Becoming a Great Essayist

De: Jennifer Cognard-Black, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Jennifer Cognard-Black

If you have a clever anecdote, an interesting memory, a new way to explain how something works, or an opinion on a social or political issue, then you have an essay in you. Unlike a novel, history book, or scientific publication, essays provide you with the versatility to express all the various facets that make you you. The concise and direct nature of an essay means that you may tap in to your sense of wit, share your individual point of view, persuade others to your perspective, and record a part of your memories for future generations in as many distinct essay forms as you wish. The essay is, above all else, one of the most profoundly personal outlets for writing.

Discover the keys to unlocking your potential in essay writing with Becoming a Great Essayist. These 24 illuminating lectures explore numerous genres or types of essays, challenge you with stimulating writing prompts, and provide insights into how to get to know yourself like never before so that you may write honest, compelling, and great essays. And because essays are so flexible in their style and function, the skills you build writing great essays may be applied to almost all other forms of writing.

While the goal of this course is to provide you with fundamental abilities that will improve your essays, the skills you will learn also provide a foundation to develop any writing project you undertake. This is an unrivalled opportunity to advance your critical and creative thinking skills, enhance your ability to master a strong and persuasive style, and, most importantly, get to know your own inner voice.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2016 The Great Courses

Perfect instruction!

Although I’ve always been a writer, I’ve always hated writing essays. This series of lectures, however, makes it interesting and fun! I highly recommend it, if you are afraid of essay-writing or if you just need to brush up your general writing skills.

engaging and educational

this series was incredibly educational and surprisingly captivating. the lecturer not only instructs on the elements of writing construction but hones in on great authors, showing why some compositions stand the test of time.

Excellent. Starting again

excellent. starting again now to do each task. she gives great assignments and great insight. already have come up with multiple essay ideas. and no it's about revising and revising again.

For beginners and advanced writers

Cognard-Black covers a lot of ground in a well organized series of lectures. This is the first Great Courses series I found worthwhile. I went back and listened several times to the lectures that best fit my writing areas or needs.

Makes you excited to write more essays

I love the break down of this course. It is not the same five paragraph writing drills, but she walks you through different types, storylines, teaches you how to make the read feel the words.

Slow

My mind tended to wander quite a bit during the whole book. Good info just not engaging.

Great course

This was the most interesting and easy to listen to course I've experienced. The subject matter is engrossing and the narration is excellent.

Lucid!

If you really want to enhance literary and intellectual acuity, this is the book! Incredibly coarsing with erudition , wisdom and scholastic reference, this lecture series is straight out of Boston College!

OK, not great

I disliked the cliches that pervaded the course. She actually used the "outside the box" metaphor. There was some info that was useful in writing and publishing essays, but not nearly enough. Instead there too many summaries of essays, and they were often very old ones. What you could learn from these about writing and publishing essays today was limited.

For person who likes to journal

This book is for someone who writes personal essays, in a journal, or possible wants to write a biography. If this is your focus, it is a good book.

This book will not help with professional writing, grammar, or style.