English Composition I
Description
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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
Who is this class for: This course…

Frequently asked questions
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When you enroll for courses through Coursera you get to choose for a paid plan or for a free plan .
- Free plan: No certicification and/or audit only. You will have access to all course materials except graded items.
- Paid plan: Commit to earning a Certificate—it's a trusted, shareable way to showcase your new skills.
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
Who is this class for: This course is open to any student interested in improving their writing. The content is equivalent to a semester of a first-year writing course. Students should have basic English proficiency and exposure to secondary-level (high-school level) English or composition.
Created by: Duke University-
Taught by: Dr. Denise Comer, Assistant Professor of the Practice; Director of First-Year Writing
Thompson Writing Program
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Duke University Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.Syllabus
WEEK 1
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.
4 videos, 2 readings expand
- Video: I am a Writer
- Video: Responding to Others' Writing
- Reading: I am a Writer Sample Feedback
- Discussion Prompt: I am a Writer (Tell Your Story)
- Video: What is Academic Writing?
- Video: Understanding Your Writing Process
- Discussion Prompt: Share Your Quirks and Rituals
- Reading: A Note About Deadlines
WEEK 2
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.
5 videos, 4 readings expand
- Video: Active Reading
- Reading: Daniel Coyle, "The Sweet Spot"
- Discussion Prompt: Group A: Main claim and evidence
- Discussion Prompt: Group B: Aims/Purposes
- Discussion Prompt: Group C: Methods
- Discussion Prompt: Group D: Occasion/Context
- Discussion Prompt: Group E: Questions
- Video: Integrating Evidence
- Video: Moving from Discussion to Draft
- Video: Schools of Citation
- Reading: Academic Writing Resources
- Reading: Critical Review Examples
- Reading: Critical Review: Sample Feedback
- Video: Critical Review Writing Workshop
- Discussion Prompt: Critical Review Questions and Feedback
- Discussion Prompt: Looking For a Writing Workshop?
Graded: Critical Review
WEEK 3
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.
9 videos, 4 readings expand
- Video: Selecting Your Area of Expertise
- Video: What is a Draft?
- Video: Reading Visual Images
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Artist
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Ruins
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Earth
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Scientist
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Writing
- Discussion Prompt: Sample Image: Businessman
- Reading: Geoffrey Colvin, "What It Takes To Be Great"
- Video: Using Images in Scholarly Writing
- Video: Effective Claims
- Discussion Prompt: The 5 Cs of Effective Claims
- Reading: Sample Essays for Project 1
- Reading: Resources for Visual Analysis
- Video: Responding Towards Revision
- Video: Feedback on Visual Analysis Draft
- Reading: Sample Feedback Visual Analysis Draft
- Video: Workshopping Writing
- Video: Visual Analysis Writing Workshop
- Discussion Prompt: Visual Analysis Questions and Feedback
- Discussion Prompt: Looking For a Writing Workshop?
Graded: Visual Analysis Draft
WEEK 4
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.
4 videos, 1 reading expand
- Video: Incorporating Others' Feedback
- Video: Strategies for Revision
- Video: Crafting Effective Titles
- Video: Editing Strategies
- Reading: Sample Feedback Visual Analysis Final
Graded: Visual Analysis Final
Graded: Visual Analysis Self-Reflection
WEEK 5
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.
6 videos, 3 readings expand
- Video: Annotated Bibliography
- Video: Spotlight Video_Scholarly and Popular Articles
- Video: Spotlight Video_Finding Articles
- Reading: Research Tools
- Video: Avoiding Plagiarism
- Reading: Annotated Bibliography How-To
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Hobbies
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Sports
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Science
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Economics
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Lifestyle
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Technology
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Humanities
- Discussion Prompt: Annotated Bibliography: Other
- Video: Intertextual Conversation
- Reading: Case Studies Resources
- Video: Case Study Writing Workshop
- Discussion Prompt: Case Study Questions and Feedback
- Discussion Prompt: Looking For a Writing Workshop?
Graded: Case Study Draft
WEEK 6
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.
3 videos, 2 readings expand
- Video: Introductions
- Video: Conclusions
- Video: Paragraph Unity
- Reading: Geoffrey Colvin, "What It Takes To Be Great"
- Reading: Case Study Sample Feedback
Graded: Case Study Final
Graded: Case Study Self-Reflection
WEEK 7
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.
6 videos, 1 reading expand
- Video: Public Scholarship
- Video: Spotlight on Op-Eds with David Jarmul_part 1
- Video: Spotlight on Op-Eds with David Jarmul_part 2
- Video: Active and Passive Voice
- Video: Enhancing Sentence Style
- Reading: Resources for Writing Op-Eds
- Video: Op-Ed Writing Workshop
- Discussion Prompt: Op-Ed Questions and Feedback
- Discussion Prompt: Looking For a Writing Workshop?
Graded: Op-Ed Draft
WEEK 8
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 videos, 1 reading expand
- Video: Concise Writing_Reducing Redundancy and Making Words Matter
- Video: Concise Writing Part 2_Noticing Prepositional Phrases
- Reading: Op-Ed Sample Feedback
Graded: Op-Ed Final
Graded: Op-Ed Self-Reflection
WEEK 9
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.
2 videos expand
- Video: Writing Transfer
- Video: Special Topics_Creative Non-fiction
Graded: Final Self-Reflection
WEEK 10
Writing in the Humanities, Social Science, and Natural Sciences
Additional videos that highlight differences in academic writing across disciplines.
17 videos expand
- Video: Spotlight on the Humanities: Academic Writing
- Video: Spotlight on the Humanities: Writing Process
- Video: Spotlight on the Humanities: MLA Citations
- Video: Spotlight on the Humanities: Use of Visual Images
- Video: Special Topic in the Humanities: MLA Citation of Media and Internet Resources
- Video: Spotlight on the Humanities: Public Writing
- Video: Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Academic Writing
- Video: Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Writing Process
- Video: Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: CSE Citations
- Video: Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Use of Visual Images
- Video: Spotlight on the Natural Sciences: Public Writing
- Video: Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Academic Writing
- Video: Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Writing Process
- Video: Spotlight on the Social Sciences: APA Citations
- Video: Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Use of Visual Images
- Video: Special Topics in the Social Sciences: Issues of Language Use
- Video: Spotlight on the Social Sciences: Public Writing
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