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
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English, Subtitles: Spanish, French |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
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
- 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
- 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
- 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: More 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
FAQs
How It Works
Coursework
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Duke University
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Ratings and Reviews
This was a very enjoyable course. If you do all the work seriously you can really stretch your skills. Dr. Denise Comer has worked very hard to provide all the prompts you need to explore your skills as a writer. She is encouraging at all times and has a very friendly and relaxed style and also an immense amount of knowledge on the subject.
A course every advanced English learner should take.
Wonderful basic course to learn
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This is an amazing course and I truly loved all the lessons.