Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization (Coursera)

Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization (Coursera)

This second course in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing series will help you become an effective architect of information, both with your sentences and with your paragraphs. You’ll learn that the traditional advice to “Show, don’t tell” is incomplete and that skilled writers actually switch back and forth between showing and telling.

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

You’ll also learn more about the menu of time management techniques introduced in the first course of the series, including “deep work,” “studio time,” and “the Animal Farm Principle.” And as with the other three courses in this series, you will 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 2 of 4 in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization.

What You Will Learn

  • Learn how structure can be used to generate content
  • Place corresponding ideas in corresponding forms
  • Add nuance to your writing by using anadiplosis
  • Identify and assess when to use sentences with varying lengths

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Sentence Flow
In this first week, you will be introduced to instructor Patrick Barry and begin to learn about sentence flow and structure. In-video questions will direct you to content previously covered in the first course of this specialization.

WEEK 2
Corresponding Ideas in Corresponding Form
This week's content will focus on how structure can be used to generate content.

WEEK 3
Show and Tell

WEEK 4
Paragraphing

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

Related Courses

The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation (Coursera) Coursera
Michigan State University

The Search for Great Ideas: Harnessing creativity to empower innovation (Coursera)

Where do great business ideas come from? We all have compelling business concepts that we've been thinking about for years. In this course we will explore how to use observational tools and other techniques for idea generation and we will talk about how to evaluate the good ideas from the bad. The goal is to settle on a business idea that you are not only passionate about but also has real market application.

Oct 26th 2026
3 Weeks
Potenciando mi aprendizaje en el primer año de Universidad (Coursera) Coursera
Universidad de Chile

Potenciando mi aprendizaje en el primer año de Universidad (Coursera)

El propósito del curso es acompañar a los estudiantes de primer año a potenciar sus aprendizajes, con la finalidad de fomentar una buena experiencia en la universidad. Lo anterior se realiza a través de un auto- diagnóstico y de la familiarización con distintas estrategias de estudio, de gestión del tiempo y del abordaje de evaluaciones.

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Typography (Coursera) Coursera
California Institute of the Arts

Introduction to Typography (Coursera)

Typography is the art of manipulating the visual form of language to enrich and control its meaning. It’s an essential area of skill and knowledge for graphic designers. Typography predates modern graphic design by around 500 years; it is rich in rules, conventions, and esoteric terminology—but it remains an exciting space for invention and expression.

Oct 19th 2026
4 Weeks
Innovar (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Innovar (Coursera)

La innovación ha cobrado una importancia significativa en las corporaciones de hoy, y con frecuencia es vista como un motor importante de crecimiento y éxito en una organización. En este curso introductorio, usted aprenderá sobre el significado, la importancia, el proceso e impacto de la innovación.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Programación y presupuesto del proyecto (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine,Tecnológico de Monterrey

Programación y presupuesto del proyecto (Coursera)

En este curso, aprenderás los principios fundamentales de la gestión del tiempo y costo en las etapas de planificación. Se identificarán las actividades del proyecto a partir de la EDT, se establecerá la secuencia, recursos y duración necesarios para finalmente desarrollar el cronograma detallado del proyecto.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
Leadership and Influence (Coursera) Coursera
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Leadership and Influence (Coursera)

The only thing you get to change is yourself, and in the prerequisites to this course we’ve given you real tools to do that. Now, use those tools to influence the course of your future, your team's future, and your organization's future. Make a plan for yourself that will help you help others, and learn skills to make it happen. Listening and being sure of your values underpins everything that comes with professional influencer and leadership soft skills. We’ll go on to look at self-assessment and leadership planning, negotiation, addressing and resolving conflict, and successfully identifying and promoting circumstances you want.

Oct 26th 2026
4 Weeks
Questionnaire Design for Social Surveys (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

Questionnaire Design for Social Surveys (Coursera)

This course will cover the basic elements of designing and evaluating questionnaires. We will review the process of responding to questions, challenges and options for asking questions about behavioral frequencies, practical techniques for evaluating questions, mode specific questionnaire characteristics, and review methods of standardized and conversational interviewing.

Oct 19th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Getting Started with Essay Writing (Coursera) Coursera
University of California, Irvine

Getting Started with Essay Writing (Coursera)

Course 2: Getting Started with Essay Writing. This is the second course in the Academic English: Writing specialization. By introducing you to three types of academic essays, this course will especially help prepare you for work in college classes, but anyone who wants to improve his or her writing skills can benefit from this course.

Nov 2nd 2026
5-12 Weeks
English Composition I (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

English Composition I (Coursera)

You will gain a foundation for college-level writing valuable for nearly any field. Students will learn how to read carefully, write effective arguments, understand the writing process, engage with others' ideas, cite accurately, and craft powerful prose. Course Learning Objectives: summarize, analyze, question, and evaluate written and visual texts; argue and support a position; recognize audience and disciplinary expectations; identify and use the stages of the writing process; identify characteristics of effective prose; apply proper citation practices; discuss applying your writing knowledge to other writing occasions

Oct 26th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship (Coursera) Coursera
University of Maryland, College Park

Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies: The First Step in Entrepreneurship (Coursera)

This course assists aspiring and active entrepreneurs in developing great ideas into great companies. With strong economies presenting rich opportunities for new venture creation, and challenging economic times presenting the necessity for many to make their own job, the need to develop the skills to develop and act on innovative business opportunities is increasingly vital.

Nov 2nd 2026
4 Weeks
Influence (Coursera) Coursera
University of Pennsylvania

Influence (Coursera)

What does it mean to be influential? How does one persuade others to pursue a unified goal? How does one leverage power? In this course, you’ll learn how to develop influence and to become more effective in achieving your organizational goals. Professor Cade Massey of the Wharton School has designed this course to help you understand the framework of power and influence and the dynamics of effective networks, and shows you how to develop your skills of persuasion and leverage.

Oct 26th 2026
4 Weeks