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

4.74/5 (245 Ratings)

Dr. Denise Comer

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

Thompson Writing Program

389,750 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating98%(19,212 ratings)

Week1

Week 1

1 hour to complete

The Writing Process

1 hour to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 2 readings

Week2

Week 2

4 hours to complete

Critical Reading

4 hours to complete

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

Week3

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 Expertise4mWhat is a Draft?2mReading Visual Images7mUsing Images in Scholarly Writing4mEffective Claims4mResponding Towards Revision4mFeedback on Visual Analysis Draft2mWorkshopping Writing6mVisual Analysis Writing Workshop50m

5 readings

Geoffrey Colvin, "What It Takes To Be Great"10mVisual Analysis Draft 10mSample Essays for Project 110mMore Resources for Visual Analysis10mSample Feedback Visual Analysis Draft10m

1 practice exercise

Visual Analysis Draft : Self-Assessment 30m

Week4

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

Week5

Week 5

4 hours to complete

Project 2: Case Study

4 hours to complete

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

Week6

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

Week7

Week 7

3 hours to complete

Project 3: Op-Ed

3 hours to complete

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

Week8

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

Week9

Week 9

1 hour to complete

Transferring Writing Practices, Skills, and Knowledge to New Contexts

1 hour to complete

2 videos (Total 16 min)

Week10

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 Writing6mSpotlight on the Humanities: Writing Process8mSpotlight on the Humanities: MLA Citations12mSpotlight on the Humanities: Use of Visual Images9mSpecial Topic in the Humanities: MLA Citation of Media and Internet Resources15mSpotlight on the Humanities: Public Writing7mSpotlight on the Natural Sciences: Academic Writing6mSpotlight on the Natural Sciences: Writing Process6mSpotlight on the Natural Sciences: CSE Citations8mSpotlight on the Natural Sciences: Use of Visual Images7mSpotlight on the Natural Sciences: Public Writing6mSpotlight on the Social Sciences: Academic Writing7mSpotlight on the Social Sciences: Writing Process9mSpotlight on the Social Sciences: APA Citations13mSpotlight on the Social Sciences: Use of Visual Images8mSpecial Topics in the Social Sciences: Issues of Language Use9mSpotlight on the Social Sciences: Public Writing11m

Reviews

4.6

313 reviews

5 stars
76.23%
4 stars
14.75%
3 stars
4.05%
2 stars
1.18%
1 star
3.76%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

by ALJan 25, 2021

A superb course led by a fantastic teacher. A little long in the number of weeks it ran but all-in-all I'm very happy with the quality of information.

by SCNov 4, 2019

I wish it still had the intervention of the University or at least some of the Professors that have participated in it. But overall a great course with a lot of useful information and examples

by VPMar 19, 2020

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

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.
What is the refund policy?
You will be eligible for a full refund until two weeks after your payment date, or (for courses that have just launched) until two weeks after the first session of the course begins, whichever is later. You cannot receive a refund once you’ve earned a Course Certificate, even if you complete the course within the two-week refund period. See our full refund policy.
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