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

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Javanese, Russian, English, Spanish

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

Subtitles: Arabic, French, Portuguese (European), Italian, Vietnamese, German, Javanese, Russian, English, Spanish

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.71/5 (218 Ratings)

Dr. Denise Comer

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

Thompson Writing Program

360,491 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(18,251 ratings)

Week

1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

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.

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 2 readings

Week

2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

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 Sweet Spot." This is an optional writing assignment, but it is a requirement to receive a honor's certificate.

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

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 means to write a draft. Finally, you will write your visual analysis and learn how to give meaningful feedback.

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

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.

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

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, and submit your case study draft.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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 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

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.

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

Additional videos that highlight differences in academic writing across disciplines.

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

281 reviews

5 stars
75.31%
4 stars
15.42%
3 stars
4.14%
2 stars
1.27%
1 star
3.82%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

by KHSep 28, 2020

I learned so much.I never thought I could be a writer. Now I have the tools and skills to be a better reader and a better writer. I am on my way.

by PBApr 1, 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 AADec 15, 2017

I very excited to get this certificate and improved my knowledge writing and skills to get better understand for create a fiction with rules that I learned in Duke University

by VPMar 20, 2020

This course is very valuable in understanding the nuances of writing. The peer-graded assignments are a wonderful way of improving oneself.

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