Pricing
SearchCourse Syllabus: Nonfiction Writing 101
no certificate
with CEU Certificate*
Course Description
Nonfiction writing is the most common and broadly dispersed form of writing known to mankind. Nonfiction is based in truth, experience, events or in all of them. It is what the reporter reports; what the biographer writes; what the course writer explains. Everything that is not imagination and invented by the creative mind is nonfiction.
This course is designed to take you beyond the basics and to guide you through the writing process to the finish line. In the course, you will learn how to think like an editor, how to choose your subject matter and examine your competition. You will learn how to structure your writing and what to do when you inevitably hit the infamous "writer's block." If you have basic writing skills and if you follow the course content, you should be ready to submit your writing by the end of the course material. You will know what to do with your article or book when you are finished and how to polish it for presentation to a publisher. Remember, "Writers Write" – so get to writing!
Course Requirements
Course Topics
Lesson 1: Before You Start, Think Like An Editor
Lesson 2: Article, Project or Book?
Lesson 3: Subject, Title and Subtitles
Lesson 4: Researching Your Subject
Lesson 5: Reviewing Your Competition
Lesson 6: Structure and Organization
Lesson 7: Writers Write; Getting Comfy in Your Own Skin
Lesson 8: Get To The Finish Line; What To Do When You Hit A Block
Lesson 9: Rewriting and Rhythm; Polishing for Your Audience
Lesson 10: Spelling, Grammar and Proper Punctuation
Lesson 11: Edit and Edit Again
Lesson 12: Fact Checking and Proper Notation
Lesson 13: Layout, Proper Spacing and Format - Your Finished Product
Course Materials
Grading Policy
Learning Outcomes
- Know how to think like an editor.
- Define article, project and book.
- Identify subject, title and subtitles.
- Research your subject.
- Review your competition.
- Identify structure and organization.
- Write.
- Know what to do when you hit a block.
- Identify what needs to be polished for your audience.
- Perform spelling and grammar check.
- Edit and edit again.
- Fact check and provide proper notation.
- Demonstrate layout, proper spacing and format, and submit your finished product, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
Assessment Guide
| An Introduction | 1 |
| Lesson 1 Assignment | 2 |
| Lesson 1: Before You Start, Think Like An Editor | 8 |
| Lesson 2 Assignment | 2 |
| Lesson 2: Article, Project or Book? | 8 |
| Lesson 3 Assignment | 2 |
| Lesson 3: Subject, Title and Subtitles | 9 |
| Lesson 4: Researching Your Subject | 9 |
| Lesson 5 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 5: Reviewing Your Competition | 10 |
| Lesson 6: Structure and Organization | 7 |
| Lesson 7 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 7: Writers Write; Getting Comfy in Your Own Skin | 10 |
| Lesson 8 Assignment | 2 |
| Lesson 8: Get To The Finish Line; What To Do When You Hit A Block | 10 |
| Lesson 9 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 9: Rewriting and Rhythm; Polishing for Your Audience | 8 |
| Lesson 10 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 10: Spelling, Grammar and Proper Punctuation | 10 |
| Lesson 11: Edit and Edit Again | 8 |
| Lesson 12 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 12: Fact Checking and Proper Notation | 9 |
| Lesson 13 Assignment | 25 |
| Lesson 13: Layout, Proper Spacing and Format – Your Finished Product | 9 |
| The Final Exam | 58 |
| Total Points: | 332 |
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