Online courses directory (217)

Many scholars consider Dante the ultimate Italian poet of his time.  He introduced innovative stylistic techniques to the poetic tradition while also drawing from the philosophy, history, and mythology of the ancient world.  As we will see in the course, he composed his works in the Italian vernacular, setting an important precedent in the literary world of his time, when most of his contemporaries wrote only in Latin.  In this course, we will consider Dante’s literature for its stylistic and thematic contributions to the body of Medieval and Italian literature, as well as for its inventive appraisal of Christianity. Before we look at Dante’s specific literary works, we will first consider him as a writer who worked in a particular historical context and will accordingly begin by taking a look at Dante’s life as well as the culture of Medieval Italy on a broader level.  We will then take a look at some of Dante’s shorter works, most notably his early philosophical treatises.  We will devote the…

Develop your eye for detail and improve your writing with vivid descriptions, memorable settings, and believable characters.

Explore advanced fiction writing techniques with a published novelist.

Many consider William Shakespeare the greatest dramatisteven the greatest writerof all time.  His impact on Western culture and language is unmistakable, but his works have also been continuously read and performed around the world, illustrating his global significance.  Over the course of this semester, we will attempt to determine why his works have become so widely revered, or why they seem, to quote Ben Jonson, “not for an age, but for all time.” We will begin by familiarizing ourselves with Elizabethan theatre, language, and culturethe world in which Shakespeare lived and breathed.  We will then conduct close readings of a number of Shakespeare’s most acclaimed plays, progressing through his dramatic works by categorizing them in three groups: comedies, tragedies, and histories.  Finally, we will turn to some of his poetry, which Shakespeare (perhaps surprisingly) considered superior to his plays.  By the end of this course, you will have developed a strong understanding of Shakespeare’s w…

This course will be beneficial if you wish to learn how to communicate with the sounds and music of American English. The purpose is not to increase your vocabulary, nor to improve your grammar, but to deal with the sounds of the words that you speak. Your message is of primary importance, but it may not be understood if your pronunciation is imprecise, inconsistent, or regional. This course is particularly useful for actors or for others who need to speak to diverse audiences, such as when giving a business presentation. You will have the flexibility of time to experience, at your own pace, aural and visual aspects of a sound. Within the course, students are assessed on their ability to recognize each sound in a variety of contexts and are given feedback on their particular answers. You will learn to: Articulate sounds and words using the dialect of Standard American English. Listen and think in terms of symbols for sounds, using the International Phonetic Alphabet. Use the International Phonetic Alphabet to transcribe from the Roman alphabet into the forty-four sounds of Standard American Dialect and vice versa. Analyze texts for phrasing, operative words, intonational patterns, degrees of stress. Achieve a proper use of weak forms for certain parts of speech in the English Language, making your speech clear and efficient.

Get a taste of the writer's life and improve your writing skills in this introduction to writing creatively.

An introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing.

Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Do one thing every day that scares you,” Stunt Writing For Personal Experience is a process that uses writing as a tool for you to learn about yourself, and gain skills in communicating your own unique story.

How can scientists become better writers? Topics include principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, and issues in publication and peer review.

How can scientists become better writers? Topics include principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, and issues in publication and peer review.

By Kenji Hakuta, Jeff Zwiers and Sara Rutherford-Quach

How do addictions develop? How are they best treated and how are they prevented? This course explores these key questions further.

Together with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Professor Jonathan Bate explores Shakespeare, his works and the world he lived in.

This hands-on course helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters.

Learn how to use English for study at university or college and develop your writing skills, vocabulary and grammar.

This course for learners of English looks at British culture and examines English in use to help you improve your language skills.

A journey through the literature of English country houses from the time of Thomas More to Oscar Wilde

Academics from the Shakespeare Institute introduce aspects of the most famous play ever written - its origins, texts, and history.

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.

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