Writing in First Person Point of View (Coursera)

Offered by Wesleyan University,
Writing in First Person Point of View (Coursera)

If you have always wanted to tell your own story—in a memoir, first-person essay, or any other form of autobiographical non-fiction—but felt you lacked the tools or the framework, this is the class for you. We will learn how successful first-person writing is structured to offer the reader a sense of propulsive motion, and is guided by a narrator who is deliberately crafted. We will explore the ways in which language can be used to create tone, so that the emotional freight of your words is as potent as the storytelling. And crucially, we will consider the writer's responsibility to the reader: the importance of being a guide who includes the reader in the sensory, emotional, and intellectual experience you mean to share through your writing.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Course 2 of 4 in the Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization.

Syllabus

WEEK 1: Developing a Narrator in First Person Writing
WEEK 2: The Journey
WEEK 3: Finding Your Voice
WEEK 4: What's Your Point?

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Designing Engaging Dashboards for Healthcare Analytics (Coursera) Coursera
Northeastern University

Designing Engaging Dashboards for Healthcare Analytics (Coursera)

Introduces processes and design principles for creating meaningful displays of information that support effective business decision-making. Studies how to collect and process data; create visualizations (both static and interactive); and use them to provide insight into a problem, situation, or opportunity. Introduces methods to critique visualizations along with ways to answer the elusive question: “What makes a visualization effective?” Discusses the challenges of making data understandable across a wide range of audiences.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks
English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level (Coursera) Coursera
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

English for Common Interactions in the Workplace: Basic Level (Coursera)

In a professional environment, we’re often faced with the need to respond appropriately according to what the situation calls for, whether it be related to situations in daily life or the workplace. This course was designed to provide the worker with linguistic tools which will enable greater ease in basic communications in the workplace.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Business English for Cross-cultural Communication (Coursera) Coursera
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology - HKUST

Business English for Cross-cultural Communication (Coursera)

This course aims to prepare you for working in an cross-cultural Business setting. We'll learn about common cross-cultural theories and how they are relevant to everyday business practices in a globalised world. By combining all of your vocabulary, reading, speaking, and writing skills that you acquired in the previous three courses, you will learn how language plays an important role in cross-cultural communication.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling (Coursera) Coursera
University of Houston System

Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling (Coursera)

Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling introduces educators to digital storytelling and explores ways to use digital stories to enhance students’ learning experiences. The course is designed to be comprehensive yet fundamental. By comprehensive we mean that the course provides a solid foundation for all of the components of a digital story and illustrates these components with tutorials, example stories, and links to additional readings. The course also provides a hands-on opportunity for learners to create their own digital stories. The course is fundamental because it covers the basic process of creating a digital story starting with just a simple script and as little as one image.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Lesson | Organize Your Pitch (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Lesson | Organize Your Pitch (Coursera)

This lesson is part of a full course, Speak English Professionally: In Person, Online & On the Phone. Take this lesson to get a short tutorial on the learning objectives covered. To dive deeper into this topic, take the full course. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to produce a well organized outline for a pitch/presentation.

Nov 16th 2026
1 Week
Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest (Coursera) Coursera
Commonwealth Education Trust

Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest (Coursera)

This course is for curious students and aspiring authors with a passion for writing for young readers. Participate in a dynamic online community of writers as you experiment with your own writing and develop your voice. This course will guide you with a combination of video lectures, online readings, peer reviews, and guest appearances from world-renowned children’s authors. As you work through the writing exercises, you will give and receive feedback from your peers and gain tools and techniques for improving your writing.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online (Coursera) Coursera
Arizona State University

Teach English Now! Teaching Language Online (Coursera)

Whether you have already taught English as a Second Language and want to start teaching it online, you've already been teaching ESL online and want to sharpen your skills, or you are new to teaching and interested in teaching ESL online, this course provides you with the basic ideas and concepts you need to know in order to successfully teach ESL online. This course uses a fun and interesting theme of "International Travel" to deliver content in an entertaining way.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics (Coursera) Coursera
Leiden University,Meertens Instituut - KNAW

Miracles of Human Language: An Introduction to Linguistics (Coursera)

Everywhere, every day, everybody uses language. There is no human society, no matter how small or how isolated, which does not employ a language that is rich and diverse. This course introduces you to linguistics, featuring interviews with well-known linguists and with speakers of many different languages. Join us to explore the miracles of human language!

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Corrección, estilo y variaciones de la lengua española (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Corrección, estilo y variaciones de la lengua española (Coursera)

¿Le interesa el idioma español y se preocupa por la corrección, el estilo y las variaciones de la lengua española? ¿Siente curiosidad acerca de las variaciones española y argentina o americana del Español estudiadas en textos cultos de referencia? En este curso se estudian empíricamente algunos aspectos relevantes de esas variedades de la lengua con datos significativos de las versiones hispanas de J. D. Salinger: «El cazador oculto», argentinas; y «El guardián entre el centeno», españolas.

Nov 9th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Writing your World: Finding yourself in the academic space (Coursera) Coursera
University of Cape Town

Writing your World: Finding yourself in the academic space (Coursera)

Throughout the world, writing serves to express, record and even create meaningful moments. In academic spaces, writing becomes the bridge between ourselves and the world of ideas. In this course, we provide practical insights into how to write an academic essay. We show you how to develop the academic skills needed to be a competent academic writer. You will have an opportunity to engage with texts written by academics, and to see how some of the ideas in these texts are used by students in constructing an academic essay.

Nov 23rd 2026
4 Weeks