Getting Started with Essay Writing

University of California, Irvine via Coursera

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Details

Go to class

Provider

Coursera
Pricing

Paid Course
Languages

English
Certificate

Paid Certificate Available
Duration & workload

20 hours
Sessions

On-Demand
Level

Beginner
Subtitles

Arabic, French, Portuguese, Italian, German, Russian, English, Spanish, Farsi, Kazakh, Hindi, Swedish, Korean, Greek, Chinese, Thai, Ukrainian, Japanese, Indonesian, Polish, Dutch, Turkish, Hungarian, Bengali, Pashto, Urdu, Azerbaijani

Found in

Part of

Academic English: Writing

1.5

Overview

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This course, 'Getting Started with Essay Writing,' is designed for students and professionals aiming to enhance their English academic writing skills, particularly those preparing for college-level studies. It provides a low-risk starting point to gain clarity and confidence in essay writing. By the end of this course, you will be able to: - Create effective thesis statements for various essay types. - Plan and write well-structured compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument essays. - Develop strong, well-supported body paragraphs. - Apply critical thinking and editing techniques to refine your academic papers. To succeed, learners should have intermediate English language proficiency and foundational writing skills. No specific software tools are required, as the course focuses on core writing principles and strategies.

Syllabus

Welcome to Academic English Writing

Welcome to 'Getting Started with Essay Writing,' the second course in your Academic English: Writing specialization! Building on your foundational knowledge of sentence types and punctuation, this module will show you how to apply those skills to craft compelling academic essays. You'll learn to write three key essay types: compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument. By the end, you will be able to: integrate prior learning into complex writing tasks, understand the structure of academic essays, and prepare for course assessments. To succeed, review previous course material and actively engage with the writing assignments. Enjoy your learning journey!

Introduction to Essay Writing

Welcome to a module, where we'll dive into the fundamentals of academic essay writing! Here, you'll explore essential essay structure and key writing tools that form the backbone of strong academic papers. By the end of this module, you will be able to: identify core essay components, understand the purpose of each section, and begin outlining your own essays. To succeed, take detailed notes and actively practice applying these foundational writing principles. This module sets the stage for all your future essay writing, building confidence for your academic journey.

Writing Compare/Contrast Essays

Get ready to write your first academic essay: the compare/contrast essay! In this module, you'll learn to effectively analyze and present similarities and differences between subjects. By the end, you will be able to: define compare/contrast essays, structure your arguments logically, and write a well-developed compare/contrast essay. To succeed, pay close attention to organizational patterns and practice identifying key points for comparison. This skill is vital for critical thinking and clear communication in both academic and professional settings.

Writing Cause/Effect Essays

In this module, you'll master writing the cause/effect essay, a crucial academic skill often required in college classes. You'll learn to analyze relationships between events, articulate reasons, and explain outcomes effectively. By the end, you will be able to: identify cause/effect relationships, structure a clear cause/effect essay, and develop compelling arguments. To succeed, focus on logical connections and practice outlining your ideas. This module builds on your foundational essay writing skills, preparing you for complex academic tasks.

Writing Argument Essays

In this final module, you'll master the argument essay, arguably the most impactful type of academic writing. You'll learn to construct compelling arguments, support your position with strong evidence, and persuade your reader on controversial topics. By the end, you will be able to: identify effective argumentative strategies, structure a persuasive argument essay, and articulate your viewpoint clearly. To succeed, focus on critical thinking and developing robust supporting reasons. This module culminates your essay writing journey, equipping you with advanced skills for academic and professional discourse.

Taught by

Tamy Chapman

Reviews

4.2 rating, based on 19 Class Central reviews

4.7 rating at Coursera based on 3277 ratings

Start your review of Getting Started with Essay Writing

Anonymous

Due to time constraints, I only audited this course. I found the content engaging and easy to absorb. New students will find this course very useful in learning and developing basic and essential essay skills. I enjoyed the course, thanks.
Anonymous

The story begins, with the introduction of Jacob Kitino a wealthy Acholi boy, who is friends with Tony, a poor boy.They are going to school at the “George Jones Seminary for boys school” for the new school semester. They meets a boy, while they were…

The story begins, with the introduction of Jacob Kitino a wealthy Acholi boy, who is friends with Tony, a poor boy.They are going to school at the “George Jones Seminary for boys school” for the new school semester. They meets a boy, while they were walking at night. Jacob gives the boy money and bread, the the boy ran away, but Jacob never got his name. His name is Oteka, a very smart boy who was walking into Gulu to stay safe from the “LRA kidnappers”. This is considered the “Birth” of the “War Brothers” story because this is how the boys meet and a little bit about their backgrounds. The boys get to there school and they are excited to see each other again. Immediately after arriving they are asked to watch after small 12 year old boy named Norman. Later that night the LRA attaches their school, they break down the door and knocks them unconscious. When they wake up, Jacob and the boys are marching in the forest, tired and hungry. This the “Call to Adventure” because the boys are having a good day at school and next thing you know it all goes bad and they are now LRA soldiers.
Kyaw Lwin
3

I'm from Cambodia. I have worked in construction for 15 years. I would like to write the report for my daily work properly but I can write simple sentences. So I want to improve my sentence to be classic.

Also, I want to use the technical term and the report clear. I have not much experience in reporting. Although knowing that the work of feature, I have difficulty explaining working progress by the report.

So which course should be trained for me
Blessing Pitoivaomanaia Sofeni
3

Twinkle twinkle little star , how I wonder whats you are up ubove the world so high like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle twinkle little star how I wonder whats you are .............
Anonymous

I found the class to be very informative and well-organized. The teacher explained the concepts clearly and made sure that everyone understood the topic. The learning environment was friendly and encouraging, which helped me stay motivated and involved. I especially appreciated the use of real-life examples and interactive discussions, which made the lessons more interesting. Overall, it was a great learning experience.
Tuka Dhital
1

I am Tuka, a commerce graduate from Bhutan. I have a passion to be a good writer. I want to focus on creative writing with simple words but that spreads clear message. I request the tutor to guide me well so that i would be of some useful individual in the society
Anonymous

firstly ı much like when ı have seen this course because this course being very helpful to me. ı advice this course to all my friend becaue ı want to they benefit
Rhaenyra
6
Max Chau
15

It is quite a good course for building up a foundation for essay writing. However, our essay writing work is not accessed completely.
Summer
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Pilar Reyes
116
Mostafa Bouali
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Messias Uaissone @uaissone
22
Mennatallah
2
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3
EmAn Mohamed
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7
Leanna Jarrell
2