Writing and Editing: Revising (Coursera)

Writing and Editing: Revising (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.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

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:
—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
—two digital libraries of excellent writing from a diverse collection of journalists, scientists, novelists, poets, historians, and entrepreneurs.
—a monthly “Good Sentences” email
Course 4 of 4 in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization.
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

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Editing and Empathy
This week, we will focus on becoming better readers of our own writing.

WEEK 2
Uselessly Accurate
This week, we will focus on eliminating uselessly accurate information.

WEEK 3
Writer→Reader
This week, we will focus on how to better communicate statistics.

WEEK 4
Feedback Loops
This week, we will focus on improving the reading inputs that affect our writing output.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Think Again IV: How to Avoid Fallacies (Coursera)

We encounter fallacies almost everywhere we look. Politicians, salespeople, and children commonly use fallacies in order to get you to think whatever they want you to think. It’s important to learn to recognize fallacies so that you can avoid being fooled by them. It’s also important to learn about fallacies so that you avoid making fallacious arguments yourself. This course will show you how to identify and avoid many of the fallacies that lead people astray. In this course, you will learn about fallacies. Fallacies are arguments that suffer from one or more common but avoidable defects: equivocation, circularity, vagueness, etc. It’s important to learn about fallacies so that you can recognize them when you see them, and not be fooled by them. It’s also important to learn about fallacies so that you avoid making fallacious arguments yourself.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
The Nature of Genius (Coursera) Coursera
Yale University

The Nature of Genius (Coursera)

Today "genius" is all around us. Celebrities, athletes, child prodigies, even your local Apple employees, all are referred to as geniuses. But are they? And if not these individuals then who? In this course, Henry L. and Lucy G. Moses Professor of Music Emeritus and author of The Hidden Habits of Genius, Craig Wright, will begin by giving you his definition and prerequisites for true genius and challenge you to come up with your own.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Business English: Meetings (Coursera) Coursera
University of Washington

Business English: Meetings (Coursera)

This course will teach you vocabulary and skills related to participating in meetings. You will learn terms and phrases used both in email and in speaking to arrange, participate in, and conclude meetings. The goals of this course are to enable you to participate effectively in on-site meetings and teleconferences and to prepare you to write a proposal as an outcome of a meeting.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Try RRI! A guide for Responsible Research and Innovation (Coursera) Coursera
University of Amsterdam

Try RRI! A guide for Responsible Research and Innovation (Coursera)

In this online course you will learn how to apply Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) in your own work. First by understanding why it is important to act responsibly in your research and innovation processes at all. In a second step, you will get introduced to several tools that will help make your own work in research and/or innovation more aware by introducing concepts of RRI.

Nov 9th 2026
3 Weeks
What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)? (Coursera) Coursera
University of Minnesota

What does it mean to identify as Transgender or Gender Non-Conforming (TGNC)? (Coursera)

In the last decade transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals have become increasingly visible in our families, culture, and public discourse. This course explores the concept of gender identity for people who are curious about the nature of gender, the process of gender affirmation, or changing social dynamics. Participants will learn the unique challenges faced by the TGNC population as well as develop the skills to build inclusive spaces in all spheres of their life. This course was developed under the Joycelyn Elders Chair for Sexual Health Education at the University of Minnesota.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Music for Wellness (Coursera) Coursera
Berklee College of Music

Music for Wellness (Coursera)

You love music. You listen to music all the time. Maybe you sing, play an instrument, or compose music. You don’t need to have musical talent to use music to enhance your well being, and even your health. Learn simple techniques to enrich your mind, body, and spirit through music. The methods can be applied in your daily life, particularly when you are feeling down or stressed out.

Nov 9th 2026
4 Weeks
Active Listening: Enhancing Communication Skills (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Active Listening: Enhancing Communication Skills (Coursera)

In workplace and personal interactions, mastering active listening is a crucial skill for effective communication and building meaningful relationships. This comprehensive course on Active Listening introduces learners to a range of techniques and strategies that empower them to become active listeners in various interpersonal contexts.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
Leveraging Virtual Assistants for Personal Productivity (Coursera) Coursera
Coursera Instructor Network

Leveraging Virtual Assistants for Personal Productivity (Coursera)

In a fast-paced world, managing personal productivity is crucial. This course introduces beginners to the world of virtual assistants and chatbots and how they can be harnessed to enhance personal productivity. Learn how to use these AI-driven tools effectively to streamline tasks, manage time, and boost overall efficiency.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week
How to Create Video for Online Courses (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

How to Create Video for Online Courses (Coursera)

Increasingly, as education pivots online, educators are looking to filmmaking as a way of creating new and exciting content. On this two-week course from the University of Edinburgh, you’ll learn how to turn your mobile phone into a full-featured video production suite to create effective and engaging online course videos and media. Develop the skills to script, storyboard, and film your videos.

Nov 8th 2026
2 Weeks
Corrección, estilo y variaciones de la lengua española (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Corrección, estilo y variaciones de la lengua española (Coursera)

¿Le interesa el idioma español y se preocupa por la corrección, el estilo y las variaciones de la lengua española? ¿Siente curiosidad acerca de las variaciones española y argentina o americana del Español estudiadas en textos cultos de referencia? En este curso se estudian empíricamente algunos aspectos relevantes de esas variedades de la lengua con datos significativos de las versiones hispanas de J. D. Salinger: «El cazador oculto», argentinas; y «El guardián entre el centeno», españolas.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Preparing for and Passing Technical Certifications (Coursera) Coursera
ROI Training

Preparing for and Passing Technical Certifications (Coursera)

Technology provides you with great opportunities for professional advancement, and technical certifications prove your knowledge, expertise, and hands-on experience to prospective employers or clients. It is extremely important to organizations like AWS, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, ITIL, PMI, and many others that their certifications prove technical expertise; otherwise, their certifications are of no value. That is why the exams are so hard. This course is intended to help you formulate an effective learning plan that will build the knowledge you need, not only to pass the exam but to be truly competent in the technology you are being tested on.

Nov 9th 2026
1 Week