Clinical Assistant Professor of Law
Writing and Editing: Revising
What You'll 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
4 Modules
16 Hours
4 hrs per module (approx.)
Rating
About Writing and Editing: Revising
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.
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: Revising, the fourth course in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing specialization. This course focuses on revising writing with clarity, precision, and empathy for readers. You will learn strategies for editing at the sentence and structural level, giving and receiving feedback, and refining language to improve meaning, flow, and impact while maintaining your authentic voice.
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: Editing and Empathy
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Ken Burns, Alice Waters, and Ira Glass
- Reading: Teaching Style + Resources
- Reading: Syllabus
- Reading: University of Michigan Survey
- Reading: Editing and Empathy
- Reading: User-friendly
- Discussion Prompt: User-friendly (Helpful)
- Discussion Prompt: User-friendly (Annoying)
- Reading: Exercise—Proofreading Practice
- Reading: Good with Words Chapter 4 ("Sound and Sense")
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Class Clips
- Practice Quiz: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Edit Our Edits
- Reading: Punctuation and Professionalism: Introduction and Review
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Dependent Clauses
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: Dependent Clauses
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: Introduction and Review
- Reading: Nuance Spotlight: James Baldwin
- Graded Assignment: Nuance Practice: James Baldwin
- Reading: Good Sentences: Introduction and Review
- Reading: Good Sentences (Style)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Style)
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaway: Extra Ear
- Video: Student Takeaway: Sound and Sense
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 2: Uselessly Accurate
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Exercise—Previously On
- Video: Steve Jobs
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Exercise—The Writer's Diet (Flabby or Fit?)
- Discussion Prompt: The Writer's Diet (Flabby or Fit?)
- Reading: Good with Words Chapter 6 ("Uselessly Accurate")
- Reading: Experiment ("100 Words")
- App Item: 100 Words - Part 1
- App Item: 100 Words - Part 2
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: Isadora Duncan → Duncan, Isadora
- Practice Quiz: Punctuation Practice: Isadora Duncan→Duncan, Isadora
- Video: Nuance Spotlight: William F. Buckley, Jr.
- Reading: Nuance Spotlight: William F. Buckley Jr.
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Good Sentences (Punctuation)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Punctuation)
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise - Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaway: 100 Words
- Video: Student Takeaway: Uselessly Accurate
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 3: Writer → Reader
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Activity - Previously On Reflection
- Video: Previously On: Clutter
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Class Clips
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Writer → Reader
- Video: Discipline of Breaks
- Video: Attention Restoration
- Reading: Multitasking Sentences
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Exercise—Word Choice, Word Confusion
- Practice Quiz: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Punctuation and Professionalism: If, Then
- Graded Assignment: Punctuation Practice: If, Then
- Video: Notes on Nuance: "What _____ is to _____"
- Reading: Notes on Nuance: "What _____ is to _____"
- Graded Assignment: Nuance Practice
- Reading: Good Sentences (Corresponding Clearly)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Corresponding Clearly)
- Reading: (Optional) Exercise—Credit Check
- Video: Takeaways
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Module 4: Feedback Loops
- Video: Previously On
- Reading: Previously On: Reflection Activity
- Video: Previously On: The Discipline of Breaks
- Video: Shot Selection
- Reading: Shot Selection
- Reading: Exercise—Shot Selection
- Discussion Prompt: Shot Selection
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Video: Un-numb the Numbers
- Reading: Un-Numb the Numbers
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice: Un-numb the Numbers
- Video: Keep/Cut
- Video: E-D-I-T
- Reading: Exercise—"E-D-I-T"
- Discussion Prompt: "E-D-I-T" (Eliminate)
- Discussion Prompt: "E-D-I-T" (Decrease)
- Discussion Prompt: "E-D-I-T" (Increase)
- Discussion Prompt: "E-D-I-T" (Try)
- Graded Assignment: Low-Stakes Practice
- Reading: Good Sentences (Habits and Habitats)
- Discussion Prompt: Good Sentences (Habits and Habitats)
- Video: Takeaways: Premortem
- Reading: Exercise—Takeaways
- Video: Student Takeaway: Premortem
- Video: Student Takeaway: Un-numb the Numbers
- Video: Student Takeaway: Keep/Cut
- Reading: Book Recommendations (Memoir)
- Discussion Prompt: Book Recommendation (Memoir)
- Reading: Course Feedback
- Reading: "Good with Words: Speaking and Presenting" and Michigan Online
- Graded: Weekly Review (Graded)
Grading Policy
Assessment is centered on weekly quizzes that reinforce revision strategies and editing concepts. Low-stakes practice activities and discussions are optional and ungraded. There are four module quizzes, each worth 25%. 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
Sometimes sincerity takes a few drafts.
Patrick Barry, JD/PhD Associate Professor, U-M School for Environment and Sustainability
