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Writing a Personal Essay

Approx. 7 hours to complete

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Course Summary

This course teaches students how to write a compelling personal essay for college admissions or other opportunities. It covers the writing process, techniques for brainstorming and revising, and advice for finding one's unique voice.

Key Learning Points

Learn how to write an effective personal essay for college applications or other opportunities
Get tips on brainstorming and revising your essay
Discover how to find your unique voice and tell your story in a compelling way

Learning Outcomes

Ability to write a compelling personal essay
Increased skills in brainstorming and revising written work
Improved understanding of narrative structure and creative expression

Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course

Interest in writing and self-expression
Basic writing skills

Course Difficulty Level

Beginner

Course Format

Online course
Self-paced
Video lectures
Interactive assignments

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Related Education Paths

Notable People in This Field

Stephen King
Malcolm Gladwell

Related Books

Description

This class is the chance to create your personal essay or extend into a full memoir -- from planning and structure to bold narrative brushstrokes to the layering of significant detail. You will develop the opportunity to find your voice and see it come alive, amplified and improved, on the page. This is the chance to tell your story in a way that invites readers in; your story, written to be read. The memoir and personal essay are two of the best-selling and most universally acclaimed genres in the world of modern creative writing. Welcome to your story.

Outline

How to Begin... and How to Continue
Open Your Eyes
Five Nouns
Open the Window
Foibles, Fallibilities, and Flaws
A Conversation with Said Sayrafiezadeh

How Not to Fail
Step by Step
Out of the Ditch
Building As You Go
A Little Distance
A Conversation with Dani Shapiro

The Truth of the Story Lies in the Details
The Intimate and the Everyday
What Are Facts For?
In the Story
A Conversation with Chandra Prasad

Writing to be Read
Begin in the Middle
Drowning in Rhinestones
White Space
A Conversation with Ariel Levy
Building the House

Summary of User Reviews

Learn to write a compelling personal essay with this course on Coursera. Users have found this course to be highly informative and engaging, with a good mix of theory and practice. Many have appreciated the instructor's expertise and guidance throughout the course.

Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course

Instructor expertise and guidance

Pros from User Reviews

Highly informative and engaging course
Good mix of theory and practice
Provides helpful tips and exercises for improving writing skills
Suitable for beginners and advanced writers alike
Quality feedback from peers and instructor

Cons from User Reviews

Course content may not be relevant to all learners
Some users have found the course to be too basic
Lengthy assignments can be time-consuming
Limited interaction with instructor
Course may not be suitable for those looking for a quick fix or shortcut to writing success

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