Getting Started with Essay Writing from Coursera

Course 2: Getting Started with Essay Writing

This is the second course in the Academic English: Writing specialization. By introducing you to three types of academic essays, this course will especially help prepare you for work in college classes, but anyone who wants to improve his or her writing skills can benefit from this course.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

- create effective thesis statements for your essays

- plan and write compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument essays

- write well-developed body paragraphs

Note: The lectures and practice activities are available for free, but you must upgrade to the pay version in order to take the quizzes and get feedback on writing assignments.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction

This is the second course in the Academic English: Writing specialization. In the last course, you reviewed sentence types and punctuation. You'll use that information in this course to make your writing great. In this course, you'll learn all about academic essay writing and, specifically, how to write three types of essays: compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument. To pass this course, you need to pass all four quizzes and pass all three writing assignments. When you finish one activity, you can continue to the next one. Enjoy!

Essay Writing

In this module, you'll start learning about essay structure and some other important tools for good writing. There's a lot of information in this module, but it's all necessary for writing well. Make sure you take notes so you will remember these tools when you write your essays. Note to learners: this course is designed for learners of English with intermediate English writing skills. The sample essays in this course are aimed at that level. However, the principles discussed in the lessons are practical for writers of any level. If you're at a lower level, do the best you can. If you are a more advanced writer, feel free to write more developed and complex essays than the ones in the examples. Just make sure you follow the structures introduced.

Writing Compare/Contrast Essays

Now, you're ready to write your first type of academic essay--the compare/contrast essay. In this module, you'll learn what this type of essay is and how to structure it. Then, you'll look at some examples and practice writing your own compare/contrast essay. Remember the sample essays in the lesson are typical for an intermediate-level student. Write a compare/contrast essay that fits your own writing ability. Good luck!

Writing Cause/Effect Essays

Now, you'll learn about writing the cause/effect essay. This is another type of academic essay that you might be asked to write in your college classes. For this type of essay you'll think about reasons why something happens or the effects of something. The sample essays in this module are also representative of an intermediate-level writer. Write a cause/effect essay appropriate for your own English level. Just remember to follow the advice given in the lessons.

Writing Argument Essays

In this last module, you'll learn how to write the most common type of college essay. The argument essay is probably the most fun essay to write too. In this one, you will try to convince your reader to believe your argument or position on some controversial topic. You have to think of good reasons to support your position. Remember to write an argument essay that is to the best of your own abilities.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops thesis statements, body paragraphs, and compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument essays, which are core writing skills for college coursework and personal growth

Taught by Tamy Chapman and Helen Nam, who are experienced instructors in the field of academic writing

Examines essay writing, which is widely employed in higher education and beyond

Provides ample practice activities to enhance writing skills

Introduces multiple types of academic essays, catering to diverse writing needs

Requires paid upgrade for quizzes and feedback, which may pose a barrier for some learners

Reviews summary

Beginner essay writing fundamentals

learners say this is an easily accessible course for nonnative speakers that provides a solid foundation in essay writing. It thoroughly covers the basics, including essential structural elements, clear organization, and effective use of examples. Guided by engaging assignments and clear lectures, students progress through the course by writing different types of essays, receiving feedback from peers, and refining their writing skills over time. The course also emphasizes the importance of academic integrity and provides opportunities for students to practice ethical writing principles.

Provides clear and concise instructions, making it accessible for students with varying levels of writing experience.

"very nice course and amazing teacher an easy way to learn"

"I love the course... I've learned a lot.. Thanks Coursera."

Introduces the principles of academic writing, including proper citation, avoiding plagiarism, and maintaining a professional tone.

"Fantastic course . learnt many things about it ."

"I have develop a better critical writing. The course is outstanding."

Utilizes peer feedback as a learning tool, allowing students to critique and provide constructive criticism on each other's work.

"Excellent course specially for non native speakers."

"Thank you for the course! It is so helpful for those who never been taught to write essays."

Covers the three main types of essays: compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argumentative, providing guidance on how to write each type effectively.

"I've improved my essay writing skill through this course!"

"I learned about organizing essay paragraphs, essay styles, and best practices to follow."

Builds a strong foundation in essay writing principles, including organization, structure, clarity, and the use of examples.

"This course made me realize how to write essays."

"This course helped me to construct a formal academic essay."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Getting Started with Essay Writing with these activities:

Read 'A Writer's Reference' by Diana Hacker

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Review the essentials of English grammar, punctuation, and style to strengthen your writing skills.

View A Writer's Reference with Writing about... on Amazon

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Identify areas of weakness
Read relevant sections
Take notes and practice exercises

Review your notes and assignments from previous English courses

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Refresh your knowledge of grammar, punctuation, and essay writing principles.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Gather your previous coursework materials
Review key concepts and examples

Attend a workshop on essay writing

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Gain insights and feedback on your writing from experienced professionals.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Find and register for a relevant workshop
Attend the workshop and participate actively
Implement the feedback received into your writing

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Complete the Coursera Specialization in Academic English Writing

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Enhance your understanding of essay writing techniques, structure, and argumentation.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Enroll in the Coursera specialization
Complete the video lectures and readings
Practice writing different types of essays

Join a study group or writing circle

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Collaborate with peers to exchange feedback and improve your writing skills.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Find a study group or writing circle
Meet regularly and discuss writing assignments
Provide and receive feedback on each other's writing

Write and review 5 sample essays

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Apply your understanding of essay writing by practicing writing and reviewing various types of essays.

Browse courses on Essay Writing

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Choose topics for each type of essay
Outline and write the essays
Review and revise your essays

Develop a presentation on effective essay writing techniques

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Demonstrate your understanding of essay writing principles by creating a presentation to share with others.

Browse courses on Presentation Skills

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Identify key essay writing techniques
Create visual aids and slides
Practice and deliver the presentation

Create a blog or website dedicated to academic writing

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Solidify your understanding of academic writing by creating and publishing your own content.

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Choose a niche and create a platform
Research and write informative articles
Promote and engage with your audience

Career center

Learners who complete Getting Started with Essay Writing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Consultant

A Consultant provides advice and guidance to businesses and organizations on a variety of topics. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive consulting reports and other documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Speechwriter

A Speechwriter writes speeches for politicians, business leaders, and other public figures. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive speeches.

See salaries and explore the career path for Speechwriter

Professor

A Professor teaches and conducts research at a college or university. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive academic papers and other documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Professor

Policy Analyst

A Policy Analyst researches and analyzes public policy issues to make recommendations for policy changes. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive policy reports and other documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Policy Analyst

Lawyer

A Lawyer advises clients on legal matters and represents them in court. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive legal documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Project Manager

A Project Manager plans and executes projects to achieve specific goals. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive project plans and other documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business processes and systems to identify areas for improvement. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive business proposals and other documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Marketing Manager

A Marketing Manager plans and executes marketing campaigns to promote products or services. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Public Relations Specialist

A Public Relations Specialist manages the public relations of an organization or individual. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive press releases and other public relations materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Journalist

A Journalist gathers, analyzes, and reports on news and current events. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and accurate news articles.

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Copywriter

A Copywriter creates written content for advertising and marketing campaigns. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive copy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Content Writer

A Content Writer creates written content for a variety of media, such as websites, blogs, social media, and marketing materials. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and engaging written content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Writer

Grant Writer

A Grant Writer writes grant proposals to secure funding for non-profit organizations, government agencies, and other organizations. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and persuasive grant proposals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates instruction manuals, technical reports, and other documentation that explains complex technical information to a non-technical audience. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to write clear, concise, and easy-to-understand technical documentation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Editor

An Editor is responsible for overseeing the creation and revision of written content. The content they oversee may be for a variety of media, such as books, magazines, newspapers, websites, and social media. Getting Started with Essay Writing may be useful for this role because it can help you develop the skills you need to create clear, concise, and engaging written content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor