English Composition I

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

Learner Career Outcomes

29%

started a new career after completing these courses

21%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your 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 WritingEnglish LanguageAcademic WritingEditing

Learner Career Outcomes

29%

started a new career after completing these courses

21%

got a tangible career benefit from this course

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 25 hours to complete

English

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

Instructor

Instructor rating

4.69/5 (120 Ratings)

Dr. Denise Comer

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

Thompson Writing Program

293,227 Learners

1 Course

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Content Rating97%(15,859 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

4.5

211 reviews

5 stars
73.09%
4 stars
17.75%
3 stars
3.88%
2 stars
1.24%
1 star
4.02%

TOP REVIEWS FROM ENGLISH COMPOSITION I

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 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

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 HLApr 12, 2017

Great experience, nonetheless, I would say that it is more about applying your writing to different contexts rather than improving it. There is some of that, but not that much.

View all reviews

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Will I receive a transcript from Duke University for completing this course?
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English Composition I