English Composition I: Achieving Expertise

Thinking about higher ed in an English speaking country? Preparing for TOEFL? Or just want to improve your English writing skills? Take a look at this free online course from 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. We will create a workshop environment.

About the Course

New StudyCom class: advanced writing

I am starting an High Intermediate/ Advanced Writing Group (with emphasis on academic essays for TOEFL prep and academic writing). This writing intensive group will write substantial posts for class discussion, analyze and critique essays and writing samples, regularly write and revise  essays. I must limit enrollment because responding to student writing is labor intensive and time consuming.

To apply for the class, write an application letter essay and email it to me at Vanessa.87036@gmail.com.

Introduce yourself and include a brief biography (paragraph #1). Describe your English learning background (paragraph #2) and evaluate your writing strengths and weaknesses (paragraph #3). Finally, state your writing goals and explain why you want to improve your writing (paragraph #4) 

• What Is Academic Writing? 

  Academic writing - from Wikipedia
  

WRITING: What is the TWE?

The Test of Written English (TWE) is a required part of the Computer-Based TOEFL. You must compose an essay in thirty minutes. This demonstrates your academic writing proficiency in the following:

1. Generating and organizing ideas on paper.
2. Supporting those ideas with evidence or examples.
3. Using the conventions of standard written English.
   

TWE test results help institutions evaluate your academic writing proficiency and decide how to place you in writing courses.

What is the TWE? explains the TWE, its function, how it is scored, and sample essays.

In general, model TOEFL essays concentrate on: Suitable word usage; Content; Organization; Examples / Evidence; Formal writing style; Correct grammar and Sentence variety.

The best way to prepare for any writing test is by writing. Here are some sites to help you prepare for the TWE:

• Argument & Opinion Essay Writing
• TWE Topics
• Findcore Online Writing Practice
• Practice your TOEFL essay, computer scored in real time.
• Writing Argumentative Essays
• Basic Guide to Essay Writing
• The Five Paragraph Essay Wizard
• Structure of the Five Paragraph Essay
• Five Paragraph Essay Sample, with comments and outline form
• How to write Simple English, from "Simple Wikepedia" (a good source for reading practice)
• ESL Writing Links