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Improve Your English Writing (Essays, letters and more)
Rating: 4.5 out of 5(57 ratings)
488 students

Improve Your English Writing (Essays, letters and more)

Advanced features of English writing. What to write on EVERY line. Sentences, paragraphs and punctuation guide.
Created byRupert Walsh (MA)
Last updated 3/2025
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • How to build your essay from start to finish, line by line
  • How to plan a university essay in the correct way
  • How to organise the main sections of an essay
  • How to incorporate sources of information in your essay appropriately

Course content

16 sections • 161 lectures • 8h 21m total length

  • Sentence formation: Introduction0:45

    Master sentence formation by reviewing simple, compound, and complex sentences, then learn adverb clauses, adjective clauses, noun clauses, reporting clauses, and participle phrases to become a more accomplished English writer.

  • Simple Sentences2:28

    Master the building blocks of English writing by using simple sentences with one subject and one main verb, including subject-verb, subject-verb-object, subject-verb-adverbial, and subject-verb-complement forms.

  • Compound sentences1:09

    Learn to create compound sentences by joining two simple sentences with coordinating conjunctions such as and, but, or, nor. See how these links connect ideas.

  • Complex sentences2:07

    Explore how complex sentences join two simple sentences with subordinating conjunctions like although, creating dependent and independent clauses and highlighting contrast in meaning with a compound sentence.

  • Sentences with adverb clauses0:55

    Improve your writing by adding adverb clauses, which provide information about the verb or sentence—telling how, why, where, when, degree, or under which conditions—like when it gets dark.

  • Sentences with adjective clauses1:46

    Master adjective clauses, also called relative clauses, that follow a noun and introduce pronouns like that, which, who, when, or where. Learn how these clauses describe nouns, not verbs.

  • Sentences with noun clauses1:31

    Describe how noun clauses act as complete nouns in sentences, often starting with how, where, or when, and occupying the object position after the verb.

  • Sentences with reporting clauses2:24
  • Sentences with participle phrases2:09

    Learn to use participle phrases to add complexity and flow in sentences, employing present participle forms (ING) and past participles to link information and describe nouns.

  • Paragraph formation: Introduction0:55

    Master paragraph formation by understanding why we use paragraphs, what makes a good paragraph, and how types like reporting, narrative, formal, and contrast paragraphs differ.

  • The purpose of paragraphs5:13

    Paragraphs split text into topics, guide the reader through subtopics, and create organization. The example shows three paragraphs on online learning benefits—cost, accessibility through location, and time commitments—linked with signposts.

  • Features of a good paragraph1:24

    Explore how to build a good paragraph by presenting a central idea with a clear topic sentence, linking to the title, and ensuring logical flow from dogs to cats.

  • Paragraphs in reporting texts2:24

    Explore how reporting texts use short paragraphs to quickly convey key facts, starting with what, who, where, and when, then develop background and quotes.

  • Paragraphs in narrative texts2:28

    Paragraphs in narrative texts build description and progress the story by signaling time and place changes, introducing speech, and building toward key moments and pauses.

  • Paragraphs in formal & academic texts2:15

    Explore how paragraphs in formal and academic texts are built around a topic sentence, evidence, and explanations, with subpoints, and note that introductions and conclusions have distinct structures.

  • Contrast paragraphs1:35

    Learn to craft contrast paragraphs by presenting a belief, then refuting it with evidence, using a two-section structure that compares and then argues the preferred view.

  • Punctuation: Introduction0:37

    Master punctuation concepts that mark sentence and clause boundaries, enhancing professionalism and boosting impressions and potential top marks in writing for business or other contexts.

  • Using question marks0:56

    End sentences that start with a question word or an auxiliary verb with a question mark, as in what's your assignment?

  • Using exclamation marks0:49

    Use exclamation marks to show surprise, humour, or high significance in informal writing or correspondence, but avoid them in formal writing.

  • Using the full stop (period)0:41

    Learn how to use the full stop (period) to end most sentences that don't contain questions or exclamations, and begin a new sentence afterward, the American term 'period'.

  • Using commas for lists1:20

    Apply correct comma usage when listing items by learning how to separate items, including the Oxford comma debate, and when to consult your college style guide.

  • Using commas for introductory phrases1:13

    Use commas with introductory words and phrases before the subject, such as adverbial or participle phrases, to show where the main clause begins and boost clarity.

  • Using commas for relative clauses1:51

    Learn to use commas with relative clauses to add information after a noun without changing it, and identify when a clause changes the noun by defining or narrowing its meaning.

  • Using commas for dependent clauses0:56

    Learn when a comma separates a dependent clause from an independent clause. Explore the four main reasons to use commas, why not to replace full stops, and previews of semicolons.

  • Using semi-colons1:49

    Learn how semicolons link independent sentences to express closer relationships in formal writing, replace full stops to join related ideas, and know when to avoid them in informal contexts.

  • Using colons0:45

    Improve your English writing by mastering how colons introduce lists, quotations, and examples, and the rule that the preceding clause is a full sentence with a verb.

  • Using quotations1:41

    Use quotation marks to show exact speech and report what someone said. When not using quotation marks, shift the tense back in time and adapt pronouns accordingly when using sources.

Requirements

  • None

Description

Do you need to improve your English writing? The impact of good English writing can stay with you for the rest of your life. You will share your college and university results when you interview for any job. Excellent professional writing often leads to success in business. Your family and friends will all want to celebrate when your English writing leads to good outcomes.

It really is worth doing everything possible to improve your English writing for academic and professional purposes.

My name is Rupert Walsh, and I have been helping tens of thousands of degree students over the last decade and more with their English writing skills, and, in this course, I am making all of the knowledge I have been passing on to my students through lecturing at a UK university available to you.

The writing foundations section teaches you the essential skills necessary for developing advanced sentences, suitable paragraphs, and accurate use of punctuation.

The essay writing section of the course teaches you:

- How to start an essay

- How to write in the correct way

- How to use information from sources

- How to structure your essay

- What to include and what not to include

- What you should write (line by line)

- What different types of essays are, and how to know which type you should be writing

- How to make sure different parts of your essay connect together

- What an essay should look like

We will look at every aspect of essay writing; introduction, main body and conclusion. We will look at the main features of writing essays, and the more detailed features which sometimes get missed but can make all the difference if you don't understand them properly.

The letter and email writing section of the course teaches you:

- How to start and finish a letter/email

- What to include at the beginning of your letter according to your purpose

- How to move from beginning to end of the main body

- How to promote action based upon your letter

- Letter formation

- Key email/letter differences

As mentioned above, a main feature of this course is that it teaches you how to build your texts line by line. Therefore, there is a lecture on this course that will help you at every stage of the writing process.

Make sure you know everything you need to know about English writing by taking this course and completing all of the lectures!

Also, as part of the course, you can ask me questions by going to the Questions & Answers section. Here, you can ask me to clarify any points where you need additional guidance, or ask me how any part of the course might apply to the particular essay or letter you need to write.

Join now! I look forward to meeting you on the first lecture of the course.


How others how rated this course:

"Valuable learning information" (D.F.)

"Explanations of concepts are clear" (F.M.)

"Instructor delivery is engaging" (I.H.)

About Rupert, the tutor:

Rupert has taught English to all levels, ages and nationalities for the past 25 years. Through his guidance, thousands of students have achieved success with FCE, CAE, ESOL (in the UK), IELTS, Pre-Sessional English, BA (Hons) degrees, MA qualifications and teacher training certificates. During the past 14 years, he has taught in British universities and, from 2020 to 2022, he was Programme Leader for all English language courses provided by the University of Portsmouth (UK). His teaching qualifications are at the highest level that English teachers can achieve; they include the DELTA (Merit), MA in Applied Linguistics & TEFL (Distinction), and FHEA. He is also an experienced Business English tutor, having been a Financial Accountant before commencing his teaching career. He has presented at conferences around the world, and regularly publishes research on virtual language learning.

Why should you buy this course?

- You need to write for formal purposes in English

- You would like to improve your ability to write in paragraphs

- You want to get better at linking complex English together in your texts

- You want to improve the organisation of your written work

- You are required to master aspects of writing such as introducing and concluding

- You need to learn how to use references in your writing

- You wish to master a specific English writing skill such as essay writing, letter writing or social media writing

Who this course is for:

  • International students studying at an English speaking university

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