Free English Composition Courses
Here are some online English Composition courses offered free by three top universities: Utah State, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and Open University. You can learn more about many types of writing, including persuasive essays, food writing and autobiography.
Utah State University
Utah State has two writing courses in their Open Courseware. In Guide to Writing in History, learn about the style and content of writing about history. In Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode, hone your critical thinking, reading and writing skills to make effective persuasive arguments.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Several courses are listed on MIT's Open Courseware. In Writing and Experience: Exploring Self in Society, practice writing narratives, whether fiction or nonfiction. In Writing and Reading the Essay, learn about the writing skills which are essential for other college courses.
- Expository Writing: Social and Ethical Issues in Print, Photography and Film
- Writing on Contemporary Issues: Food for Thought: Writing and Reading about the Cultures of Food
- Writing and Experience: Exploring Self in Society
- Writing and Reading the Essay
- Technologies of Humanism
- Expository Writing: Exploring Social and Ethical Issues through Film and Print
- Expository Writing: Autobiography - Theory and Practice
- Expository Writing: Analyzing Mass Media
- Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice
- Writing on Contemporary Issues: Imagining the Future
- Writing and Experience
The Open University
The Open University has a free course in Essay and Report Writing Skills. Develop academic writing skills with lots of practice.
Free Online Composition Courses at a Glance
| Course & School | Program Level | Format | Assignments | Quizzes & Exams | Downloadable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guide to Writing in History course from Utah State | Undergraduate | Text Lessons | No | Yes | No |
| Intermediate Writing: Research Writing in a Persuasive Mode course from Utah State | Undergraduate | Text Lessons | Yes | No | No |
| Expository Writing: Social and Ethical Issues in Print, Photography and Film course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Writing on Contemporary Issues: Food for Thought: Writing and Reading about the Cultures of Food course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Writing and Experience: Exploring Self in Society course from MIT | Undergraduate | Writing Exercises | Yes | No | Yes |
| Writing and Reading the Essay course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Technologies of Humanism course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Expository Writing: Exploring Social and Ethical Issues through Film and Print course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Expository Writing: Autobiography - Theory and Practice course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Expository Writing: Analyzing Mass Media course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice course from MIT | Undergraduate/Graduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Writing on Contemporary Issues: Imagining the Future course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Writing and Experience course from MIT | Undergraduate | Textbooks | Yes | No | Yes |
| Essay and Report Writing Skills course from Open University | Beginner | Text Lessons | Yes | No | Yes |
