About this course: 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
Who is this class for: This course is open to any student interested in improving their writing. The content is equivalent to a semester of a first-year writing course. Students should have basic English proficiency and exposure to secondary-level (high-school level) English or composition.
Created by: Duke University
Taught by: Dr. Denise Comer, Assistant Professor of the Practice; Director of First-Year Writing
Thompson Writing Program
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish, French |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
The Writing Process
To start our course, we will examine your own writing process and what it means to respond to the writing of others. We will also think about what academic writing means.
4 videos, 2 readings
WEEK 2
Critical Reading
This week will concentrate on the skill of reading critically. Additionally, we will learn about the conventions of academic writing, including integrating evidence and schools of citation. Finally, you are encouraged to write your own critical review of "The ...
5 videos, 4 readings
Graded: Critical Review
WEEK 3
Project 1: Visual Analysis
This week, the central topic is visual images in academic writing. The goal is to practice interpreting and writing about images convincingly. Plus, Dr. Comer will help you think about what area of inquiry you would like to focus on in this course and what it ...
9 videos, 4 readings
Graded: Visual Analysis Draft
WEEK 4
Revision Strategies and Visual Analysis Revision
Based on the feedback of your colleagues improve your visual analysis. After you receive feedback on your final submission, submit a self-reflection quiz about your experience writing this project.
4 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Visual Analysis Final
Graded: Visual Analysis Self-Reflection
WEEK 5
Project 2: Case Study
This week, various aspects of effective research will be discussed, such as creating an annotated bibliography, research strategies, and avoiding plagiarism. You will conduct research for your next project, a case study, contribute to an annotated bibliography...
6 videos, 3 readings
Graded: Case Study Draft
WEEK 6
Writing Cohesively and Case Study Revision
In preparation for improving your case study, Professor Comer will present strategies of writing more cohesively. After receiving your final feedback, please submit a self-reflection about this project.
3 videos, 2 readings
Graded: Case Study Final
Graded: Case Study Self-Reflection
WEEK 7
Project 3: Op-Ed
This week, Professor Comer introduces the idea of public scholarship, how academic writing can be transformed for a broader public. Her guest, David Jarmul, will give an overview of how to write an op-ed. You will then have the opportunity to write your own.
6 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Op-Ed Draft
WEEK 8
Crafting Powerful Prose and Op-Ed Revision
This week Professor Comer will address the topic of concise writing; how to convey meaning with fewer words. Your task is to rewrite your op-ed.
2 videos, 1 reading
Graded: Op-Ed Final
Graded: Op-Ed Self-Reflection
WEEK 9
Transferring Writing Practices, Skills, and Knowledge to New Contexts
This final week is dedicated to how to move forward with your writing and apply the skills learned in this course to new contexts. Your final assignment is a self-reflection about your development as a writer over the last several weeks.
2 videos
Graded: Final Self-Reflection
WEEK 10
Writing in the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Sciences
Additional videos that highlight differences in academic writing across disciplines.
17 videos
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
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Creators
Duke University
Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.
Ratings and Reviews
This course enabled me to acchieve clarity, cohesion and deepness to all my english writings. I am very grateful with Coursera and Pr. Comer's staff for developing this course. I've just take the TOEFL test and I am very sure that it helped me to improve my test's score.
yoco
nice course
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It is really a great course!