Online Class: Essay Writing 101

This course will examine the nature, history, and structure of essays; the various types of essays; and provide a refresher course in English grammar, focusing on the parts of speech and rules for good syntax.
Self-Paced, Online Class
Library Subscription
 
  • 12
    Lessons
  • 25
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 11
    Hours
    average time
  • 1.1
    CEUs
  •  
    Video Audit
    Available
 
 

Course Description

Mastering the Essay: A Comprehensive Guide to Excellence in Academic and Professional Writing

In today's digital age, effective communication remains pivotal. The power of the written word hasn't diminished; in fact, with the increasing emphasis on content marketing, social media narratives, and online publishing, its value has arguably skyrocketed. Central to this universe of words is the essay, a versatile medium that encapsulates ideas, arguments, narratives, and information. An adept essay writer stands out in academia and many professional arenas, turning this skill into an essential tool for success.

Course Overview:

A strong essay can be a ticket to better grades in education, a persuasive tool in the corporate sector, and a means to convey critical information in fields like journalism and law. As per a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, written communication skills are among the top attributes employers seek on a candidate's resume. This course is meticulously designed to offer an in-depth understanding of essay writing, guiding you through its various nuances and intricacies.

Course Highlights:

  • Nature and Structure of Essays: Dive deep into the history of essays and explore their evolution over time. Understand the essence of what makes an essay compelling.

  • Types of Essays: Not all essays are created equal. Explore narrative, descriptive, expository, and argumentative essays, among others. Each serves a unique purpose, and we'll delve into when and how to use them effectively.

  • Grammar Refresher: Even the best ideas can falter with poor grammar. Strengthen your foundation in English grammar, covering everything from the basics of parts of speech to the complexities of subject-verb agreement.

  • Spotting and Rectifying Mistakes: Learn from real-world examples of exemplary and flawed writing. Recognize common pitfalls, and more importantly, understand how to avoid them.

By the end of this course, you will not only grasp the theory behind crafting impactful essays but will also have the practical skills to draft, edit, and polish your pieces, ready for academic or professional presentation.

Course Breakdown:

  • Lesson 1: Dive into the 'Anatomy of an Essay', breaking down its structure and core components.

  • Lesson 2-4: Deepen your understanding of 'Grammar Basics', a three-part series covering Parts of Speech, Capitalization and Punctuation, and Subject-Verb Agreement. These lessons are peppered with exercises and examples to cement your knowledge.

  • Lesson 5: Explore the 'Types of Essays'. Understand the subtle differences and appropriate use cases for each kind.

  • Lesson 6: Delve into 'Topic and Thesis Selection', a crucial step that lays the groundwork for your essay.

  • Lesson 7: Understand 'The Argument, Research, and Citations'. Backing your essay with credible sources is indispensable, and this lesson will show you the ropes.

  • Lesson 8: Organize your thoughts with 'Outlining the Essay', ensuring a logical flow of ideas.

  • Lesson 9-10: Dive deep into crafting the 'Introduction', 'Body', and 'Conclusion' of your essay – the trio that determines its impact.

  • Lesson 11: Perfect your essay with 'Revisions and Finishing Touches', ensuring it's polished and free from errors.

  • Lesson 12: Conclude with 'Some Final Writing Pitfalls to Avoid', a compilation of common mistakes and how to steer clear of them.

Each lesson comes with assignments and resources, enabling you to practice what you learn, gather feedback, and refine your skills continuously.

In an era where communication is paramount, mastering the art of essay writing is more than just an academic exercise; it's a critical life skill. Join us on this enlightening journey, and harness the power of words to shape narratives, influence opinions, and make a lasting impact.

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Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.4 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(2,136 votes)

  • Lesson 1. Anatomy of an Essay

    For the purposes of this course, an essay is defined as "a short written piece of non-fiction, often expressing the author's own personal and well reasoned viewpoint, presented in an organized and professional way."

  • Lesson 2. Grammar Basics. Part I. The Parts of Speech

    In English, there are eight distinct parts of speech, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, interjections, nouns, prepositions, pronouns, and verbs.

  • Lesson 3. Grammar Basics. Part II. Capitalization and Punctuation

    With a basic review of the parts of speech completed, we can now turn our attention to other crucial grammatical issues, capitalization and punctuation.

  • Lesson 4. Grammar Basics. Part III. Subject-Verb Agreement and Other Writing Mishaps

    This lesson will examine the common errors made with regard to subject-verb agreement, as well as a number of other common and troublesome writing errors.

  • Lesson 5. Types of Essays

    This lesson examines each of the major types of essay based on these rhetorical modes, providing a brief definition for each, and further notes on using each style to the writer's advantage.

  • Lesson 6. Topic and Thesis Selection

    This lesson delves into the methodology for selecting and narrowing an appropriate topic for your essay.

  • Lesson 7. The Argument, Research, and Citations

    This lesson provides insights into creating a rationale for the thesis statement backed by other sources and sound thinking.

  • Lesson 8. Outlining the Essay

    This lesson covers the basic organizational structure common to many essays, as well as the role of reason in establishing a coherent, logical framework, on which to base the actual written text.

  • Lesson 9. The Introduction

    This lesson will examine various details of the introduction, including how to capture the readers' attention, and some poor introductory styles to avoid.

  • Lesson 10. The Body and Conclusion

    This lesson will take a closer look at paragraph structure and how to create a satisfying conclusion for an essay.

  • Lesson 11. Revisions and Finishing Touches

    This lesson discusses the process and techniques used for revising and polishing essays for maximum impact when they are finally read by the intended audience.

  • Lesson 12. Some Final Writing Pitfalls to Avoid

    This lesson examines each of these pitfalls and provides suggestions for the aspiring essayist on how to avoid them.
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Describe the anatomy of an essay.
  • Define the parts of speech.
  • Demonstrate capitalization and punctuation usage.
  • Recognize subject-verb agreement and other writing mishaps.
  • Describe types of essays.
  • Formulate topic and thesis.
  • Define the argument, conduct research and record citations.
  • Outline the essay.
  • Create the introduction.
  • Create the body and conclusion.
  • Revise the essay.
  • Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
 

Additional Course Information

Online CEU Certificate
  • Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
  • Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
  • Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
  • View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
  • Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media
Document Your CEUs on Your Resume
 
Course Title: Essay Writing 101
Course Number: 57700120
Lessons Rating: 4.4 / 5 Stars (2,136 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: This course is online and available in all 50 states including: California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Texas.
Last Updated: August 2023
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Class
CEU Value: 1.1 IACET CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CE Accreditation: Universal Class, Inc. has been accredited as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).
Grading Policy: Earn a final grade of 70% or higher to receive an online/downloadable CEU Certification documenting CEUs earned.
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Dana Kristan
Syllabus: View Syllabus

Student Testimonials

  • "My instructor had patience, she worked with me over and over until I understood what I have to write." -- Deborah E.
  • "This course was extremely helpful. I am an English teacher and needed this course for CE so I was very familiar with the material provided. It gave me a new insight to teaching essay writing and research writing that I have not seen--or rather seen put together so well!" -- Amy B.
  • "My prof was superb in extending her helping hand to understand all my downs in going through with this course." -- Mary Ann C.
  • "I found the explanations extremely helpful. I also liked how everything was divided into sections where it was easy to read." -- Patricia P.
  • "I enjoyed the instructor's comments and the coursework." -- Kathy C.
  • "What was most helpful was the instructor correcting my grammer and spelling." -- Patricia N.
  • "ALL THE LESSONS ESPECIALLY THE LAST 4. THEY BROUGHT ALL THE CLASS INFORMATION TOGETHER. VERY HELPFUL IN COMPLETING THE ESSAY." -- Roland H.
  • "The progression of the assignments were most beneficial. By gradually building from learning the parts of speech and sentence structure, to outlining and drafting I acquired a strong foundation from which I built my final essay." -- Joan C.
  • "This instructor was very detail oriented and helpful." -- Chandradarshini B.

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