Writing for English Composition: College Essays

This 10-lecture course can be used as either a review or preview of what it means to write with the three main qualities of all effective writing: unity, coherence, and clarity. I will explain what each of these terms mean, show you examples of effective and ineffective writing, and give you lots of hints and tips for completing paragraphs and essays that demonstrate these three qualities. The course follows the writing process taught in most high school and undergraduate composition courses: prewriting and brainstorming, organizing and outlining, drafting, revising and editing, and formatting.

The course also covers additional requirements that are sometimes difficult for students, including how to write effective thesis statements, creating topic sentences, drafting introductions and conclusions, and how to use transitional words and phrases. The course includes an opportunity to write a final essay for evaluation. Best wishes for a successful course.