Clinical Assistant Professor of Law
Writing and Editing: Drafting
What You'll Learn
- Understand and reflect on the cost of perfectionism in writing
- Conduct a “pre-mortem” before starting a writing draft
- Identify summaries and scenes
- Apply the “nothing else” and “need to know” principles
4 Modules
16 Hours
4 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Writing and Editing: Drafting
This third course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will give you a number of strategies to help with what is often the most intimidating, even paralyzing part of the writing process: getting started.
You’ll learn about the “planning fallacy” and “temptation bundling.” You’ll get a chance to experiment with “freewriting” and “writing before you are ready.” And you’ll continue to benefit, through our ongoing “Good Sentences” and “Takeaways” segments, from the models and advice of a diverse set of writers.
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.
Skills You'll Gain
- Basic Writing
- Creativity
- Editing
- Paragraphs
- Proofreading
- Structured Writing
- Time Management
- Writing Outlines
What You'll Earn
- Certificate of Completion:
- Certificates of completion acknowledge knowledge acquired upon completion of a non-credit course or program.
Welcome Message
Welcome to Writing and Editing: Drafting, the third course in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing specialization. This course focuses on the habits, mindsets, and strategies that support effective drafting, from overcoming writer’s block to managing perfectionism and planning realistically. You will practice writing before you feel ready, develop sustainable workflows, and strengthen clarity through purposeful word choice.
This abbreviated syllabus description was created with the help of AI tools and reviewed by staff. The full syllabus is available to those who enroll in the course.
Course Schedule
Module 1: The Fantasy of the Uninitiated
- Reading: Teaching Style + Resources
- Reading: Syllabus
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Personalize Your Defaults
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: University of Michigan Survey
- Video: Temptation Bundling
- Practice Quiz: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Lamott and Elbow
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Writer's Block
- Discussion Prompt: Writer's Block
- Reading: Madman, Architect, Carpenter, Judge
- Discussion Prompt: Madman, Architect, Carpenter, Judge
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Edit Our Edits
- Reading: Exercise—The Cost of Perfectionism (Optional)
- Reading: Punctuation and Professionalism: Introduction and Review
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Semicolons
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: Semicolons
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: Introduction and Review
- Video: Notes on Nuance: "Simultaneously"
- Graded Assignment: Nuance Practice: Simultaneously
- Reading: Good Sentences: Introduction and Review
- Reading: Good Sentences (Children)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Children)
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaways: Garbage in Your Head
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 2: The Planning Fallacy
- Reading: Previously On: Introduction and Review
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Exercise—Previously On
- Video: Previously On: Personalized Defaults
- Video: The Planning Fallacy and Buffer or Suffer
- Reading: The Planning Fallacy
- Reading: The Boss as "Buffer"
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Exercise—Predicting Projects
- Discussion Prompt: Predicting Projects
- Reading: Exercise—Predicting Projects (Low Stakes)
- Discussion Prompt: Predicting Projects (Low Stakes)
- Reading: Exercise—Predicting Projects (High Stakes)
- Discussion Prompt: Prediction Process (High Stakes)
- Discussion Prompt: Update and Tips (High Stakes)
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Class Clips
- Reading: My First Time (The Paris Review)
- Reading: Fresh-Start Effect
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Habits
- Discussion Prompt: Good Habit
- Discussion Prompt: Bad Habit
- Reading: Habitats
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Semicolon Substitution
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: Semicolon Substitution
- Reading: Exercise: Punctuation Portfolio
- Discussion Prompt: Punctuation Portfolio
- Video: Notes on Nuance: Equal Parts
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: "Equal Parts"
- Reading: Good Sentences (Jobs)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Jobs)
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaway: Buffer or Suffer
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 3: Write Before You Are Ready
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Exercise—Previously On
- Video: Previously On: The Key to Getting Ahead Is Getting Started
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Write Before You Are Ready
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Start Fast
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Discussion Prompt: Start Fast
- Reading: Pitches and Proposals (Resources)
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Student-->Teacher (Optional)
- Discussion Prompt: Student-->Teacher
- Reading: (Optional) Word Choice, Word Confusion
- Graded Assignment: Word Choice, Word Confusion
- Reading: Good vs. Well
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Semicolons and Complex Lists
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: Semicolons and Complex Lists
- Video: Notes on Nuance: "However"
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: "However"
- Graded Assignment: Notes on Nuance Practice: "However"
- Reading: Exercise—Good Sentences (Environment)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Environment)
- Video: Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaways: Write Before You Are Ready #1
- Video: Student Takeaways: Write Before You Are Ready #2
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 4: To Name Is to Know and Remember
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Exercise—Previously On
- Video: To Name is to Know and Remember
- Reading: Good with Words Chapter 10 ("To Name is to Know and Remember")
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Semicolon Deviation
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: Semicolon Deviation
- Video: Notes on Nuance: "At Best, At Worst"
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: "At Best, At Worst"
- Graded Assignment: Notes on Nuance Practice "At Best, At Worst"
- Reading: Exercise—Good Sentences (Property)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Property)
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Reading: Book Recommendations (Psychology)
- Discussion Prompt: Book Recommendations (Psychology)
- Reading: (Optional) Exercise—Thank You Letter
- Reading: Course Feedback
- Reading: "Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting" and Michigan Online
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Grading Policy
Assessment focuses on weekly quizzes designed to reinforce key concepts and support reflective learning. Low-stakes practice and discussions are optional and ungraded. There are four quizzes worth 25% each of your final grade. To pass the course, learners must earn an overall course grade of 80% or higher.
Course content developed by U-M faculty and managed by the university. Faculty titles and affiliations are updated periodically.
Beginner Level
No prior experience required
What Learners Are Saying
Writing is about connecting with people—not trying to impress them.
Patrick Barry, JD/PhD Clinical Assistant Professor of Law, U-M Law School
