Getting Started with Essay Writing

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/getting-started-with-essay-writing

Introduction

### Course Review: Getting Started with Essay Writing on Coursera **Course Name:** Getting Started with Essay Writing **Provider:** Coursera (Academic English: Writing Specialization) **Level:** Intermediate Are you looking to enhance your essay writing skills for academic purposes or simply for personal development? Look no further than the **Getting Started with Essay Writing** course offered through Coursera. This course serves as the second installment in the **Academic English: Writing specialization**, and it is perfectly tailored for individuals aiming to sharpen their writing capabilities. #### Course Overview The **Getting Started with Essay Writing** course is designed to guide students through the intricacies of crafting three distinct types of academic essays: **compare/contrast**, **cause/effect**, and **argument essays**. It effectively prepares you not only for college coursework but also for any writing endeavors you may undertake. The course culminates in practical assignments, including four quizzes and three writing projects that will reinforce the topics covered. Upon completing this course, learners will have the skills to: - Create effective thesis statements for their essays. - Plan and write engaging compare/contrast essays. - Develop thoughtful cause/effect essays. - Construct compelling argument essays. #### Course Structure & Content **Course Introduction** The course begins with a brief overview, leveraging the foundational skills acquired from the previous module in the specialization. It emphasizes that effective writing involves understanding sentence types and punctuation, which are essential tools for any writer. The platform encourages learners to take notes to internalize the lessons and improve their outputs. **Essay Writing** This introductory module sets the stage for the subsequent writing tasks. It delves into essay structure and essential writing tools that are critical for producing high-quality essays. The thorough explanations provided cater to intermediate English learners while also being applicable to higher-level writers. **Writing Compare/Contrast Essays** In this module, participants grasp the requirements of the compare/contrast essay format. The course offers concrete examples and structured approaches to crafting these essays, alongside practical exercises that allow for personal adaptation based on individual writing levels. **Writing Cause/Effect Essays** This section builds upon the previous module by introducing another essential essay type—the cause/effect essay. Here, learners are guided through recognizing reasons and effects tied to various topics, arming them with the skills needed to communicate these effectively in written form. **Writing Argument Essays** Finally, learners tackle the argument essay, often considered one of the most engaging and commonly assigned essay types in college. This module encourages students to take a stance on controversial issues, bolstered by the necessity to present convincing arguments. The interactive approach ensures that learners must think critically and develop their positions. #### Why You Should Enroll 1. **Structured Learning**: The course provides a clear roadmap for essay writing, with modules dedicated to different essay types, making it easy to follow and absorb. 2. **Practical Assignments**: The quizzes and writing assignments reinforce learning and allow students to practice what they've understood, ensuring they can apply skills in real-world scenarios. 3. **Inclusivity for All Levels**: With an intermediate focus, the course also accommodates learners at varying English proficiency levels—encouraging growth and adaptation based on individual capabilities. 4. **Enhanced Academic Performance**: For college-bound students or those seeking to improve their academic writing, this course will undoubtedly provide an edge in essay composition skills. 5. **Flexibility of Learning**: The self-paced nature of the course allows you to learn when it's convenient for you, ensuring that you can balance your other commitments. #### Conclusion In summary, **Getting Started with Essay Writing** is an invaluable course for anyone looking to enhance their essay writing skills, especially suitable for students and professionals alike. With its comprehensive approach, practical exercises, and focus on three major essay types, this course offers a solid foundation for all your future writing endeavors. Whether you're preparing for college or aiming to refine your writing for personal projects, this course is highly recommended. Enroll today and embark on your journey to becoming a more confident and competent writer!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.