Online Class: The Essentials of Engaging and Effective Writing

Unlock the transformative power of effective writing by mastering sentence impact and paragraph coherence, crucial for standing out professionally and academically. Dive into a holistic course that blends mechanics with creativity, offering personalized guidance and the flexibility to learn at your own pace.
$95.00
no certificate
- OR -
$120.00
with CEU Certificate*
Start Right Now!
$120.00 (with CEU Certificate)
Taking multiple courses? Save with our platinum program.
 
  • 13
    Lessons
  • 18
    Exams &
    Assignments
  • 4,211
    Students
    have taken this course
  • 7
    Hours
    average time
  • 0.7
    CEUs
 
 
 

Course Description

Unlocking the Power of Effective Writing

In today's interconnected digital realm, the ability to communicate effectively through writing has never been more crucial. Studies consistently highlight that proficient writing skills not only boost academic achievement but also open doors to myriad opportunities in the professional world. In a recent survey, 73% of employers emphasized the importance of clear and concise writing skills when making hiring decisions. Moreover, amongst two candidates with similar qualifications, those possessing superior writing skills undoubtedly stand out.

Are you seeking to refine your writing beyond just the fundamentals of grammar and punctuation? If so, our meticulously curated course is designed to elevate your writing to new heights, instilling greater confidence with every word you pen.

While flawless grammar and punctuation serve as the backbone of any great piece of writing, they alone don't guarantee compelling content. Imagine crafting beautifully lyrical sentences, only to group them in cluttered, convoluted paragraphs. The impact and clarity of individual sentences are lost, diminishing the overall strength of your message. Conversely, even the most grammatically perfect sentence can fall flat if not structured or employed aptly to convey the intended message.

Our course embraces a holistic approach to writing, encompassing not only the mechanics but also the art of effective communication. Designed with utmost flexibility in mind, this online journey allows you to chart your learning path at your own pace. And rest assured, even in this digital setup, personalized guidance is but an email away. Our dedicated instructor actively reviews and grades assignments, ensuring feedback-driven growth, and is readily available to address any queries.

Course Modules and Overview:

  1. Introduction to Writing Improvement: Set the stage with an overview of the course objectives, understanding the transformative power of effective writing in various facets of life.

  2. Refining Your Sentences: Dive into techniques to craft impactful sentences, exploring varied structures and rhythms to convey your message compellingly.

  3. Paragraph Structure: Grasp the art of organizing sentences into coherent paragraphs, ensuring a logical flow of ideas for maximum reader engagement.

  4. Types of Paragraphs: Different contexts demand different paragraph structures. Master the art of discerning which style best suits your writing purpose.

  5. Show. Don't Tell: Learn the evocative technique of showing through your words, painting vivid pictures in readers' minds, rather than merely telling them.

  6. Point of View: Delve into perspectives, understanding how varying viewpoints can drastically alter the narrative and impact of your writing.

  7. Writing Dialogue: Master the art of crafting authentic dialogues that not only propel the narrative forward but also offer deep insights into character and plot.

  8. Interior Monologue: Explore the intricacies of portraying a character's internal thoughts, adding depth and dimension to your narratives.

  9. Proportion: Achieve balance in your writing, ensuring each element is given its due weight for a harmonized reading experience.

  10. Sophistication: Elevate your writing with advanced techniques that lend a touch of elegance and sophistication, setting your content apart.

  11. Substitutions for Poor Phrasing: Refine your word choices, replacing weak phrasing with stronger, more evocative alternatives.

  12. Proofreading: Equip yourself with strategies to meticulously comb through your writing, eliminating errors and enhancing clarity.

  13. Additional Writing Resources: Fortify your writing arsenal with a curated list of tools and references, setting the foundation for continuous learning and improvement.

The prerequisites for this course include a high school reading and writing proficiency in English, complemented by a foundational understanding of sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.

Enrollment is now open! Dive into this transformative journey and harness the unparalleled power of effective writing, unlocking countless academic and professional opportunities. Your words have potential; let's unveil it together.

Courses Frequently Bought Together:
  • Completely Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 6 Months to Complete
  • 24/7 Availability
  • Start Anytime
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly
  • Accredited CEUs
Universal Class is an IACET Accredited Provider
 
 

Course Lessons

Average Lesson Rating:
4.3 / 5 Stars (Average Rating)
"Extraordinarily Helpful"
(2,344 votes)

  • Lesson 1. The Craft of Writing: Mastering the Art Beyond Grammar

    Sinclair Lewis imparted the wisdom that to become proficient writers, one must engage actively in the writing process, paired with understanding the subtleties of grammar and style imperfections. This instructional session emphasized recognizing writing errors, engaging readers with dynamic prose, and enhancing cohesion and impact through precise editing practices.

  • Lesson 2. Elevate Your Writing Through Sentence Refinement

    Mastering sentence refinement involves balancing clarity with complexity, ensuring your writing engages readers by effectively conveying ideas. By varying sentence structures, crafting compound elements, and embracing phrases, your narrative gains elegance and fluidity, elevating its overall impact.

  • Lesson 3. The Heartbeat of Writing: Constructing Vivid Paragraphs

    The art of writing compelling paragraphs intertwines the delicate balance of crafting vivid narratives using meticulously chosen structures that inform and inspire. Much like baking, where precision transforms ingredients into delightful masterpieces, writing requires intention to transform thoughts into impactful expressions.

  • Lesson 4. The Building Blocks of Storytelling: Mastering Paragraph Construction

    Descriptive paragraphs paint vivid pictures with words, harnessing sensory details to immerse readers in diverse settings and experiences. By engaging the senses-sight, sound, smell, touch-they create enchanting snapshots that breathe life into storytelling.

  • Lesson 5. The Narrative Magic of Showing over Telling

    Understanding the interplay between scenes and summaries empowers authors to craft narratives that resonate and engage. Seamlessly blending these elements ensures a rhythmic storytelling pace, enticing readers with intimate scenes and guiding them smoothly across timelines and developments.

  • Lesson 6. Point of View Explained

    Choosing the right narrative perspective transcends style, influencing reader experience, emotional resonance, and story coherence. Writers can blend techniques, such as limited omniscient narrators, to craft richer, more immersive narratives.

  • Lesson 7. Mastering Dialogue: A Bridge Between Character and Reader

    Mastering the art of dialogue involves showing emotions through speech, using character-driven and contextually relevant conversations, while avoiding overuse of adverbs and attributions. Dialogue serves as a powerful tool for character growth, offering readers a window into the narrative's depth and the characters' journeys.

  • Lesson 8. From Thoughts to Words: Perfecting Interior Monologue in Storytelling

    Interior monologue can reveal a character's hidden layers and thoughts, significantly enriching the reader's emotional connection with them. Writers must masterfully integrate these internal reflections with dialogue and action to create a balanced and immersive narrative experience.

  • Lesson 9. Mastering Narrative Balance: Proportion in Storytelling

    Understanding narrative proportion involves harmoniously balancing story elements much like a symphony, with each contributing appropriately but not equally. Novice writers often over-describe, slowing momentum, whereas skilled use of flashbacks and subtlety fosters engaging storytelling.

  • Lesson 10. Refining Your Voice: The Journey to Writing with Elegance

    Dynamic dialogue is key to authentic character portrayal, focusing on actions and tone rather than adverbs to convey emotion. By reflecting unique voice through dialogue, writers can create more realistic and relatable characters.

  • Lesson 11. Mastering Clarity: The Writer's Journey to Precision

    In the fast-paced modern era, concise writing becomes paramount, providing clear and engaging content that respects and captures the reader's time. Successful writers and businesses harness brevity to foster connectivity and understanding, enhancing experiences and outcomes across diverse fields.

  • Lesson 12. Balancing Art and Precision in Writing

    Efficient proofreading engages multiple senses; reading aloud exposes grammatical flaws and awkward phrasing often missed by silent reading. Revision, on the other hand, refines narrative flow and clarity, encouraging a laser-focus on coherence and purpose.

  • Lesson 13. Mastering the Art of English: A Journey Through Grammar and Writing

    Susan Thurman's work simplifies grammar without losing depth, presenting it as both art and science. Patricia T. O'Connor's 'Woe Is I' demystifies common writing mistakes with a friendly tone, bridging formal rules with evolving practical usage.
 

Learning Outcomes

By successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  • Demonstrate principles of effective writing, including clarity, consistency, and purposeful language, to create compelling narratives.
  • Identify and correct common writing mistakes to improve clarity and engagement in prose.
  • Analyze and identify different sentence structures, utilizing varied lengths and types to enhance narrative flow and engagement in writing.
  • Transform simple sentences into compound and complex ones, ensuring clarity and coherence while maintaining reader interest and depth within the narrative.
  • Define and compose a well-structured paragraph by incorporating a clear topic sentence, supporting details, and a concluding thought within a given context.
  • Identify and implement effective organizational elements such as lists and narrative techniques to enhance clarity and reader engagement in paragraph writing.
  • Define the key characteristics of narrative paragraphs, including chronological structure and vivid descriptions, by analyzing examples of captivating storytelling.
  • Demonstrate the ability to craft a descriptive paragraph that utilizes vivid imagery and sensory appeal to create an immersive experience for the reader.
  • Demonstrate the ability to craft vivid scenes by incorporating sensory details to show rather than tell in writing.
  • Identify effective dialogue techniques to portray characters and advance narrative without relying on excessive narrative summaries.
  • Demonstrate the ability to select the most suitable point of view for a given story context to enhance narrative depth and reader engagement.#
  • Identify the advantages and limitations of first, third, and omniscient points of view in narrative writing.
  • Define the various functions of dialogue in storytelling and apply techniques to create authentic character interactions that engage and captivate readers.
  • 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: The Essentials of Engaging and Effective Writing
Course Number: 57700124
Lessons Rating: 4.3 / 5 Stars (2,344 votes)
Languages: English - United States, Canada and other English speaking countries
Availability: With online access available nationwide, this course reaches all U.S. states, including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio, and Georgia. Additionally, it’s open to learners in English-speaking countries such as the UK, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Last Updated: December 2023
CEU Value: 0.7 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.
Course Type: Self-Paced, Online Classes
Assessment Method: Lesson assignments and review exams
Instructor: Dana Kristan
Syllabus: View Syllabus
Course Fee: $120.00 U.S. dollars

Choose Your Subscription Plan

Course Only
One Course
No Certificate / No CEUs
$95
for 6 months
 
Add to Cart
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate X
Includes CEUs X
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Certificate Course
One Course
Certificate & CEUs
$120
for 6 months
 
Add to Cart
Billed once
This course only
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 6 months
No. of courses 1 course
Platinum Yearly
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$189
per year
 
Start Now
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 12 Months
No. of courses 600+
Platinum 2 Years
ALL COURSES
Certificates & CEUs
$299
for 2 years
You save $79.00!
Start Now
Billed once
Includes all 600+ courses
Includes certificate Yes
Includes CEUs Yes
Self-paced Yes
Instructor support Yes
Time to complete 24 Months
No. of courses 600+
 

Student Testimonials

  • "The instructor was very encouraging. The course seemed to touch on areas necessary to continue my learning." -- Philip V.
  • "The instructor is fantastic. It would be great if I could have received any constructive criticism in my writings, to learn where I may be making mistakes. Ms. St. Val is an expert teacher with a in-depth knowledge of writing. I highly recommend her classes." -- Christine B.
  • "This course was absolutely amazing, especially for those who have a foundation in writing knowledge but want to continue to grow." -- Cheyenne R.
  • "I would like to take this time to thank My instructor, Daphanee St.Val. She brought out the best in me with the instructions and directions and comments, She gave, in the lessons of The Improving Your writing 101, course. Thank You, Teacher Annette." -- Annette W.
  • "Both the course and the instructor was great. I learned a lot and appreciated having someone watching over me and correcting me when I'm wrong. The instructor was attentive, knowledgable, and available when you needed her. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher." -- Lori D.
  • "The course was amazing and the instructor was fantastic." -- Heidi P.
  • "I appreciated the interaction with the Instructor by email and the grading process." -- Diana T.
  • "I valued the instructor's feedback, and she answered my questions in a timely manner." -- Stephanie S.
  • "I found just about everything helpful. The instructor was first-rate. She was very helpful! Thanks!" -- Anita K.
  • "Very helpful and understanding instructor...All good..." -- David G.

Related Courses