Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Perhaps the most important thing students and professionals of all kinds can do to improve their effectiveness is embrace the following advice: become good with words.
This series of courses targets the writing side of that recommendation. The skills it focuses on include everything from how to arrange a complex set of information in a reader-friendly way, to how to give and receive high-quality feedback, to how to consistently hit deadlines.
Part of Professor Barry’s proceeds from this course will be donated to the COVID-19 relief efforts of Ozone House, a shelter for homeless youth in Southeastern Michigan where he regularly conducts job-training workshops. These proceeds come from purchases of the version of the course that earns you a certificate. The course remains free for anyone who is simply auditing.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

Creative ways to use syntax
Techniques for adding nuance to your sentences and slogans
Tips to help you punctuate and paragraph like a professional
Habits needed to complete both short-term and long-term projects

Coursera

University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

Dive into the second part of the Good with Words: Writing and Editing series where you'll learn the art of structuring information effectively. This course focuses on developing your skills to architect sentences and paragraphs, understanding that 'show, don't tell' is just one piece of the puzzle. You'll gain insights into how skilled writers balance showing and telling to create compelling narratives.

Jun 29th 2026

4 Weeks

Writing Creativity Time Management

Coursera

University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

Improve your written communication by mastering the art of word choice and word order. This course will equip you with creative syntax techniques, effective storytelling methods, and a structured approach to arranging complex information. Learn how to professionalize your punctuation use and add style to your writing, from sentences to slogans.

Jun 29th 2026

4 Weeks

Writing Word Creativity

Coursera

University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Drafting (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

Embark on a journey to conquer the daunting task of writing with 'Writing and Editing: Drafting'. This third installment in the 'Good with Words' series focuses on effective drafting techniques that will help you start, progress, and complete your writing projects. Learn from expert writers and gain valuable insights into freewriting, planning fallacy, temptation bundling, and more.

Jun 22nd 2026

4 Weeks

Writing Creativity Time Management

Coursera

University of Michigan

Writing and Editing: Revising (Coursera)

Personal and Professional Development

In this final course of the 'Good with Words: Writing and Editing' series on Coursera, you'll dive deep into the crucial process of revising your writing. From understanding the differences between editing and proofreading to mastering the art of making data and statistics engaging, this course is designed to refine your skills in crafting clear and compelling content. You'll also learn a structured approach for giving and receiving feedback that will help streamline your revision process.

Jun 22nd 2026

4 Weeks

Personal Development Writing Creativity

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