About this Course

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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

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 25 hours to complete

English

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Skills you will gain

Essay Writing
English Language
Academic Writing
Editing

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 25 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.73/5 (242 Ratings)

Dr. Denise Comer

Assistant Professor of the Practice; Director of First-Year Writing

Thompson Writing Program

384,405 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(19,019 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

The Writing Process

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 2 readings

Week

2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Critical Reading

4 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 93 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

Week

3

Week 3

4 hours to complete

Project 1: Visual Analysis

4 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 87 min), 5 readings, 1 quiz

9 videos

Selecting Your Area of Expertise4m

What is a Draft?2m

Reading Visual Images7m

Using Images in Scholarly Writing4m

Effective Claims4m

Responding Towards Revision4m

Feedback on Visual Analysis Draft2m

Workshopping Writing6m

Visual Analysis Writing Workshop50m

5 readings

Geoffrey Colvin, "What It Takes To Be Great"10m

Visual Analysis Draft 10m

Sample Essays for Project 110m

More Resources for Visual Analysis10m

Sample Feedback Visual Analysis Draft10m

1 practice exercise

Visual Analysis Draft : Self-Assessment 30m

Week

4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Revision Strategies and Visual Analysis Revision

2 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 24 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

5

Week 5

4 hours to complete

Project 2: Case Study

4 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 84 min), 4 readings, 1 quiz

Week

6

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Writing Cohesively and Case Study Revision

2 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 27 min), 3 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

7

Week 7

3 hours to complete

Project 3: Op-Ed

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 97 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week

8

Week 8

2 hours to complete

Crafting Powerful Prose and Op-Ed Revision

2 hours to complete

2 videos (Total 18 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

Week

9

Week 9

1 hour to complete

Transferring Writing Practices, Skills, and Knowledge to New Contexts

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 16 min)

Week

10

Week 10

3 hours to complete

Writing in the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Sciences

3 hours to complete

17 videos (Total 157 min)

17 videos

Spotlight on the Humanities: Academic Writing6m

Spotlight on the Humanities: Writing Process8m

Spotlight on the Humanities: MLA Citations12m

Spotlight on the Humanities: Use of Visual Images9m

Special Topic in the Humanities: MLA Citation of Media and Internet Resources15m

Spotlight on the Humanities: Public Writing7m

Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Academic Writing6m

Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Writing Process6m

Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: CSE Citations8m

Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Use of Visual Images7m

Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Public Writing6m

Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Academic Writing7m

Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Writing Process9m

Spotlight on the Social Sciences: APA Citations13m

Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Use of Visual Images8m

Special Topics in the Social Sciences: Issues of Language Use9m

Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Public Writing11m

Reviews

4.6

310 reviews

5 stars
76.05%
4 stars
14.92%
3 stars
4%
2 stars
1.20%
1 star
3.80%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

by PBMar 31, 2018

Hard work and worth it! Grateful for the opportunity. Fully recommend it for anyone who is serious about learning to write clearly and improve their prose.

by DPAug 13, 2020

It was an invigorating experience, as I learned and will continue to learn how to express my ideas better, for different purposes, as well as to address them to different readers.

by VBAug 23, 2022

I have learnt a lot from this course, it would be nice to have an opportunity to study english composion 2. Very good teacher, humble and explain things clearly. I am very gratefull.

by JRMar 7, 2017

Very helpful for writers and future career writers. Plus the professor is extremely down to earth. Was not expecting that and I forgive her for being a Duke fan. Go Tar Heels!!!! jk jk

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.
Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
No. Completion of a Coursera course does not earn you academic credit from Duke; therefore, Duke is not able to provide you with a university transcript. However, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.

English Composition I