In our information age, somebody needs to produce that information, and it can’t all be pictures or videos (try as YouTube might). Luckily, there are a variety of free online courses(MOOCs) available for all types of writers and aspiring writers. https://www.class-central.com/report/writing-free-online-courses/ Note: Not all of these courses are available. Add a course to MOOC Tracker and we will notify you when the course becomes available. To signup for a course, click on the green ‘Go to Class’ button on the course page. Basic Writing & CompositionCreative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Almost free – $0.99) via Skillshare Internationally acclaimed author Emily Gould walks you through a 10-day creative writing challenge! Filled with inspiring examples, observation prompts, and clever revision tricks, it’s perfect for writers and enthusiasts eager to rekindle creativity in a personal and artful way. Self Paced A beginners’ guide to writing in English for university study via University of Reading Learn how to use English for study at university or college and develop your writing skills, vocabulary and grammar. Next Session: 9th May, 2016 Write101x: English Grammar and Style via University of Queensland Write101x will enable you to learn how words work so that you can write the concise, lucid, nuanced, and compelling prose that is so valued by readers. Next Session: 25th Jul, 2016 English Composition I: Achieving Expertise via Duke University 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. Next Session: 20th Jun, 2016
Adventures in Writing Stanford University via Stanford OpenEdx Welcome to Adventures in Writing, a series of graphic-novel style learning modules designed to help you learn more about and practice a range of effective written communication skills. You’ll immerse yourself in the adventures of Maya and Chris, using each module’s interactive exercises to apply what you’ve learned ★★★★★ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self Paced Scribble: Writing for New Writers via OpenLearning This course will take students through the process of writing from simple paragraphs to more complex writing structures and eventually research writing. ★★★★☆ (4 ratings) | Next Session : Self Paced First-Year Composition 2.0 via Georgia Tech First-Year Composition 2.0 will help you to develop a better process and gain confidence in written, visual, and oral communication and to create and critique documents and presentations in college, in the workplace, and in your community. You will draft and revise the following assignments: a personal essay, an image, and an oral presentation. Next Session: 27th May, 2013 Writing II: Rhetorical Composing via Ohio State University Rhetorical Composing is a course where writers exchange words, ideas, talents, and support. You will be introduced to a variety of rhetorical concepts—that is, ideas and techniques to inform and persuade audiences—that will help you become a more effective consumer and producer of written, visual, and multimodal texts Next Session: 15th Sep, 2014 Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade (Fundamental English Writing) via Mt. San Jacinto College Learn to become an effective builder of sentences using the basic tools of English grammar, punctuation, and writing. This is a fundamental English writing course. Next Session: 4th Sep, 2015 Thinking Like a Writer via Michigan State University This course revolves around the work of revising writing, learning, and engaging with language and community. You will explore who you are as a learner as you write about yourself and your language use, as well as consider who you are as a communicator as you critique texts, persuade audiences, and collaborate with others. Next Session: 23rd Jun, 2014 Essay WritingColWri2.1x: How to Write an Essay via University of California, Berkeley College Writing 2.1x is an introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. Next Session: 12th Oct, 2016 ColWri2.2: English Grammar and Essay Writing via University of California, Berkeley College Writing 2.2x is the second part of the academic writing course. In this part, you will focus on proofreading and self-editing; revision vs. editing; common errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling; understanding tone and diction; vocabulary development. Next Session: 18th Feb, 2017 Journalistic WritingContent Marketing: Blogging for Growth (Almost free – $0.99) via Skillshare Explore how entrepreneur Eric Siu creates content not just for the sake of writing, but for hitting your own goals. In this 80-minute deep dive class, you’ll learn Eric’s step-by-step structure for creating compelling blog content — the same process that has helped him build a seven-figure business, Single Grain and the five-star-rated podcast, Growth Everywhere. Self Paced Introduction to Journalism via University of Strathclyde Learn about the key principles and debates in journalism and enact the role of a journalist in the context of an escalating story. Next Session:28th Mar, 2016 Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens University of Melbourne via Coursera This is a course in basic journalism skills, designed for the many people who are now taking advantage of new media to publish news, views and information Next Session : 17th Aug, 2015 Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media Cardiff University via FutureLearn This is a course in basic journalism skills designed for citizens who are using new media to publish news, views and information. We cover writing skills, interviews, ethics, law and accessing public forums and documents. We also introduce basic investigative skills. ★★★★☆ (3 ratings) | Next Session : 8th Feb, 2016 J4SC101x: Journalism for Social Change University of California, Berkeley via edX J4SC101 has been designed for students who are interested in the intersection of public policy, journalism and social sciences and who are looking to use their expertise and careers to drive positive social change. ★★★☆☆ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self paced Writing FictionHow Writers Write Fiction via University of Iowa An interactive study of the practice of creative writing, How Writers Write presents a curated collection of short, intimate talks created by fifty authors of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literary translation. Next Session: 24th Sep, 2015 Start writing fiction via The Open University This hands-on course helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters. Next Session: 3rd Oct, 2016 Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest Commonwealth Education Trust via Coursera This course is for curious students and aspiring authors with a passion for writing for young readers ★★★★★ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self Paced The Future Of Storytelling via University of Applied Sciences Potsdam Learn how to analyze, contextualize and create stories and narratives in current media: from understanding storytelling basics to discussing new online tools and formats, this course brings together a network of media researchers, creators, and students. Next Session: 25th Oct, 2013 How Writers Write Poetry via University of Iowa The course presents a curated collection of short, intimate talks on craft by two dozen acclaimed poets writing in English. Craft topics include sketching techniques, appropriation, meter, constraints, sound, mindfulness, and pleasure. The talks are designed for beginning poets just starting to put words on a page as well as for advanced poets looking for new entry points, thoughts about process, or teaching tips. Next Session: Mar, 2015 Applied Writing SkillsHow to Succeed at: Writing Applications via University of Sheffield This free three week course will help you produce a perfect CV, application and online profile when applying for a job or course. Next Session: 13th Jun, 2016 Writing for the Web Understanding the difference between writing for print versus writing for the web starts with learning about how readers behave differently online. This course brings to light how to accommodate the needs of online readers through web design, writing style, structure and search engine optimisation. Next Session: 11th Jan, 2016 ColWri2.3x: Academic and Business Writing via University of California, Berkeley An introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. Next Session: 18th Apr, 2016 Stunt Writing for Personal Growth The Stunt Writing For Personal Growth class includes prompts, lectures, readings and discussions for writers of any age, at any level. Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Do one thing every day that scares you,” Stunt Writing For Personal Growth is a process that uses writing as a tool for you to learn about yourself, and gain skills in communicating your own unique story. Next Session: 20th Jul, 2015 Writing in the Sciences via Stanford This course teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. Topics include: principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, the format of a scientific manuscript, and issues in publication and peer review. Students from non-science disciplines can benefit from the training provided in the first four weeks (on general principles of effective writing) Next Session: Self paced |