Overview
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Develop the academic research and communication skills needed for success in college and beyond. In this Specialization, you'll learn how to formulate research questions, evaluate sources, conduct ethical research, analyze literature and information, and communicate ideas effectively across disciplines. You'll also explore strategies for critical reading, note-taking, information synthesis, and academic integrity, building a strong foundation for future coursework, research projects, and professional communication.
Syllabus
- Course 1: Research Writing Foundations
- Course 2: Research Question and Proposal
- Course 3: Research Sources
- Course 4: Synthesizing Research and Avoiding Plagiarism
- Course 5: Drafting an Essay
- Course 6: Reading and Writing about Literature
- Course 7: Revising and Editing Strategies
- Course 8: Writing in Different Disciplines
Courses
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Learn to analyze the structure of a well-organized essay by identifying key organizational techniques like sequencing, point-counterpoint, and cause-and-effect. This course explores the distinct functions of introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs, and demonstrates how effective transitions create a seamless logical flow. By the end of this course, you will be able to identify the components of a well-structured essay and evaluate its organizational effectiveness.
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Learn to critically analyze literary works from fiction and poetry to drama and non-fiction by applying an array of interpretive strategies and key terminology. This course explores the essence of literature itself and provides a framework for identifying the nuanced meanings within different literary forms. By the end of this course, you will be able to recognize the critical strategies and literary tools used to interpret the meaning of complex literary works.
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Learn to evaluate the key components of effective research planning, from the development of a focused research question to the structure of a compelling proposal. This course explains proven techniques for identifying suitable research topics and describes the tools used to manage sources efficiently. By the end of this course, you will be able to analyze the structure of a research proposal and identify the characteristics of a well-formulated research question.
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Learn to evaluate the credibility of research sources to ensure any academic project is grounded in reliable information. This course explains powerful strategies for sourcing information, from Boolean searches to library databases, and provides the criteria for assessing the quality of evidence from interviews, surveys, and observations. By the end of this course, you will be able to differentiate between reliable and unreliable sources and determine the quality of information for any research paper.
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Learn the essential foundations for planning a successful research writing project. This course illuminates the entire research writing process, from identifying the key characteristics of academic writing to analyzing how topic selection and audience expectations shape a project's objectives. By the end of this course, you will be able to evaluate the components of a well-defined research plan and identify the steps needed for its successful execution.
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Learn to evaluate the quality of academic writing by distinguishing between the critical stages of revision and editing. This course provides effective strategies for both, exploring techniques for analyzing sentence structure and ensuring the appropriate use of academic language. By the end of this course, you will be able to identify the characteristics of a well-revised and properly edited paper, recognizing the techniques that lead to clarity and precision.
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Learn the essential skills for upholding academic integrity by properly synthesizing and documenting research sources. This course provides expertise in weaving evidence seamlessly into academic writing and explains how to avoid plagiarism by correctly citing sources using both MLA and APA styles for in-text citations and reference pages. By the end of this course, you will be able to recognize the correct methods for integrating research and documenting sources to ensure academic honesty.
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Learn to identify the unique writing expectations of different academic fields by exploring the distinct conventions that guide composition in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. This course examines how purpose and audience shape the writing style required in various academic and professional domains, highlighting the versatility of effective writing. By the end of this course, you will be able to recognize the appropriate conventions and stylistic approaches for various disciplines.
Taught by
Pearson