materials.
-
Create a system for organizing your materials.
-
Review your materials regularly.
Feedback Loop Exercises
Show steps
Improve your ability to give and receive constructive feedback by completing regular exercises.
Browse courses on
Feedback
Show steps
-
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
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Un-numbing the numbers
Show steps
Practice visualizing data and writing about statistics clearly.
Browse courses on
Data Visualization
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Attend a workshop on editing and revision to learn from experts and connect with other writers.
Browse courses on
Editing
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Create a blog post about a topic related to editing and revision to deepen your understanding of the writing process.
Browse courses on
Editing
Show steps
-
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
Show steps
Contribute to an open-source writing and editing project to improve your skills and connect with other writers.
Browse courses on
Open-Source
Show steps
-
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.
Review the basics of grammar and punctuation
Show steps
Refresh your knowledge of grammar and punctuation to improve the clarity and accuracy of your writing.
Browse courses on
Grammar
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Organize your course materials to improve your ability to find and review information.
Browse courses on
Organization
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- Gather all of your course materials.
- Create a system for organizing your materials.
- Review your materials regularly.
Feedback Loop Exercises
Show steps
Improve your ability to give and receive constructive feedback by completing regular exercises.
Browse courses on
Feedback
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Un-numbing the numbers
Show steps
Practice visualizing data and writing about statistics clearly.
Browse courses on
Data Visualization
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Attend a workshop on editing and revision to learn from experts and connect with other writers.
Browse courses on
Editing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Create a blog post about a topic related to editing and revision to deepen your understanding of the writing process.
Browse courses on
Editing
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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
Show steps
Contribute to an open-source writing and editing project to improve your skills and connect with other writers.
Browse courses on
Open-Source
Show steps
Show steps
Show steps
- 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 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.
Editorial Assistant
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.
Information Architect
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.
Knowledge Manager
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.
Medical Writer
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.
Public Relations Specialist
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.
Proposal 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.
Science Writer
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.
Technical Writer
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.
Speechwriter
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.
Web Content 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.
User Experience (UX) 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.
Instructional Designer
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.
Journalist
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.
Marketing Communications Manager
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.
For more career information including salaries, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/nydifr/writing
Reading list
We've selected nine books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Writing and Editing: Revising.
This concise and influential guide to writing style must-read for anyone who wants to improve their writing.
Save
This practical and entertaining guide to writing is full of useful advice on how to improve your writing style, clarity, and effectiveness.
Save
This memoir and writing guide offers a unique and inspiring perspective on the writing process, encouraging writers to embrace their imperfections and find joy in the act of writing.
Save
This comprehensive style guide is an essential reference for writers in all fields, providing guidance on grammar, punctuation, citation, and other writing conventions.
This massive dictionary is the definitive reference for the English language, providing comprehensive definitions and etymologies for millions of words.
Save
This concise and authoritative dictionary valuable resource for writers of all levels, providing clear and concise definitions for hundreds of thousands of words.
This comprehensive dictionary valuable resource for writers who want to improve their vocabulary and understanding of the English language.
This dictionary is designed for advanced learners of English, providing comprehensive definitions and usage examples for thousands of words.
This dictionary is designed for intermediate and advanced learners of English, providing clear and concise definitions for thousands of words.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/course/nydifr/writing
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Level
Introductory
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University of Michigan
Instructor
Patrick Barry
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English
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This course belongs to a
collection
called
Good with Words: Writing and Editing. It's comprised of four courses:
- Writing and Editing: Drafting
- Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization
- Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order
- Writing and Editing: Revising (viewing)
Good to know
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
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