what is a coursework template

Coursework: Requirements for an A+ Paper

• Icon Calendar 5 July 2024
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Academic writing is an essential activity in higher education and comes in various forms. Basically, one of these forms is coursework writing, where instructors assess students’ levels of understanding of a course during a semester. Unlike other papers, coursework assignments evaluate students’ understanding of a particular course and not just a topic in a class. Besides, various forms of coursework writing include essays, term papers, theses, dissertations, report projects, and others. Hence, people need to learn what is a coursework assignment and how to write such a paper effectively.

General Aspects

College and university students undertake different kinds of academic exercises, with writing projects taking a significant portion of their grades. Basically, one of these exercises is the writing of a coursework paper, an assignment they submit at the end of their semester. This kind of work also assesses students’ understanding of a particular field of study within a single semester. In turn, instructors rarely require someone to write a paper for things they learned during a previous semester. Therefore, coursework entails completing various writing assignments, such as essays, research projects, experiments, and presentations that assess a student’s understanding and application of a subject material.

What Is a Coursework and Its Purpose

According to its definition, coursework is an academic project assignment that students are required to undertake as part of their educational curriculum and which they must submit before a final closure of an entire semester. The primary purpose of writing a coursework assignment is to evaluate learners’ levels of knowledge and skills acquisition, meaning such a project contributes to their final grades (Godfrey, 2022). Ideally, coursework is what students learn during a semester, and such an assignment is meant to measure how well they have understood a subject matter. Moreover, individuals use reliable and relevant sources to study, examine, and evaluate a chosen coursework topic (Haines, 2021). As such, this task is very similar to other academic assignments, such as essays, research papers, reports, thesis writing, dissertations, and other types of papers . In terms of pages and words, the length of a coursework assignment depends on academic levels, subjects, institution’s requirements, and its nature and scope, while general guidelines are:

High School

• Length: 6-10 pages
• Words: 1,500-2,500 words
• Length: 10-16 pages
• Words: 2,500-4,000 words

University (Undergraduate)

• Length: 16-24 pages
• Words: 4,000-6,000 words

Master’s

• Length: 24-32 pages
• Words: 6,000-8,000 words
• Length: 32-52 pages or more (depending on the complexity and depth of the research)
• Words: 8,000-13,000 words or more

Note: Some sections of a coursework paper can be added, deleted, or combined with each other, and it depends on specific college instructions. However, a typical structure of coursework covers a title page, table of contents, abstract/executive summary, introduction with a thesis or research question, literature review, methods, results, discussion, conclusion, references, and appendices.

Differences With Other Papers

In any course of their classes, students write different types of papers, including essays, research papers, and reports. Basically, the major difference between coursework writing and these papers is that it assesses people’ understanding of what they have discovered throughout a semester (Couch, 2021). In contrast, essays and other papers assess learners’ understanding of a specific topic, concept, result, or theory. Moreover, students may need to address an issue in their project they might have covered in an essay assignment sometime during a previous semester. As such, a coursework assignment is broader in scope than other papers.

Expectations

Like essays and other papers, a coursework assignment varies from one area of study to another. For example, there is a coursework for the English subject and another for the sciences (Godfrey, 2022). Therefore, individuals are expected to complete their coursework assignments according to their instructor’s or department’s instructions. In most cases, this expectation includes presenting an assignment in an essay format, where they select a title of their choice. Depending on a specific subject, some assignments expect students to collect, examine, infer, and report data when answering a specific question (Haines, 2021). Finally, in college, coursework refers to writing assignments, projects, and tasks students must complete as part of their academic curriculum to demonstrate their understanding and application of a subject material.

When it comes to a grading aspect of academic assignments, instructors look at how well a student has attended to all the requirements and expectations. For instance, these requirements include writing about a choice of themes or text excerpts in a given format (Haines, 2021). In essence, people must use a good approach they believe is likely to give them a higher grade, meaning a technique that helps them to answer a specific question methodically, logically, and critically by using relevant information. In essence, these are three dimensions for grading a coursework assignment (Couch, 2021). As such, to write a coursework paper effectively, one should conduct thorough research, follow a clear and organized structure, adhere to given guidelines, and proofread a final document to ensure accuracy and coherence.

Steps on How to Write a Coursework Paper

Like an essay, a coursework assignment takes a particular structure. Basically, students should understand core components and make sure they address them in their academic writing (Bjorn et al., 2022). In this case, the most significant issue for writers is to ensure a logical flow of ideas. Moreover, developing a thesis statement is essential to provide high-quality essays with a guideline on focal issues. Primarily, these issues are class concepts and theories a person has learned in a specific course during a semester (Godfrey, 2022). As a result, to write coursework, students thoroughly research their topics, create detailed outlines, adhere to specified formats, draft their content clearly and concisely, and proofread their papers for any mistakes.

Step 1: Preparation

Planning or preparation is the first step in writing a coursework paper. For instance, an essence of any form of academic writing is to measure a person’s level of understanding about a particular area of study (Haines, 2021). To start coursework, students begin by carefully reviewing assignment guidelines, conducting preliminary research to understand their assigned topics, and outlining main points and structure of their papers. Since such an project measures what a student has learned in a given course, it is paramount for each person to prepare well when executing an assignment. Here, learners have to choose a topic that they are comfortable with, one that they are passionate about. Additionally, they should generate ideas about their coursework by deciding what is relevant and what is not. In principle, a typical reasoning that guides this decision is a particular expectation outlined in assignment instructions (Godfrey, 2022). Lastly, people should understand their audience – consumers of their work or readers. Like any other assignment, a target audience is course instructors. Hence, writers should ensure their class projects satisfy a curiosity of readers. In turn, some examples of sentence starters for beginning a coursework paper include:

• In recent years, the topic of [subject] has gained a significant attention due to its direct impact on [related field/issue], while this coursework aims to explore … .
• The origins of [subject] can be traced back to [year/era], when [important event/person] first introduced a particular concept of … .
• Understanding [subject] is crucial for [reason/field], as it offers more insights into [related concept or application], and this paper seeks to examine … .
• Currently, [subject] is experiencing a period of rapid development, with new research and advancements being made in areas, such as … .
• By exploring a research question: [research question], this paper aims to examine [purpose of the study] … .
• While much has been written about [subject], there remains a significant knowledge gap in a current literature regarding [specific aspect], which this paper will investigate … .
• During my studies/experience in [related field], I observed [specific phenomenon], which prompted me to investigate [subject] more thoroughly … .
• According to recent statistics, [relevant statistic] highlights the importance of [subject], which this coursework will explore … .
• As [author/expert] once said, ‘[relevant quote],’ this statement underscores a real significance of [subject], which will be a particular focus of this paper in … .
• This coursework is based on a particular hypothesis that [hypothesis statement], and this comprehensive analysis and research will seek to prove/disprove … .

Step 2: Setting Up

After preparation, people should set up the stage for coursework writing. Basically, a first preoccupation is to find sources relevant to an assignment prompt – those that are more likely to provide enough evidence and support needed claims. As scholars review credible sources, they should take notes to provide a strong argumentation in their projects (Walter & Stouck, 2020). Then, another activity involves deciding on a coursework outline, which should help to answer an assignment prompt logically and critically. Lastly, learners should create an annotated bibliography, a summary of each source they intend to use as a valid basis for their arguments in an entire document.

Step 3: Writing a First Draft

After preparing and setting up the stage, students should start writing a first version of their coursework assignment. In this case, armed with notes taken during a review of reliable sources and an outline they have created, people should start with a first draft, where they develop a thesis statement. Basing all opinions and arguments on a thesis, writers should answer an assignment prompt methodically, logically, and critically. For example, a coursework statement is a concise declaration of a main objective or thesis that an entire project aims to explore and demonstrate (Godfrey, 2022). Moreover, a thesis statement should ‘hook’ a target audience and make them interested in reading a substantial part of a paper – a body. In essence, a body section is where students use all the evidence they have gathered about an assigned topic, while a thesis informs a target audience of what individuals have focused on in their papers. As a result, any coursework paper adopts a typical outline, as indicated below:

• Table of Contents
• Abstract or Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Body Paragraph(s)
• Reference List
• Appendices (Optional)

Step 4: Wrapping It Up

It is normal for a writer to make mistakes when writing an academic document. For example, these mistakes include inconsistent arguments, irrelevant content, punctuation errors, and countless grammatical mistakes (Haines, 2021). Therefore, after completing a first draft, writers should read it through, at least twice, to identify these mistakes and correct them. Basically, common processes of correction include revising and editing a written paper. Regarding revisions, students should give their work to a friend or mentor to read it through. In their feedback, these individuals are likely to point out areas where authors should make corrections for their papers to be logical and interesting to read. Concerning editing a complete document, people should proofread their work to ensure it is free of spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and other grammatical mishaps.

Step 5: Developing Body Paragraphs

A body paragraph of any academic text, including a coursework assignment, utilizes several features to make a whole paper logical. Basically, the first feature is writing a topic sentence that opens up each paragraph (Couch, 2021). In principle, a primary purpose of this feature is to strengthen a central idea captured in a thesis statement. Then, the rest of a single paragraph structure backs up this claim using evidence gathered from different sources. In turn, another feature is a concluding sentence, which closes each paragraph (Godfrey, 2022). As such, a main goal of this aspect is to connect a topic sentence with a thesis statement. Finally, another feature is transition words and phrases that help readers to sense a logical flow of ideas throughout a whole paper. In short, writers use transitions within and between paragraphs to create a logical flow of information and ideas.

Step 6: Referencing Format and Peer Reviewing

Besides ensuring an entire paper is written methodically and logically, authors should see it meets the highest academic writing standards. In this regard, they should ensure it follows a particular format – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian. In most cases, an assignment prompt dictates a specific format learners should use. Moreover, a particular referencing manual informs about a typical structure of a whole paper and its format of citations. In turn, another essential activity that students should perform is to commit a complete document to peer review. Here, authors give coursework papers to distinguished scholars, such as a professor or classmate, to assess an overall validity and quality of information used, including sources.

Step 7: Writing a Final Draft

After subjecting a first draft to vigorous scrutiny through revisions, editions, and peer review, people should start writing a final draft of a coursework paper. Basically, this draft should be thoroughly polished, meaning it should be free of spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes, as well as inconsistent arguments and irrelevant sentences (Lawrence, 2020). Moreover, it should indicate an effective use of transitions in paper’s body paragraphs. In short, a final draft is an improved version of a first draft because writers have revised and edited it and incorporated feedback from a friend, mentor, or professor. However, they still need to read through a final draft, at least once, to ensure it is perfect before submission to a grading department. In turn, if someone notes several mistakes, it means another revision is necessary. Hence, a student’s focus should be a correct content, organization of ideas, style of writing, and format.

Types of Coursework

Given that coursework assignments test students’ levels of understanding about a course’s content in a given semester, it means such a project takes several writing forms. For example, these documents include a term paper, a Master’s thesis, a dissertation, or a report project (Godfrey, 2022). Ideally, such a composition is an essential requirement for a student to complete an entire course successfully. It also means such a project is essential to be awarded a degree. Moreover, the only difference between these types of coursework assignments is that they take a different approach to examining and analyzing a course’s content, with each subject taking a unique approach. In turn, common types of coursework projects include:

Writing Techniques

The dream of every student is to pass any assessment and attain a higher grade. In a coursework assignment, learners can utilize different techniques to ensure they attain higher grades after assessments (Haines, 2021). As indicated earlier about a grading aspect of coursework, writers should use an approach they believe answers an assignment prompt methodically, logically, and critically. As a result, every technique they use must allow them to answer a specific question in a way that satisfies these three grading dimensions.

Compare and Contrast

A compare and contrast essay technique is about analyzing two subjects, ideas, concepts, or theories by comparing them, contrasting them, or doing both. Basically, a primary purpose of answering a coursework assignment through this writing approach is that students must not state obvious things (Couch, 2021). Instead, they need to shed light on subtle differences or unexpected similarities between subjects, ideas, concepts, or theories.

Cause and Effect

A cause and effect essay technique allows writers to develop their paper’s body by analyzing possible reasons for and consequences of a decision, action, or event. When organizing a paragraph, students adopt a structure that allows them to arrange defined causes and effects in a chronological or reverse chronological order (Godfrey, 2022). Alternatively, authors can present their arguments through emphasis, starting from least important to most important aspects, or vice versa.

Investigation

An investigation technique involves undertaking an in-depth examination of a topic, idea, concept, or theory. Basically, this technique’s primary goal is to demonstrate that students have gained a thorough knowledge of a specific subject, which is indicated in their methodical, logical, and critical analysis and presentation of information. In esense, ensuring research findings are interpreted and presented in an organized manner throughout a research paper is critical (Walter & Stouck, 2020). Ultimately, such a technique enables writers to demonstrate their articulate understanding of various viewpoints about a particular issue under investigation. 

How to Present Strong Arguments

For an academic paper to capture an audience’s attention and interest, students must not only develop a thesis statement but also ensure they use strong arguments to back up a central idea in a main statement. Basically, the “they say, I say” technique is the simplest method to present arguments properly (Couch, 2021). In this regard, the information that a person uses in answering a coursework assignment prompt should be free of plagiarism and cite all sources properly. Then, another way to ensure an entire writing is persuasive is to confirm that authors have attained a required word count limit without counting footnotes, endnotes, references, and appendices (Haines, 2021). Ideally, selecting a topic that one is comfortable with and passionate about enables an overall writing to be high-quality in terms of argumentation. Besides, students should discuss alternatives with their mentor or instructor. Finally, a thesis statement should not be complicated.

Scope of Research

Students make different kinds of mistakes when writing academic texts. For example, a common mistake in coursework writing involves a scope, where students fail to focus on one area of a particular topic and instead try to be broad in their argumentation (Godfrey, 2022). In principle, they may waste space talking about irrelevant material, leaving them with little space to write about a core idea. As such, an effective solution to this problem is to develop a thesis statement that sets out a paper’s specific agenda. In doing so, authors can realize every time they go off-topic.

Colloquialism

By considering colloquialisms, students may use a language that is not standard for academic writing. Essentially, this problem is particularly common with learners who become excited about a specific topic and try to express their ideas creatively (Haines, 2021). Moreover, a whole project shifts from being evidence-based to a document about an author’s opinion. In turn, a particular solution to such a problem is to pick a topic that is exciting and critically discussed in an existing literature. As a result, students can identify several sources that discuss their assigned topics to use as bases for evidence of their claims and arguments about their central themes.

Common Mistakes

• Lack of Clarity in Thesis Statement: Failing to clearly define a main argument or purpose of an entire paper can lead to a lack of focus throughout a coursework project.
• Insufficient Research: Relying on too few sources or not consulting credible and up-to-date references can weaken an overall quality and depth of an analysis.
• Poor Organization: Not following a logical writing structure can make a paper difficult to follow due to an inadequate flow of ideas.
• Overuse of Quotations: Excessively quoting sources rather than paraphrasing or synthesizing information can make a whole paper seem unoriginal and reduce an author’s voice.
• Ignoring Formatting Guidelines: Not adhering to a required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian) or formatting instructions can result in a loss of marks.
• Lack of Proofreading: Submitting a paper with grammatical errors, typos, and spelling mistakes can undermine an overall professionalism and readability of a project.
• Inadequate Analysis: Simply describing sources without critically analyzing or interpreting the information can lead to writing a biased paper.
• Failure to Address a Prompt: Straying from an assigned topic or not fully addressing a coursework prompt can result in an irrelevant or incomplete paper.
• Plagiarism: Copying text without proper citing attribution, even unintentionally, can lead to serious academic consequences.
• Weak Conclusion: Ending a coursework paper without a clear closure or failing to adequately summarize key findings and implications can leave any reader unsatisfied.

Coursework vs. Research Paper

Ideally, an outline of a coursework assignment is similar to that of a research paper. In this case, an abstract serves as a brief overview of a research paper and informs readers of writer’s focal points. More importantly, such an outline has a body, where writers use different paragraphs to make an argument about a specific topic. In turn, each of the paragraphs begins with a topic sentence and ends with a concluding sentence. Like research papers, body paragraphs of a coursework assignment serve to cement writer’s claims and arguments, which are linked to a thesis statement.

Students should master following tips when it comes to writing a coursework assignment:

• Choose an exciting topic and stick to it. Basically, students come across tons of exciting information about their topic. However, to avoid going off-script, they should focus on their core subject and avoid a particular temptation of using data that may prove irrelevant.
• Use evidence (quotes and statistics) selectively. In principle, relevancy is a significant indicator of a high-grade paper. As such, where authors are not going to refer to some data directly because it adds no value to their argument, they should avoid dwelling on it in their paper.
• Cite sources correctly. When citing sources, writers should note format standards in use – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian – as each has a unique approach.
• Revise, edit, and proofread a complete paper. High-quality coursework writing should be free of inconsistent arguments, irrelevant sentences, and spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes.

A coursework project is among writing assignments that students in colleges and universities undertake in preparation for their degree. Unlike other papers, this assignment assesses learners’ understanding of what they have learned in a course in a given semester. As such, students must complete and submit it before a semester comes to closure. Finally, different types of coursework include essays, term papers, theses, dissertations, and report projects.

Bjorn, G. A., Quaynor, L., & Burgasser, A. J. (2022). Reading research for writing: Co-constructing core skills using primary literature. Impacting Education: Journal on Transforming Professional Practice , 7 (1), 47–58. https://doi.org/10.5195/ie.2022.237

Couch, D. (2021). Your guide to college writing . Chemeketa Press.

Godfrey, J. (2022). Writing for university . Bloomsbury Academic.

Haines, C. (2021). Assessing students’ written work marking essays and reports . Routledge.

Lawrence, T. S. (2020). Writing a research paper. International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics , 106 (4), 674–676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrobp.2019.12.005

Walter, L., & Stouck, J. (2020). Writing the literature review: Graduate student experiences. The Canadian Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning , 11 (1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.5206/cjsotl-rcacea.2020.1.8295

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How to Write a Coursework

Coursework projects do not resemble essays, research papers, or dissertations. They are the combination of all three. Students spend less time writing coursework than on making a term paper, but this type of work requires more time and efforts than an ordinary essay - it is made of several essays. Thanks to our guide, each student can discover how to write coursework. If you are running out of time or lack experience to complete the specific coursework, we recommend using our coursework writing services to hire professional academic writers.

What is Coursework and Why Does It Matter?

Coursework definition: General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) coursework is a typical academic assignment, given in the course of study to evaluate the student’s knowledge, skills, and identify the final grade. Many students face this type of writing in the US colleges. One of the examples is a coursework UTD (The University of Texas at Dallas) - the requirements of this institution are strict, and many students fail to submit their papers and pass the corresponding courses.

Such type of assignment helps to have the ‘detective’ hat on: a student observes, examines, and evaluates the chosen topic using credible, up-to-date, and relevant sources. Working under controlled conditions is important. Participating in every school class will help to prepare good coursework by the end of the term. Take a look at the examples of what students of various profiles may face:

• English Composition - English coursework is an extended essay in most cases. A student has a right to pick the topic. The tutors provide their students with the list of recommended titles to choose from, sources to observe & analyze, and a format (e.g., a comparison between different relevant articles)
• Sciences - coursework for science is a complicated assignment. Such type of work appears in the form of a scientific paper to test what a writer investigates and reports independently.
• Geography - geography coursework is about collecting, reporting, and explaining information to reply to a certain geographical question or offer solutions to the problem. One idea is to explore the usage of a shopping mall or analyze the recent tornado. No matter whether you have to prepare a coursework Columbia or such paper for other educational institutions, keep in mind these differences!

Types of Coursework Explained

English Language coursework is the most common type of this assignment. At advanced GCE level, the student will be expected to write a couple of essays, totaling 3,000 words. Every assignment is 20 marks maximum.

An analytical essay : Evaluate, compare, & contrast 3 different sources of data interconnected by a common theme; written /spoken / multimedia content. Discuss different uses for targeting various audiences. Learn more on our blog.

Original essay with a supportive commentary : A student will have to come up with a single piece of media writing in the observed modes (written, spoken, or multimodal). Add a supporting piece with details about the aspects of English language. English Language & Literature coursework is a bit different. The basic requirements are the same, and the parts are:

An analytical study : Sharing an analysis of the chosen piece and its relation to the related content. It will show how well the writer understands the original piece. Tutors grade such works based on the:

• Use of the proper terminology and the coherence of the written words;
• Understanding & evaluation of the way a structure, form, and language create the written & spoken word;
• Opportunity to observe relationships between various pieces of writing.

Creative writing & commentary : Produce a creative piece that imitates the style of the assessed text. Share comments to backup your understanding. The goal is to show the knowledge, prove the competence, and use appropriate language skills in communicating with the target audience. You will also need a relevant coursework resume (review) in both cases. Keep on reading to learn how to write coursework of A level.

How to Write a Coursework: Guide for Students

Several factors may lead to the coursework being disqualified. It is a serious matter! The risk factors include:

• Plagiarism - it is the worst thing that could happen to any type of academic assignment. Lots of relevant information is available on the world wide web today, and the tutors are strict about the issue of plagiarism. Write everything in your own words! If you decide to insert the quotes from the sources, apply the suggested citation format and develop a list of references. Sign the declaration claiming it is your original project. If you're unsure about how to approach this, seeking professional help by choosing to write my coursework can be a wise decision.
• Word count - do not ignore the specific requirements concerning the length of the coursework. Specify if the footnotes, appendices, & references are included in the word count.
• Topics - go through the list of available themes. If there is an examination planned on the specific topic, try to pick another idea for the coursework.
• Tutor’s assistance - do not ignore the help of your instructor, ask them to provide guidance on what to write. Ask the questions to learn more details, but keep in mind they can go through the 1st draft once and just offer some general recommendations.

Choosing a Topic for Your Project

Dedicate enough time to this extra important question. Select the field of your interest if it is possible to relate it to the course. That is the golden rule of choosing a coursework topic - keep in mind the rest of the hints:

• Analyze the offered list of topics or develop yours
• Pick a topic from the area of your expertise related to the studied subject
• Select the topic you are interested in
• Choose the topic you’ve started to observe in the past
• Check how much relevant, up-to-date information is available on the Internet about each of the topics
• Pick what you can measure, change, & control (they call it a ‘fair test’)
• Use the ideas of previous researchers and students
• Do not choose a topic with a vast scope - you risk struggling to research it correctly

10 Good Coursework Topics

• Non-traditional Forms of Poetry with TC Tolbert
• Documentary Foundations: Usage of Oral Histories with Beth Alvarado
• Traditional Forms of Poetry
• Hermit Crabs: Type of Fiction
• Writing the Autobiographical Poem
• Creative Non-Fiction on the Examples of New Journalists
• Authors without Borders
• Writing the Sticky Stuff
• Socially Engaged Literary Arts
• Common Vocabulary

Research & Data Collection

Research is an integral part of coursework. Have you written research papers before? If yes, you will find it easier to select proper primary & secondary sources and gather the necessary information (evidence to support the main point - thesis). Depending on the required paper format, cite & reference the following sources:

• Books & e-Books

Base the project on a specific hypothesis. The research must start with minimum one hypothesis. The research stage for some topics may consist of visiting websites to collect information. Leave another time for collecting the data as it is the heart of the research. Three methods of data collection are known:

• Direct personal investigation : The one an author does individually (using literature and findings from previous studies);
• Interview/Questionnaire : The researcher should gather the data from the respondents asking questions regarding required data;
• Discussion with community leaders : Community leaders are approached to fetch information for the necessary data.

In case a student works on a scientific experiment, they should pay attention to planning the analysis with the help of rigorous scientific methods (keeping in mind the Health & Safety precautions you take). Review background information and theories. Take notes to express what you expect to occur to compare & contrast it to what happened in real life. In the write-up stage, one has to evaluate and present the findings.

Writing a Coursework Outline

The writing process follows the research. Do not start it without preparing an action plan and scheduling the work - a paper pin for English coursework is based on an extended essay . An outline will look different for the science coursework projects. The goal of creating a plan is to prevent a writer from being disorganized and waffling.

Let us explain coursework outline on the specific example - a project on the global pursuit of lower costs and the role of human rights.

Start with the brief introduction explaining why it might be a topic of interest for many people. Mention those vast corporations like Wal-Mart abuse human rights by choosing and using child labor in the factories.

Provide an overview of the problem . Define human rights and costs. Pick the definitions from the official dictionaries and cite them properly when inserting in the text. Try to explain the terms in your own words.

Develop a body of the coursework , start with the case for & against ethical business practices. Using evidence and examples, list the arguments supporting ethical business practices and another side of the coin. Include a business case for ethical practices after the opening body paragraph.

Move to discussing ethical responsibilities ; explain why business organizations should care about the ethical aspects of their activities. After three sections of the body, one can conclude the paper. It can be a good idea to share a fact or statistics stressing the importance of research problem in the essay conclusion. End up with the reference list that may look this way:

• Klein N (2000) No Logo (Flamingo, London)
• Marcousé I, Gillespie A, Martin B, Surridge M and Wall N (2003) Business Studies 2e (Hodder Arnold, Oxon)
• Royal Dutch Shell (2006) 4th Quarter Financial Report at (site example)

Additional Elements

Supporting materials and pictures are a must! The sciences & geography projects require tables, charts, graphs, and other types of images to illustrate the complicated topic. Not only should you add the pictures - it is essential to interpret and reference each of them. A separate part of the coursework where the student list and explains every visual element is Appendix , and it is an optional part. The presence of appendix increases the chances to earn an A+.

How to Write an Introduction for Coursework?

Most of the students underestimate the role of introduction & conclusion when it comes to writing an essay. An eye-catchy introduction is a key to success. The primary purposes of a coursework introduction are:

• To grab the reader’s attention
• To introduce the topic
• To explain the research importance
• To come up with a compelling thesis statement

The opening paragraph shows the depth of the writer’s acquaintance with the topic. Look at the expert tips below. They will help to learn how to write a coursework introduction to make the tutor want to read your entire paper.

What Is an Introduction?

The introduction of GCSE coursework is the opening paragraph that aims to interpret the central questions and purposes of the entire paper. It should have several elements to be effective. Those are:

• A hook sentence
• Background information
• Problem significance
• Solid thesis statement

Advice from our Experienced Writer

How to write an introduction to coursework? The quality of this part predetermines paper’s success. Look at some common mistakes writers do while working on the coursework introduction - try to prevent them!

Ignoring the prompt. Many students tend to neglect the tutor’s instructions. It is critical to read the prompt several times, highlight the main points, research question, rules, and grading rubric details.

Missing a plan. The prompt does not always say to develop a coursework outline. Without a plan for every separate section, it is impossible to write a flawless piece step-by-step. No matter whether you have to write a term paper, research paper, dissertation, or C3 coursework, get ready with the detailed plan. Once you understand how to write an introduction, it will be easier to develop the rest of the paper.

For those who need a helping hand in ensuring their work meets all the standards and deadlines, don't hesitate to buy coursework from trusted professionals.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

How to Write a Coursework: Examples and Tips

Coursework is not like other assignments at a college or university. This task requires much more time and effort, which is necessary for research, planning, and writing. In our article, you will learn how to write your academic coursework and find high-quality examples that will help you get inspired for your work. EssayShark knows how to create the best coursework and is ready to share the experience!

Meet Coursework

If you want to know what is academic coursework, then you are on the right site. Academic coursework refers to the various tasks that are given to students as part of their educational program. These tasks are designed to assess students’ knowledge of the subjects they are studying. Coursework may include:

• Essays and research papers . Written assignments require students to research a topic, conduct research, and present their findings in a structured format. In difficult moments when completing such tasks, you can always tell our professionals, “ Write my essay for me .”
• Laboratory reports. Science and engineering courses include conducting experiments and documenting results and conclusions. Work throughout the semester must support the coursework.
• Homework. Regular assignments, given to reinforce lessons learned in class, are often used during term paper writing. They become the foundation for completing such a voluminous task.
• Practical works. Practical experience gained outside the classroom, often related to the subject of study, such as internships or research projects. During the research, the results of practical work are an excellent reinforcement of expertise.

How to Write a Coursework in a Few Simple Steps

Our writers are happy to share their years of experience creating various academic assignments. We have put together a detailed guide on how to write a coursework that will inspire you to get started.

Choosing a Topic for Coursework

The entire process of your work on the project will depend on which topic you choose. Your research can take much less time and be more enjoyable if you find a topic that inspires you. Use the tips below to determine the best topic for your coursework:

• Make a list of topics suggested to you and analyze it.
• Give preference to the topic that best suits your specialization.
• Pay attention to the topics that interest you most.
• Explore the number of information resources from which you can obtain data for coursework.
• Be inspired by the work of students who received positive feedback.
• Avoid topics you do not understand to avoid difficulties during work.

Gathering Information for the Project

To write coursework, you must spend more than one day researching, which will make up most of the project. In difficult moments, you can always turn to coursework writing help , and our professionals will find a way to relieve you of stress. Information sources such as books, online libraries, podcasts, and magazines become indispensable assistants during research.

You should base the project on a specific hypothesis, for which you need to find a method for collecting data. Choose what suits you best and follow the information that will help you succeed in your task. What three methods of collecting information are available to students?

• Personal research. A summary of all possible relevant studies on the topic that other authors have conducted. This method uses various sources of information available on the Internet or in the library.
• Survey or interview. During the research, the student conducts an interview and asks questions to a respondent with the necessary competence in the field of study. For example, this could be a survey of a professor who wrote a doctoral thesis on a chosen topic.
• Group discussion. Gathering in groups, students discuss the information they found and share the sources they refer to in their coursework. Collective research reveals the topic much more extensively.

No matter your research methods, taking notes on each reliable source is best. This will help you retain the information you found and save time searching again. Write down the page numbers, websites, or even minutes of podcasts where you find the information you need.

How to Write a Coursework According to a Detailed Plan

Planning work on the coursework is the next stage after preliminary research. Of course, the structure of the plan depends on the subject of the project, and our coursework writing service has compiled a brief description of the basic plan.

• Start with an introduction to the topic. Write the essence of your chosen topic and mention famous authors who will become an authoritative example and may be of interest.
• Demonstrate the essence of the problem/task. Analyze the main objectives of your topic and provide the essential information you found in the necessary sources.
• Writing the main part of the project. Review the information in detail and analyze the critical issues in your work to provide constructive solutions.
• Providing methodology. Describe the methods you used during your analysis or research.
• The discussion of the results. In your conclusions, demonstrate what results you came to and bring them to the main topic of your coursework.
• Compiling a bibliography. Make a list of all the references you referenced while writing, considering the formatting described in your assignment.

Coursework Introduction

Once you start working and know precisely the coursework definition, after preliminary research and drawing up a plan, it’s time to draw up an introduction. Do not underestimate the introduction because the overall impression of the entire project depends on it. In the first paragraph, you need to interpret the main tasks assigned. Also, in the introduction, you need the following:

• Write attention-grabbing sentences.
• Briefly provide background information from the assignment.
• Focus on the significance of the problem you solved or analyzed.
• Write a clear statement of the thesis you have come up with.

Understanding how to write a coursework introduction will give you an advantage during the professor’s review. After all, how you present your thoughts at the beginning of the project will demonstrate how competent you are in the topic and set the level for the entire coursework.

How to Write a Coursework Report: Tips From Top Writers

Our writers have been helping students with coursework for many years and know how to create a project that will surprise every reader. Deciding whether to buy coursework online or write it yourself is an eternal dilemma. Every expert has their writing secrets, and we are happy to share some of them with you so that you can get a high grade.

• Keep track of time management. You don’t need to put off doing work until later to avoid procrastination. It takes a lot of time to maintain the quality of the text and have time to research all the issues. Therefore, evenly distribute your time at work in your schedule to submit the project for review on time.
• Choose trusted sources of information . It can be tough to analyze information because several sites may have different definitions of the same value. Use only verified information that will not harm your coursework. If you know what is coursework, you clearly understand the importance of the reliability of the research.
• Follow the citation rules. The originality of the content in your coursework affects the final result. Your thoughts may agree with previously published articles, but all you need to do is rewrite parts that are not original. Follow the citation rules when mentioning an expert’s opinion and citing a specific source.
• Avoid empty words. A course project is a lengthy task with much text, but this is not a reason to dilute the text with unnecessary context. Every sentence you write should make sense and reveal the essence of your project. You can always tell us, “ write my coursework ” and receive a high-quality project filled with information.
• Editing is everything. Include several editing steps in your work plan. After writing each chapter of your coursework, edit it. It is best to edit the text after a break to avoid missing essential mistakes. After you complete the coursework, review the project yourself and ask a friend to review it again.

Coursework Examples From Professional Writers

In any job, having a quality example to inspire you is a chance to improve your skills. We are confident that our coursework sample will help you find the right path to success. With the help of our guide, you will not only learn how to write coursework but also see how a professional writer creates similar assignments.

Being a student means constantly watching and studying other people’s success because it is part of the learning process. If you want to see how to cite or format your project correctly, then our marketing coursework sample will help you. With us, you can easily return your lost muse and understand that coursework is not as scary as it seems. You will always find the support you need on our website, whether editing, writing, or searching for a quality example!

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Create Your Course

How to create an effective course outline (+template), share this article.

You’ve searched through your expertise, validated your topic , and at long last you’ve landed on the perfect plan for your next online course.

It’s time to start putting that wisdom onto the course builder, but you know this material like the back of your hand – do you really need a course outline?

The simple answer is yes .

While that information is filed away neatly in your brain, unpacking it for the uninitiated is a different story. What’s crystal clear in your mind might be vague and confusing to others who don’t share the benefit of your insights and personal experience. If you want to help your students achieve those lofty promises you set out in your sales pitch, you need to provide a roadmap to help them along the journey.

In this context, that roadmap is a course outline. Not only is the course outline a roadmap for your genius, but it will help you deliver content to your students in a structured, ordered way, layering skill upon skill until they finish your course feeling like an expert (and eagerly awaiting your next course).

If you’d like to sit back and learn, check out our video on how to create an effective course outline:

Why Course Outlines Are Your Key To Success

A course outline is important for two reasons:

• Know the destination.

If you know where you’re going, it helps you think about what steps your students need to reach that point. What skills do they need to develop along the way? What foundations do you need to establish at the outset? Much like a cross-country road trip, if you start out the journey without a clear sense of where you’re going and how you intend to get there, the likelihood is that you’ll get lost along the way. You wouldn’t teach a child to tell the time before they learn to count; likewise, you can’t teach someone to be a great chef before you teach them about ingredients, heat, and seasonings.

• Set expectations.

Laying out a roadmap sets expectations for your students. Where you’re about to serve up puzzle pieces of brand new facts and skills, your course outline is their picture on the box. It helps them know where they’re going, which important pieces to pay close attention to, and how to place them in context with one another. Giving your students a sense of their destination helps them invest in the educational journey with you.

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Building Your Course Outline

A course outline is an invaluable tool to help you deliver on the solutions you promised to your students. Not sure where to start? Let’s break it down.

What Is Your Destination?

The best place to begin is at the end . To build a strong course outline, decide on your end goal and work backwards from there.

What is the objective of your course? What should students be able to do by the end? Are you teaching them how to paint, cook, or dance the jitterbug? Finally, what skills and knowledge must you impart to get your students to their final destination?

Determine Your Steps

When considering these questions, make a list and keep it simple. Yes, even simpler than that. Start with the most basic foundation you expect all students will have, and build up from there. Your students aren’t going to be the next Gordon Ramsay before you make sure they know the difference between cast iron and non-stick pans, and no great swing dancer skipped the lesson on tempo. Think of these skills like building blocks: you’ve got to stack them one on top of the other to build a solid structure.

Consider starting with an orientation chapter where you introduce everyone to the vocabulary and baseline content you’ll use for the rest of the course. This is helpful for expectation-setting and giving your students a view of the roadmap to come, but it’s also an excellent way of making sure everyone starts off on the same foot. You never know when a student joins your course if they’re familiar with the jargon and shorthand you use on a daily basis; this orientation module is an opportunity to make sure everyone knows the same things and starts the course with the same set of ideas.

Keep it simple – no need to reinvent the wheel – but this is important, because it underpins the way students will understand everything else that follows in your course.

Once you’ve figured out what building blocks you need, it’s time to put them in order – they will form your course modules or chapters (or whatever you choose to name them!). Organize your steps sequentially, with each one building on the next.

This means you should place your easiest content in Module 1, build on it in Module 2, and so on. If possible, you should have some overlap between modules to help students contextualize the information by creating connections to what they learned in the previous section.

In education, this is called scaffolding, and it encompasses a variety of instructional techniques to help your students move progressively toward a solid understanding of the subject matter, and an ability to apply that knowledge independently to a variety of situations.

Make It Stick

For each module, back up your learning content with two things:

• Learning resources . Provide extra readings, infographics, videos, and other educational content across a variety of formats. These create opportunities for your students to absorb information in multiple formats to help them retain knowledge and build context between topics. This also ensures you cater to students who learn differently – some learn through reading, others by listening, and others through pictures or infographics. Using the Thinkific course builder, you can add a range of learning materials to your course, including audio, video, multimedia lessons, PDFs, and presentations. By providing a range of learning resources to back up your content, you ensure a diverse learning experience for every student who takes your course.
• Practice activities . We all know practice makes perfect, right? Give your students the opportunity to put their newly-honed skills to the test before you move on to the next batch of new information. Practice activities promote knowledge retention and help students lock skills into place before you teach them something new. You could create a quiz on the course builder, or assign a group conversation exercise on your community site or another online group.

It’s important to keep in mind that practice activities are not a test. They’re just a safe space for your students to get their hands dirty and master a particular skill before they face a situation where they have to wield these skills independently! You can go old-school with a multiple-choice quiz, or get creative with something out of the box. The sky’s the limit – just give students an opportunity to practice what you taught them!

Put It To The Test

Finally, you should incorporate some kind of assessments into your course. It’s easy to add assessments in your course using the assignment and Brillium Exam tools in the course builder, but you don’t necessarily have to do one assessment per module. You might do one assessment every module, or every two or three modules, or you might even do one big assessment or wrap-up project right at the end. Let your assessment schedule be guided by the content of your course.

This might be an assignment they turn in, or a more in-depth quiz, or a cornerstone project – it’s up to you and your course material! Space out assessments regularly throughout the course, and consider basing them around key skill groups or themes.

A good guideline for assessments is to ask “if they haven’t mastered the info from Modules 1-3, are they likely to succeed in Module 4?” If the answer is a hard no, you should set an assessment activity between Module 3 and 4 so that students have an opportunity to check their own learning and have a chance to course-correct or review before diving in the deep end with new information – otherwise it’s a little like trying to learn multiplication before you’ve mastered addition!

When planning your assessments, make sure to include some information from previous modules. A quiz is a good way to practice skills from one module, but you also need larger assessments where students test themselves on a broader range of knowledge and have the opportunity to combine and contextualize module-specific knowledge before moving forward.

Formatting Your Course Outline

Now that you’ve got all the pieces, it’s time to pull them together. We’ve created a course outline example for you, and a downloadable template so you can build your own.

You’re well on your way to building a great course , with solid principles that help you deliver a great learning experience to your students!  Use our course outline template to create yours today!

This article was originally written August 2020, and was updated Feb 2023 to be even more useful with a fillable template to create your course outline.

Jenny is a Content Marketer at Thinkific. A lifelong learner, she loves writing about anything from Byron to blockchain. Formerly from Cape Town, she now spends her spare time wandering Vancouver in search of the perfect coffee.

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Guidelines and steps for writing a coursework | Tips for good writing

What is a coursework and why to write a coursework.

A coursework is a written or practical work done by student in form of thesis, dissertation, project or paper as a part of course. This is often an essential requirement for being awarded a degree and counts towards successful completion of the course. A coursework is assessed by class instructors or by other teachers in the school. Many students cannot clearly define what is a coursework. In a nutshell, at the “A” and GSCE level , a coursework is written in the form of projects or essays. There are few guidelines and good practices which should be followed while writing a coursework. Perfect examples of a coursework include extended essay, field studies, practical activities, design studies and internal assessment test set. Conversely, each coursework have differing objectives from one course unit to another. In addition, a coursework may incorporate work for which the experiments, topics, themes or parameters of a project or essay have been designed by the teacher, or specified in the syllabus, or selected by the students themselves. Therefore, a coursework is presented in a form of a research assignment meant to reflect the understanding of topics and concepts by the student. Students can handle their coursework either at school under the controlled conditions in class sessions, and/or as homework.

Some rules & guidelines for writing a coursework

Deciding good topic for a coursework.

The capability to choose a good topic to write on is a vital skill in coursework writing. All the work and efforts will revolve around the chosen topic. If given the liberty to choose, then the topic should be something you would love to write about.

The steps on how to finish a coursework is easy as it necessitates one to edit their papers prior to the submission. Prior to the submission, students would have time to proffered and confirm features such as word count, word choice, grammar errors, spellings as well as the punctuation mistakes. It is advisable to carry out a manual proofreading as the modern spell checking and grammar checking software can overlook some common mistakes. Importantly, a student is required to include in-text citation according to the writing style used. A well-written coursework is thought-provoking, enjoyable for the reader and enhances the reader’s knowledge.

About The Author

Welcome to the new OASIS website! We have academic skills, library skills, math and statistics support, and writing resources all together in one new home.

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• Faculty Portal

Video Transcripts: Course Paper Template: Downloading and Using the Template

• Academic Paragraphs: Examples of the MEAL Plan
• Academic Paragraphs: Appropriate Use of Explicit Transitions
• Academic Paragraphs: Types of Transitions Part 1: Transitions Between Paragraphs
• Academic Paragraphs: Types of Transitions Part 2: Transitions Within Paragraphs
• Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Using a Grammar Revision Journal
• Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Write in a Linear Structure
• Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Cite All Ideas That Come From Other Sources
• Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Developing Your Arguments With Evidence and Your Own Analysis
• Academic Writing for Multilingual Students: Follow Faculty Expectations
• Accessing Modules: Registered or Returning Users
• Accessing Modules: Saving a Module Certificate
• Analyzing & Synthesizing Sources: Analysis in Paragraphs
• Analyzing & Synthesizing Sources: Synthesis: Definition and Examples
• Analyzing & Synthesizing Sources: Synthesis in Paragraphs
• APA Formatting & Style: Latin Abbreviations
• APA Formatting & Style: Shortening Citations With et al.
• APA Formatting & Style: Capitalization
• APA Formatting & Style: Numbers
• APA Formatting & Style: Pronouns (Point of View)
• APA Formatting & Style: Serial Comma
• APA Formatting & Style: Lists
• APA Formatting & Style: Verb Tense
• Commonly Cited Sources: Finding DOIs for Journal Article Reference Entries
• Commonly Cited Sources: Journal Article With URL
• Commonly Cited Sources: Book Reference Entries
• Commonly Cited Sources: Webpage Reference Entry
• Course Paper Template: A Tour of the Template
• Crash Course in Scholarly Writing
• Crash Course in the Writing Process
• Crash Course in Punctuation for Scholarly Writing
• Engaging Writing: Overview of Tools for Engaging Readers
• Engaging Writing: Tool 1--Syntax
• Engaging Writing: Tool 2--Sentence Structure
• Engaging Writing: Tool 3--Punctuation
• Engaging Writing: Avoiding Wordiness and Redundancy
• Engaging Writing: Avoiding Casual Language
• Engaging Writing: Incorporating Transitions
• Engaging Writing: Examples of Incorporating Transitions
• Grammar for Academic Writers: Advanced Subject–Verb Agreement
• Grammar for Academic Writers: Verb Tense Consistency
• Mastering the Mechanics: Pronoun Tips #1 and #2
• Mastering the Mechanics: Pronoun Tip #3
• Mastering the Mechanics: Pronoun Tip #4
• Mastering the Mechanics: Nouns
• Mastering the Mechanics: Introduction to Verbs
• Mastering the Mechanics: Articles
• Mastering the Mechanics: Modifiers
• Mastering the Mechanics: Proofreading for Grammar
• Mastering the Mechanics: Punctuation as Symbols
• Mastering the Mechanics: Semicolons
• Mastering the Mechanics: Common Verb Errors
• Mastering the Mechanics: Helping Verbs
• Mastering the Mechanics: Past Tense
• Mastering the Mechanics: Present Tense
• Mastering the Mechanics: Future Tense
• Mastering the Mechanics: Apostrophes
• Mastering the Mechanics: Colons
• Mastering the Mechanics: Commas
• Mastering the Mechanics: Periods
• Methods to the Madness: Authors in a Reference Entry
• Methods to the Madness: Publication Date in a Reference Entry
• Methods to the Madness: Title in a Reference Entry
• Methods to the Madness: Publication Information in a Reference List Entry
• Methods to the Madness: Creating a Citation From a Reference Entry
• Methods to the Madness: Why Do Writers Use Citation Styles?
• Methods to the Madness: Why Does Walden Use APA Style?
• Module Preview: Avoiding Passive Plagiarism
• Module Preview: Basic Citation Formatting
• Module Preview: Book Reference Entries
• Module Preview: Essential Components and Purpose of APA Reference Entries
• Module Preview: Basic Citation Frequency
• Module Preview: Journal Article Reference Entries
• Module Preview: Web Page Reference Entries
• Module Preview: Introduction to APA Style
• Module Preview: Avoiding Bias
• Module Preview: Clarifying the Actor
• Module Preview: Emphasis and Specification
• Module Preview: Using and Formatting APA Headings
• Module Preview: Listing the Facts
• Module Preview: Introduction to Paragraph Development
• Module Preview: Transitions Within and Between Paragraphs
• Module Preview: Introduction to Scholarly Writing
• myPASS: Navigating myPASS
• myPASS: Making a Paper Review Appointment
• OLD myPASS: Making an Appointment
• myPASS: Joining a Waiting List
• myPASS: Attaching a File
• myPASS: Attaching a File at a Later Time
• myPASS: Updating an Appointment Form
• myPASS: Download Your Reviewed Paper From the Writing Center
• myPASS: Canceling an Appointment
• Nontraditional Sources: Course Videos
• Nontraditional Sources: Textual Course Materials
• Nontraditional Sources: Citing Yourself
• Nontraditional Sources: Works With the Same Author and Year
• Nontraditional Sources: Secondary Sources
• Nontraditional Sources: Ebooks
• Nontraditional Sources: Chapter in an Edited Book
• Nontraditional Sources: Discussion Board Posts
• Nontraditional Sources: Dissertations or Theses
• Nontraditional Sources: Citing Sources With the Same Author and Year
• Nontraditional Sources: Personal Communications
• Nontraditional Sources: Basic Entry for Nontraditional Sources
• Paper Reviews: Insider Tips for Writing Center Paper Review Appointments
• Paraphrasing Strategies: Comparing Paraphrasing and Quoting
• Paraphrasing Strategies: Paraphrasing Strategies
• Paraphrasing Strategies: Paraphrasing Example
• Paraphrasing Strategies: Paraphrasing Process Demonstration
• Structuring Sentences: Misplaced Modifiers
• Structuring Sentences: Dangling Modifiers
• Structuring Sentences: Types of Sentences
• Structuring Sentences: Simple Sentences
• Structuring Sentences: Compound Sentences
• Structuring Sentences: Complex Sentences
• Structuring Sentences: Combining Sentences
• Common Error: Unclear Subjects
• Structuring Sentences: Common Error--Run-On Sentences
• Structuring Sentences: Common Error--Fragments
• Structuring Sentences: Common Error--Subject–Verb Agreement
• Common Error: Parallel Structure
• Summarizing Sources: Definition and Examples of Summary
• Summarizing Sources: Incorporating Citations Into Summaries
• Template Demonstration: Correcting Common Errors in the Template Table of Contents
• Template Demonstration: Updating the Template List of Tables
• Using & Crediting Sources: Why We Cite: Examples
• Using & Crediting Sources: How We Cite
• Using & Crediting Sources: What We Cite
• Using & Crediting Sources: How Often We Cite Sources
• Using & Crediting Sources: How Often We Cite Sources: Examples
• Using & Crediting Sources: Citing Paraphrases
• Using & Crediting Sources: Citing Quotations
• Using & Crediting Sources: Publication Year Quick Tip
• Using Quotations: Integrating Quotations in the Middle of a Sentence
• Using Quotations: When to Use a Quotation
• Using Quotations: Shortening Quotations With Ellipses
• Using Quotations: How to Cite a Quotation
• Welcome to the Writing Center, Undergraduate Students!
• Writing Center Website Tour
• Website Tour: For Multilingual Students
• Welcome to the Writing Center, Master’s Students!
• Welcome to the Writing Center: Coursework to Capstone: Writing Center Support for Doctoral Students
• Writing Tools: Using a Dictionary for Grammatical Accuracy: Countability, Transitivity, and Collocations
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Grammar Feedback
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Applying Feedback Principles
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Paragraph Feedback
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Thesis Statement Feedback
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Transition Feedback
• Applying Feedback to Your Paper: Word Choice Feedback
• Prewriting Demonstrations: Mindmapping
• Prewriting Demonstrations: Outlining
• Form and Style: Welcome, Doctoral Capstone Students!
• Faculty Voices: Faculty Introduction: Dr. Darci Harland
• Faculty Voices: Faculty Introduction: Dr. Catherine Kelly
• Faculty Voices: Faculty Introduction: Dr. Allyson Wattley Gee
• Faculty Voices: Faculty Introduction: Dr. Laurel Walsh
• Faculty Voices: Faculty Introduction: Dr. Kim Critchlow
• Faculty Voices: What Is Academic Integrity?
• Faculty Voices: Why Is Academic Integrity Important?
• Faculty Voices: What Causes and Can Prevent Plagiarism? Inexperience Parapharsing
• Faculty Voices: What Causes and Can Prevent Plagiarism? Using Resources
• Faculty Voices: What Causes and Can Prevent Plagiarism? Time Management
• Faculty Voices: What Causes and Can Prevent Plagiarism? Critical Reading Strategies
• Faculty Voices: What Causes and Can Prevent Plagiarism? Insufficient Understanding
• Faculty Voices: How Does Academic Integrity Relate to Students' Professional Lives? With Dr. Allyson Wattley Gee
• Faculty Voices: How Does Academic Integrity Relate to Students' Professional Lives? With Dr. Kim Critchlow
• Faculty Voices: How Does Academic Integrity Relate to Students' Professional Lives? With Dr. Gregory Campbell
• Faculty Voices: How Does Academic Integrity Relate to Students' Professional Lives? With Dr. Catherine Kelly, Dr. Allyson Wattley Gee, and Dr. Kim Critchlow
• Faculty Voices: How Does Academic Integrity Relate to Students' Professional Lives? With Dr. Darci Harland
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: Plagiarism Examples: Insufficient Citation Frequency
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: Plagiarism Examples: Insufficient Paraphrasing
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: Types of Plagiarism: Overt Plagiarism
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: Types of Plagiarism: Passive Plagiarism
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: Types of Plagiarism: Self-Plagiarism
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: What Is Plagiarism?
• Plagiarism Detection & Revision Skills: A Writing Process for Avoiding Plagiarism
• Writing Process: Writing Motivation:
• Writing for Social Change: With Dr. Catherine Kelly
• Writing for Social Change: With Dr. Gregory Campbell
• Writing for Social Change: How Are Writing and Social Change Connected?
• Writing for Social Change: With Dr. Laurel Walsh
• Writing for Social Change: With Dr. Allyson Wattley Gee
• Transitioning Rrom APA 6 to APA 7 With the Walden Writing Center
• Previous Page: Commonly Cited Sources: Webpage Reference Entry
• Next Page: Course Paper Template: A Tour of the Template

Course Paper Template: Downloading and Using the Template

Last updated: 11/14/2020

Visual: The words “Walden University Writing Center” and the Walden University Writing Center logo on a blank page of a notebook with a pencil. The slogan “Your writing, grammar, and APA experts” appears. The screen shifts to present the words “Course Paper Template” with the title “Downloading and Using the Template” underneath.

Audio: Music plays.

Visual: The Walden University Writing Center webpage “Walden Templates: General Templates” is open in a browser window. The screen scrolls down to show Undergraduate Course Paper Templates and Graduate Course Paper Templates.

Audio: The Writing Center provides course paper templates for undergraduate and graduate courses. There are a few versions of the course paper template—without abstract, with abstract, and with advice. You can use whichever template fits your needs. For this demonstration, I will download the course paper template with abstract for graduate courses.

Visual: The cursor clicks on the link that reads, “APA Course Template (7th Ed.).”

Audio: To download the template, click the link. Your web browser may prompt you to open or save the template. Choose the option to save the Word document to your computer.

Visual: The cursor moves to the Downloads icon in the web browser and clicks to open the file. Microsoft Word opens on the screen with the template title page. The cursor moves to “File” in the upper left hand corner of the screen and then clicks on “Save As.” A pop-up window appears for saving the file. The cursor moves to the file name and types in “Paper Assignment 1” and then choose the Documents folder for the location. The pop-up window disappears and the template title page is visible again.

Audio: Check your downloads folder or search your computer for “Course Paper Template” to find the file if your web browser does not provide you a pop-up link to the file. You may also check the downloads area in your web browser.

When you first open the file to work on an assignment, you may wish to “Save As” immediately and rename the file as well as choose a different location on your computer.

Some students find it useful to use the template as a guide for formatting their own Word documents. Others prefer to write their assignments in a separate Word document and then copying and pasting the text into the template. Our recommendation at the Writing Center is to write directly in a clean copy of the course paper template for each assignment.

The template shows you the formatting requirements you need to follow for your coursework assignments as well as examples of APA-formatted title pages, abstracts, headings, and reference entries.

If you find that the template’s formatting is changed or becomes corrupted and you cannot fix the errors, you can always download a clean version of the template from our website and start over. The template is available to you as a tool and is meant to save you time and give you guidance, so use it in whatever way makes the most sense to you.

Visual: The email address [email protected] appears on the screen.

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What is Coursework

First of all, you need to understand what is coursework and how to write it. When one is writing a coursework, they have to do profound research that will reveal their knowledge base. A coursework may consist of design studies, field work, projects, long essays, and other kinds of work. Depending on the particular course, it can be performed in a number of ways. You need to write a coursework not only to show what you know about a particular subject and enlarge your knowledge base but also to prepare yourself to deal with the work you will need to perform in the future.

The Oxford Dictionary defines coursework as the type of practical or written work performed by a student and assessed by their professor. Hopefully, it makes the coursework meaning clearer for you.

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Why coursework is necessary and who assigns it.

Now when you know what is coursework, you also have to understand why it is needed. Usually, a student's mentor or teacher assigns coursework as it is a part of the course structure. Writing a coursework is important since it helps the student reflect on what they have learned from the given course. Realizing the coursework meaning, one can understand the material better and see how their knowledge can be applied in various situations. This type of work also reveals the student's way of thinking and helps them learn how to express their thoughts. Coursework has an utterly diverse nature. A student's instructor can ask them to perform it in a written way and work on an essay, term paper, or thesis (this form of coursework is the most widespread). A coursework can also be done in a more creative way; for example, a student may be asked to create a sculpture. At times, taking a test is preferred by the instructor. In some cases, several types of coursework can be combined into one. Choosing a specific type or a combination of types depends on the course. Whatever the kind of coursework is, it always requires being evaluated. The student's mark will be based on their understanding of the topic, creativity, as well as on the innovative aspect of their work.

How to Perform the Most Important Types of Coursework?

Even understanding the coursework meaning, students have mixed feelings on it. Some of them like to do research, learn new information, and write about the results, while for others, it seems to be an unnecessary task, or even a burden. Whichever opinion is true for you, being a student, you will still have to write a coursework at some point. For this reason, you need to know how to do it successfully. Below you see the list of rules and guidelines that will make this task easier for you.

Read these steps carefully and make sure you follow them as they will help you get started.

Coursework that requires writing:

• Carry out superficial research on the topic of your coursework.
• Settle on your topic.
• Work on the structure of your coursework.
• Make a summary or an abstract and confirm it with your instructor.
• Conduct profound research to find all the information you need.
• While writing, keep on researching the topic more.
• When you are done, check your coursework for plagiarism.
• Make a reference list.

To make sure that your coursework features a good content that is clear and easy-to-understand for your reader, work on the structure of your work. Check out if you maintain its consistency, use relevant information, complete your topic, and make it look concise.<

Coursework that requires to create a model, sculpture, or artwork:

• Find a design or concept you like.
• See how it can be applied to the area of your study.
• Think about what you want to create and decide on the scale of this object.
• Decide what kind of materials you need to finalize your work.
• Find everything you need for creating your artwork.
• Make sure that you have a mental image of the result and make a rough sketch of it.
• Begin working!

Key points you should consider:

• Originality - You need to be sure that your topic or idea is original. It is an extremely important point you have to keep in mind from the very beginning of your work. Numerous researches are being done by numerous people, so you have to make yours stand out.
• Need - Your coursework should be able to answer certain questions or find solutions. For that, it has to identify the key problems and help the reader understand them clearly.
• Uniqueness - Both your topic and your content have to be unique. Make sure to avoid plagiarism and never copy information from other sources. Conduct surveys or prepare questionnaires to add originality to the content of your coursework.
• Your input - This aspect is very important. When working on your coursework, you need to reflect on your topic a lot and understand how you can apply it. If you do it, the purpose of writing a coursework is served. For this reason, do your best to make as much input in your work as possible.
• Outcomes & future applications - Even if you have worked hard and put a lot of effort into writing your coursework, it can turn out to be a failure in case you do not show useful outcomes. Therefore, you need to provide a well-made analysis of the information you used. Make a well-structured conclusion for your topic and talk about the way it can be researched further.

If you keep all these points in mind and follow the guidelines, you will certainly write a good coursework.

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Counting toward a final mark or grade, coursework considers one of the most crucial assignments during the class. It involves two main stages: doing research or experiment; presenting findings, and freshly acquired knowledge in a digestible form. While the first phase excites students, the second one strikes fear in the heart and causes real trouble. Let us get to the basics of this type of assignment to nail it no matter what.

What Is a Coursework?

Coursework is work assigned to students or trainees to improve specific skills and upgrade their learning experience. Basically, it involves two main stages. The first one includes practice, experimentation, or research. The second stage implies writing a coursework essay or completing writing assignments such as dissertations or book reports. It can be seen in all fields of study, from Business to Computer Science to Literature.

As a rule, coursework accompanies exams and is crucial when determining overall course scores. However, unlike final tests, it provides students with plenty of time for completion, from a couple of days to several weeks. On top of that, students are welcome to use any help they can find during this process.

Importance to Write a Coursework

Writing coursework is crucial for every student because of providing these benefits:

• It broadens knowledge.
• It enhances research skills.
• It demonstrates a person's ability to discuss, reason, and construct practical outcomes from learned theoretical knowledge.
• It improves communication skills since some work is done in groups, so students need to learn how to collaborate to achieve a common goal.
• It inspires confidence in a person's ability to do a grand job.

Main Obstacle of Producing a Top-grade Coursework

Recent surveys show that in the majority of cases, students do not find issued tasks challenging, even though some of them are daunting, tricky, and even controversial. What they have found difficult is the proper presentation of the final work.

Indeed, over 80% of postgraduates believe the first phase, which involves experiments, research, and acquiring new knowledge in the field, to be quite exciting. However, the second stage, which implies expressing your thoughts, presenting results, and convincing the teacher that you have done a great job using the only written word, is believed to be a true nightmare and a challenge. The reason for that is simple; not everyone has good writing skills. Plus, almost everyone experiences a writing block that slows down the process and causes stress.

To make matters worse, students have to handle some other bumps on the road to success, for instance

• They need to avoid accusations of plagiarism.
• They need to avoid focusing on external approval because it may shut down creativity.
• They need to meet strict deadlines.
• They need to balance education and personal life, including work or volunteering.
• They need to do extensive research.
• They need to finish other assignments.

Where to Get Coursework Help?

Coursework help may come in different forms. It can be coursework assistance provided by the teacher or instructor during lessons or special meetings in high school. Alternatively, it can be an online coursework help provided by tutors through digital means of communication.

Pandemic and its severe restrictions have boosted many services whose task is to provide coursework help online. Let us consider the classification of these platforms to know what help you might get.

Types of Coursework Help Services

Coursework help services come in all shapes and sizes to meet teachers' most sophisticated needs and highest expectations. Let us consider the most popular ones:

• Custom coursework help.
• Creating coursework from scratch.
• Rewriting coursework.
• Proofreading coursework.
• Review coursework to get vital feedback for improvement.
• Citations help.
• Creating supporting PowerPoint presentations.

Whatever problem or issue you have, you may undoubtedly get professional help with coursework regardless of its niche, subject, requirements, and deadline.

But, what if you do not need any assistance provided by coursework services and all you crave is just a little push and guidance to do this task yourself. Then you can opt in favor of an oldie but goodie collection of professionally written and edited coursework examples since they meet those needs and offer so many benefits without compromising your time, effort, and budget.

Benefits of Using Coursework Examples

Getting cousework help through exploring coursework samples offers a bunch of benefits. For instance,

• They show what you need to score that top-notch mark.
• They give insights on how to improve the reading experience.
• They help to infuse your work with some unique and exciting passages.
• They offer an alternative view of the topic that may generate new ideas.
• They display the ideal order of the content and adequate evaluation of evidence.
• They show how to organize arguments and counterarguments to support students' positions and opinions.
• They give insights on how to create a smooth transition between abstracts making one idea flow into another without tension and using words that are understandable by people at any level.
• They demonstrate more up to the point writing.
• They ensure no unnecessary deduction in marks that may occur due to incorrect formatting.
• They have correct grammar and the right tone of language that students may easily imitate in their papers to level them up.
• They stick to format rules showing the right way to implement instructions to meet university standards and teachers' instructions.
• They help students to focus on their tasks without losing nerves.
• They ease stress and help students avoid drama and mental issues.
• They save students precious time, letting them focus on more critical tasks or dedicate their efforts to experiments and social work that may improve their coursework with real-life experience.
• They give a much-needed boost to kick off the work and, most importantly, overcome writing block.

All you need to enjoy all those benefits is to find a reliable platform that offers college coursework help. Though, this is not a problem because there are a bunch of them in the wild.

How to Write Top-Grade Coursework? Best Practices

Completing coursework is a hard nut to crack; however, making it worth a top grade is even harder. However, no obstacle is insurmountable if you know what to do. Many teachers and top-level postgraduates suggest using as much help as possible and following the best practices.

Therefore, consider these tips shared by professionals to help you in this matter:

• Stop trying to write a good completely free essays online . Let your creative juices flow.
• Take your time and do extensive research.
• Ask yourself, "What surprises me about this subject the most?" Focus on your answer and build your story around this finding or discovery.
• Write three to five sentences covering your most crucial points.
• Quote sources liberally throughout your paper. If you are not allowed to quote, you can re-phrase what has been said in your own words and give proper credit. Also, make sure 60% of the content belongs to you, while 40% are quotes or paraphrases from your sources to avoid sounding too "source" heavy.
• When creating a draft, write in this order: first – body, then – introduction, after that – conclusion.
• Reach the required word count. Stay to the point but be descriptive and argumentative.
• Make sure your arguments flow smoothly from one idea to another.
• Last but not least, if you feel something is wrong with your paper or requires some polish, do not be afraid to check and proofread it on platforms that offer coursework online help.
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How to Create a Course Outline [With Templates]

Table of Contents

Do you have a great idea for an online course but don’t know where to start? You’re not alone – getting started is the most overwhelming part of course design for first-time course creators, who struggle to put their ideas together and turn them into a well-structured course.

The solution to your problem is something as simple as a course outline.

Creating a course outline will help you overcome your mental block and start building your online course.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of designing an online course outline following instructional design principles. We’ll also offer you 18 amazing course templates to spark your creativity.

💡 If you are more of a visual learner, watch the following video on how to create an online course from Idea to Outline with Rachel Reclam.

Table of contents

• 1 What is a Course Outline?
• 2 How to Write a Course Outline Step-by-Step
• 3 Training Course Outline: How is it Different?
• 4 18 Course Outline Templates to Download

What is a Course Outline?

A course outline is a plan of the course that contains all the learning material, structured in the order you’ll use it in your online course. It can be in the form of a storyboard or a simple list.

A course outline usually includes the following:

• Essential course information like name & description
• The learning objectives
• Course requirements & prerequisites (if any)
• Learning activities per session
• Supporting learning material
• Milestones (assignment due dates, quizzes, final exams)
• Course schedule (if there’re any live sessions)

An outline is not just a tool to create an optimal learning path but also a resource to share with your learners .

How to Write a Course Outline Step-by-Step

Let’s go over the steps you need to follow when creating an online course outline:

• Step #1: Build a Learner Profile
• Step #2: Write the Learning Objectives
• Step #3: Break Down the Course Into Sessions
• Step #4: Choose the Learning Activities
• Step #5: Plan for Interactivity
• Step #6: Include Knowledge Checkpoints

💁 The LearnWorlds WorkBook will guide you through all the necessary steps, offering additional items you can go through.

Step #1 – Build a Learner Profile

How well you know your audience has a massive impact on student learning. The better you know the people who will be attending your course, the more beneficial the learning experience you can build for them.

A learner profile should include the following:

• Basic demographics
• Knowledge level
• Desired goals & pain points

Pre-assessments can help you determine the learners’ knowledge of the subject matter, while a survey can give you information regarding their demographics, their reason for taking the course, and potential roadblocks.

Step #2 – Write the Learning Objectives

Learning goals are broad, general statements of what we want our students to learn – they’re the end goal of the course, the bigger picture. For instance, if you’re teaching social skills, the learning goal is to improve the learners’ social skills. But that doesn’t really say much, right?

When creating your online course outline, break this broad goal down into learning objectives , which are specific and, whenever possible, measurable . So, in this case, ask yourself:

• What does improving social skills entail? What will learners be able to do after the course that they couldn’t do before?
• Carry out conversations with confidence.
• Make a great first impression.
• Master small talk.
• Feel more comfortable in a large group of people.

Write all these objectives and make sure to a) use them as a reference point when creating your content and assessments, and b) clearly mention them in your course description and syllabus.

Step #3 – Break Down the Course Into Modules

Now that you know the learning objectives, the next step is to break down the course into smaller learning modules, keeping in mind that you need to keep each module short and sweet and increase the level of difficulty gradually.

A helpful practice creating a topical outline of your course to organize subtopics under general topics. This way, you’re creating the backbone of your course, upon which you will create your course content. In the LearnWorlds’ Course Creation Workbook, visit pages 7-8 to see how to create a topical outline.

Step #4 – Choose the Learning Activities

What learning activities are you going to include in your course? Before choosing, think about the content you may already have and can repurpose . For example, you can use the highlights from a blog post to create PDF infographics.

Most importantly, before adding any activity to your lesson plan, think about whether it serves the learning objectives of the course. Anything that doesn’t directly support the learning objectives should be offered as additional/supportive learning resources.

Why? Because bombarding the learners with a mountain of videos, eBooks, and what have you will inevitably lead to cognitive overload .

LearnWorlds supports a wide variety of learning activities to choose from, some of which you can also sell separately as digital products , like:

• Interactive videos
• Audio files & podcasts
• Live sessions
• Self-assessments, quizzes & exams
• SCORM packages

Step #5 – Plan for Interactivity

Remember that what separates a great course from a good-enough one is interactivity. This single “detail” can skyrocket not only learner engagement but the effectiveness of the course, as it allows for in-depth conversations and meaningful connections.

If you can’t include real-time sessions, then at least make sure to build an online community , like a discussion group, where you will interact with your learners and enable them to communicate with one another and exchange knowledge.

Step #6 – Include Knowledge Checkpoints

Last but not least, make sure to include several assessments throughout the course and for different purposes. Let us give you a few ideas:

• Non-graded quizzes : to help learners refresh, practice, and test their knowledge “safely” without it having an impact on their final grade. Including non-graded quizzes will also help you identify learners who need extra support.
• Self-assessments and self-reflection journals : to enable learners to reflect on their learning journey and figure out ways they can improve their learning processes.
• Graded assignments & exams, like written or video submissions : to accurately measure learner knowledge and offer a certificate of completion (or CPE credits ).

💡Interested in taking your knowledge business a step further? Then our free webinar Use AI & Instructional Design to supercharge your elearning is the right one for you! Watch the webinar now and learn how to harness AI with Instructional Design for more effective eLearning.

Training Course Outline: How is it Different?

An online training course designed for employees, customers, or partners, like employee onboarding or customer education, is different from an online course addressed to a wide audience.

Goals are set based on company priorities and result tracking (on multiple levels we’ll explain below) is non-negotiable. Employee training is often mandatory and crucial. All this means that your outline might look a little different.

Assessment Evaluation

The first major difference is an assessment evaluation. If you are tasked with creating a training course, there are good chance the company hiring you has already assessed their training needs and documented them.

If not, you should perform an assessment evaluation and identify the training needs of the company. These are similar to learning goals and objectives but focus specifically on the people or departments requesting the training to improve specific deficiencies.

Adult Learning Principles

Training is addressed to adults. They might be coming with some industry or work experience and will be looking to implement their newfound knowledge and skills in their work. As such, they have different preferences and needs than younger students.

Adult learning principles will help you make training more relevant to their needs:

• Prefer self-directed learning
• Draw on life experience to assist with learning
• Willingness to learn when transitioning into new roles
• Immediacy of applying the new knowledge to real-life situations and problems
• Internally instead of externally motivated

Remember to make the training more practical, using real-world examples and allowing learners to draw from their years of experience.

Training Evaluation & Tracking

Lastly, evaluating the results is a huge part of training. More often than not, it’s the key stakeholders who will decide the course prerequisites and how success is measured.

For example, compliance training might include a specific number of video watch hours and a final exam with a passing score of 80%. It’s also possible that you should include a certificate to award learners at the end of the course.

You might additionally need to collect grades, assignments, or physical examinations. Some advanced learning management systems , like LearnWorlds, include a gradebook or reporting features you will need to meet these requirements.

Include evaluation activities such as exams, on-site testing, scenarios, or other forms of evaluations to the course outline for training, and plan on certifications or reporting requirements.

Your professional looking Academy in a few clicks

18 course outline templates to download.

The best way to create your own outline is to use a good example as a guide. Our team of experts reviewed LearnWorlds’ course creators and prepared 18 course outline templates based on the most popular course types.

Here is a sneak peek of the templates:

Assessment courses

These courses help you and your potential students assess their skills. This course type can also be used as a powerful lead magnet to gather students’ emails early in the process.

Presell courses

Presell courses serve as a storefront for an upcoming course . They can help you validate a course idea and build an email list of your potential students before officially releasing a course.

Orientation courses

An orientation course provides an overview of all your courses . They can build student engagement and interest. Don’t forget to add a walkthrough of your academy and the online community, as well as the instructor’s contact details.

Orientation courses can also help mobile app users onboard faster. Be sure to add an orientation-style course on your roadmap for user training!

Μini-courses

Mini-courses are versions of full-sized courses. Like presell and orientation courses, they serve as teasers that make students enroll in a course. However, in contrast to the other two categories, mini-courses provide real educational value : a full summary of what will be taught in the full-sized course.

Live courses

This course type includes mostly scheduled live sessions , which you can enrich with different types of material, like quizzes, discussions, transcripts, and downloadable PDF files. Live courses could also have office hours, during which learners can reach the instructor for questions, feedback, or support.

Workshop courses consist of a series of videos where an instructor demonstrates practical tasks while describing the process for the students to follow through. Workshop courses are usually about arts & crafts, painting, sewing, fitness, content creation, etc. You can also share top highlights of your event for your social media as part of your marketing strategy.

Professional training courses

Professional training courses aim to build knowledge, skills, and competence in a group of individuals or a team. Companies deploy employee training & development initiatives to improve employee performance, smooth out productivity issues, and enhance the soft skills of their workforce.

The “X days challenge” courses

Through an “X Days Challenge” course, an instructor guides the students through daily or weekly small achievements to reach a more challenging end goal at the end of the course. Deploying gamification gimmicks, like badges, is good practice in these courses, as they motivate and reward learners along the way.

A good example of a challenge course is “Create your first mandala painting in 14 days” or “Improve your sleeping habits in a month.”

Certification courses

Certification courses verify the skills and knowledge the learner has obtained in the course in the form of a (usually sharable and printable) certificate. They require learners to pass a final exam or perform a practical task demonstrating their skills. Certifications can be obtained from external governmental organizations or recognized entities.

Unsurprisingly, certification courses often have prerequisites and strict navigation; you can read more on the course navigation on LearnWorlds here .

Spotlight/Niche topic courses

Niche topics are created to teach particular skills . Instructors can create a whole academy with multiple niche courses and sell them in bundles to provide a more comprehensive learning experience while boosting their revenue.

Academic courses

Academic courses follow the traditional structure that higher education institutions follow . This type of course usually consists of an introduction to the course and its learning outcomes, a short test or discussion to assess pre-existing knowledge, and multiple lectures (live or video) supported by written learning material, like handouts.

Drip-feed courses

In a drip-feed course , you organize the timely release of your content (section by section) so that it doesn’t become available to your students all at once. This comes with multiple benefits, such as avoiding overwhelming learners , ensuring they learn at a reasonable pace that boosts knowledge retention , and preventing them from downloading the course content all at once and asking for a refund.

Conceptual change courses

Conceptual change courses create a learning experience based on storytelling. These courses don’t intend to teach a skill but rather challenge the learner’s mentality and open them up to different perspectives. Conceptual change courses don’t have a fixed structure.

Hybrid courses

Hybrid courses combine the benefits of online learning with traditional in-class learning offering the flexibility of the first and the opportunity for practice and direct communication of the latter.

Series of “invited talks” courses

Courses made up of invited talks from guest speakers who are experts in the course topic are particularly engaging. A typical course of this sort could include a series of live webinars with key insights sent out to participants in the form of an eBook.

Selling digital goods or extra services

Online courses are not strictly used for teaching. An online course can be a suitable wrapper for your digital product or service , sold either as additional or standalone offerings. For example, you might be an online coach who sells a package of inspirational videos and eBooks separately in a course.

💡 If you are selling digital downloads , be sure to check out our guide as well.

Bonus courses

Bonus courses are usually short and offer some extra resources to students. They typically contain scarce resources, like a PDG, an exclusive interview, an exciting webinar, etc. What makes bonus courses popular is that they add value to your initial offering. They’re usually promoted as being free, which makes them even more appealing.

Complementary to physical products courses

A complementary course offers additional material to a product you sell through your website. Such complementary content can be information about that specific product or guidelines about how to use the product, similar to customer education.

💁 You can download all of these templates for free in our downloadable pdf. Download the entire collection here:

Start Creating Your Course Outline

A course outline is the foundation of your online course. You’ll find that creating one will help you streamline the content development process and focus your energy on building your course instead of trying to bring order to the chaos.

Leverage the 30-day free trial and start putting together your course in your shiny new LearnWorlds academy.

Further reading you might find interesting:

• How to Teach Online & Earn Money: Definitive Guide
• SCORM 101: The Definitive Guide to Choose a SCORM-Compliant LMS
• How Much Money Can You Make Selling Online Courses?
• The 19 Best Employee Online Training Software Tools (A Comparison Guide)
• What is an LMS (Learning Management System)?
• How To Start A Profitable Online Course Business From Scratch
• The Essential Guide on How to Create Cohort-Based Courses

What does a course outline include?

A course outline should include a brief course description and the learning outcomes, outlining the topics that will be covered in the course in the order in which they will be covered. The outline can also mention a list of required and recommended readings you plan to include in the course, as well as assessments and exams.

What is the difference between a course outline and a course syllabus?

A course outline is a document that includes the basic components to be taught, such as learning activities, assessments, and evaluations of an online course. It is used to plan and organize the course creation process.

A course syllabus is built for the learner and includes all learning material (mandatory and optional), specific assignments, dates, grading standards, and rules of conduct & classroom policies defined by the instructor.

What is the purpose of a course outline?

The purpose of a course outline is to assist the instructor in creating and delivering the course by following a predetermined structure, planning activities, and creating the materials beforehand.

What are the benefits of a course outline?

A course outline helps the instructor avoid pitfalls while creating a course, from setting clear learning outcomes to including/creating the most suitable content, therefore speeding up the course creation process.

How do you write an outline for an online course?

To write an online course outline you need to follow these steps:

• Build learner profiles
• Write the learning objectives
• Break down the course into modules
• Choose the learning activities to include
• Plan for interactivity
• Include knowledge checkpoints

What are the components of an online course?

An online course might include the following:

• Video lessons
• PDFs, slideshows, and PowerPoint presentations
• Discussion forum
• Assessments and final exams

Androniki Koumadoraki

Androniki is a Content Writer at LearnWorlds sharing Instructional Design and marketing tips. With solid experience in B2B writing and technical translation, she is passionate about learning and spreading knowledge. She is also an aspiring yogi, a book nerd, and a talented transponster.

What is Coursework? A Guide for Students

Rebekah Marshall

May 22, 2024

Read Time: 4 min

Coursework is the most significant part of academic writing and requires a lot of time and effort. You should consider the guidance of your teachers and your seniors who have similar experiences in writing coursework. This makes the process of working faster and more effective, which leads to the best outcomes. This guide will help you to understand what coursework is and how to write coursework effectively, based on expert tips from our  coursework writing service team.

What is Coursework?

Coursework consists of all basic assignments given to students to evaluate their level of understanding. It includes many types of assignments, such as essay writing, research papers, discussion boards, and written reports. To get excellent grades and grade point averages (GPA), students must understand the basic concepts of their courses. Coursework is difficult to define, even though it is usually important to complete a specific program. This kind of assignment can be completed in a wide range of formats. 

Importance of Coursework

Coursework is the most common type of assignment that teachers give students to understand their level of learning on a specific topic or subject. Moreover, it shows how well a student understands and uses the topic in various contexts. Through coursework writing, students may improve their research abilities, increase their understanding of a subject, develop their analytical skills, and apply the knowledge they have discovered to use independently. Furthermore, students learn to summarize the topic with key arguments and then draw conclusions by learning  how to write coursework . 

Types of Coursework

Five different types of coursework are given to students:

Analytical Coursework

Analytical Coursework presents a thesis statement or claim and demonstrates how to study different things. It usually focuses on the literary style of the text rather than the synopsis.

Supportive Commentary

Supportive Commentary helps students to create a single piece of media writing. Coursework should be written in an experimental mode, such as written, spoken, or multimodal. Students must also include a supporting statement that contains all the information and aspects. 

Journal Coursework

Writing journals for coursework is regarded as an act that promotes casual writing as a regular activity. This can take many different forms and is useful for multiple purposes. It can be both creative and personal. In order to organize their thoughts, compose their ideas, and respond to them, students are always expected to keep journals as part of their coursework.

Analytical Study

Analytical study is the process of sharing an analysis of the chosen work and how it relates to the relevant material. It also shows how well the writer understands the entire process of writing. Students should use proper vocabulary and must maintain word consistency. Also, understand the structure and format of writing.  

Commentary and Creative Writing

In commentary and creative writing coursework, students are asked to generate creative content that reflects the tone or style of the assessed text. It also helps to share comments to support the knowledge. Additionally, the major purpose of creative writing and commentary is to demonstrate knowledge, test skills, and engage the target audience through various languages.

Coursework Writing Tips

There are some key points that you should keep in mind while writing coursework. 

It is the worst possible scenario for any kind of academic writing assignment. Today, the internet has tons of relevant information, and professors become rigorous in the context of plagiarism. Your own words should be used in all writing! Use the advised citation style and make a references list if you choose to include quotations from the sources. Claim that it is your own project and sign the declaration.

Keep in mind the precise guidelines for the coursework’s length. Specify whether the references, appendices, and footnotes are counted as part of the word count.

Browse the possible topics. Try to pick a relevant coursework topic that is similar to the subject of the upcoming exam if one will be held on it. 

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Never ignore your teacher’s advice; ask for their guidance on your topic. Also, to learn more, ask questions, but remember they may only read the first draft once and give general suggestions.

Perfect Coursework Writing Structure

The precision required for coursework writing depends not only on the writing process but also on the design. Even if you produce a stunning and thoroughly researched paper for the professor, poor design will still result in bad grades. We have chosen the most significant components to build a flawless coursework structure for you after reviewing many coursework standards. The structure consists of the following main components:

Introduction or Opening

The first step is to write the coursework introduction after choosing a topic. This introduction section needs to be extraordinary to catch the reader’s attention. Make sure to include all essential details, and keep it brief or precise. 

Include any background data about the topic you have chosen. Write down your goals as well. This section should contain your thesis statement. Also, write the introduction in such a way that it serves as the reader’s guide.

Main Body 

Your hard work and dedication will be reflected in this section. In the body section, you should add every minute detail you discovered on your research journey. Additionally, this section will be written in the past tense with an informative tone. 

Readers may find research findings boring because they are just stats and figures. Therefore, this section should include appealing tables, graphs, infographics, and charts to make it interesting. Mention each statistic as it is; do not change any findings. 

Summarize your whole coursework in this section. The conclusion needs to be short while covering all the details. You might mention the essential takeaways from the coursework.

How to Write a Coursework: Step-by-Step Guide

This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to write coursework effectively

Research : Gather information from primary and secondary sources, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Keep detailed notes and organize them in a table for easy reference.

Planning : Create a rough outline, deciding what to include in each section. Use a timeline to manage your tasks and meet deadlines.

Drafting : Start writing with the section you know best, using coursework examples to illustrate your points. Focus on gradually narrowing down your topic.

Editing : Proofread for consistency, style, grammar, and punctuation errors using tools like Grammarly. Ensure the document meets word count and formatting requirements, allowing time for thorough editing.

Formative vs Summative Coursework Assessments

Formative assessment assesses students’ understanding of a subject by offering them practice in essay creation and structure which can also be beneficial for tasks like  term paper writing . It assists students in evaluating their strengths and weaknesses and focuses on areas that require improvement. Moreover, formative assessments help instructors identify students’ areas of difficulty and take action to resolve issues

Summative assessments , on the other hand, evaluate students’ knowledge at the end of the semester. Summative assessment includes mid-term exams and final-year projects. When completing courses, it is vital to understand the type of review you are submitting. If you understand the cocoursework’seaning and finish your assignments on time, you might obtain an A+.

Get Coursework Help from Experts

If you want to write your coursework successfully, follow all the steps mentioned above. If you still have difficulty writing coursework, you can get academic writing help at our  essay writing service  with one click. We have a group of experienced writers who can offer you timely, cost-effective coursework help online. 

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How to create a course outline with real examples

You have the idea and the skills, now you need a course outline. When it comes time to building your course on Teachable, we’ve made sure to create a platform that can handle all of the heavy lifting so you can focus on the creativity part. But before you even jump into how to create an online course , we want to let you in on a powerful secret step that can save you a lot of time and help make your course creation process even better: outlining . Learning how to outline your online course will help you stay organized and know exactly what you’ll need when it comes time to get those creative juices flowing. Whether your niche is reading tarot cards or you’re working on a management course, having a course outline will ensure the creation process is structured, smooth, and organized. Your students will thank you, too!

But first, let’s take a step back to make sure you have all the information you need to outline your Teachable course like a pro.

What is a course outline?

A course outline contains the building blocks of your online course. It might also be called a class outline or training course outline. It breaks the topic and subject matter down into sections or modules, which can be determined by considering milestones, or learning objectives, you intend for students to have. Modules will be further broken down into specific lessons and learning activities.

Course outlines will include the overall learning objectives, so that the intended outcome is crystal clear for both you and your students. It’s essentially the roadmap for what you’re teaching and how you’re teaching it, as well as what practice/activities students will do in order to best learn what you’re sharing. It will also include any plans for “quizzes” with which students can self-assess where there might be learning gaps or to focus on material they might not have fully grasped the first time.

What should you include in a course outline?

In order for your students to gain the most value from taking your course , it’s imperative that your course outline covers the following:

• The overarching goal – This usually can be summarized in a sentence, and encapsulates the main goal of the course. What will students be able to do, perform, or have fully learned by the end of your course? For example: By the end of this course, students will be able to create their own watercolor painting that includes elements of depth, color psychology, shape, and perspective. You can also include a brief course description here, too!
• Breakdown of modules/sections – What subtopics are essential for students to know in order for them to achieve the overarching goal? Depending on the overarching or main goal of your course, each module can focus on a main component necessary to build towards mastering the skills needed.
• Learning objectives for each module – While it’s tempting to simply present the content of the lessons, including learning objectives really strengthens your lessons. Having these means that you and your students are on the same page about why this particular module is essential to the bigger picture. (And curbs the age-old learner question of “what’s the point of this?”) These are the skills that students will acquire from each lesson. For example, in a module focused on color psychology, the learning objectives could be along the lines of: Students will be able to explain the impact that colors have on the subconscious brain in eliciting specific emotions and feelings.
• The content for each module – How are you teaching it? Determine if video, visuals, or hands-on practice best aligns with the learning objective for each module. Ideally, there’s a mix of all three so that the three main types of learning styles are catered to.
• Homework/practice opportunities – It’s important to include opportunities for practice so that students have a chance to implement what they’re learning. Otherwise, you run the risk of the information going in one ear and out the other for students, which means the overall effectiveness of the course will be lessened.
• Quiz or self assessment – Ideally this is present within each module, and prompts the students to determine how well they grasp the material that you’ve taught. This is an empowering way for students to take more control of their own learning. Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to be a full blown test with multiple choice questions! It can be as simple as including a reflection question at the end of each module.
• Learning objectives that are skill centered – (Also known as learning outcomes!) How well the content is presented and taught can be impacted by the learning objectives that are set. Preferably, these are written in a way that allows for self assessment. For example, saying “students will be able to know why depth perception is important in watercolors” implies they just need the theoretical understanding of depth perception. If we edit this to say “students will be able to implement strategies for varying depth perception”, it’s more specific and translates to a deeper understanding of the content.We’ll dive more into learning objectives and a formula for writing them in the next section!
• Optional: pre and post assessment – While not strictly needed, this is a potent way for you and your students to measure (and marvel at) just how much they learned in your course. The great news is that the same assessment or questions is given both at the beginning or the end, so they are pretty simple to make. The differences between these two assessments are measured and then used as a way to gauge how effective your course was at teaching and what students achieve. These can also make for good testimonial material, and don’t worry, they’re way easier than final exams! We’ll get into how you can create these in a simple and effective way in the next section.
• Optional: learning resources – Providing a brief list of extra resources after each module or after the course as a whole is a supportive way to ensure that student needs are being met. Having these additional links enables students to dig a little deeper and to gain more clarity on certain areas of the material that may have been unclear or where they want to know more.

How to create a course outline step-by-step

Step 1: begin with the end.

Yep, that’s right. To make a great course, think of the end result of your course before anything else. What’s the overarching goal or transformation that your course provides? Then work backwards to determine, step by step, how your ideal student would get to that end goal you’re selling. It’s essential to get clear on this before designing any lesson plans!

Take a few minutes to actually write down the transformation students will experience in your course. Go on, finish this sentence: “By the end of this course, students will be able to do blank .”

If your transformation is either too vast or too vague (e.g. how to live your best life vs. how to feel confident when meeting new people at a conference) you will find your outline may be difficult to craft. Instead think smaller and more specific. In fact, the more specific your outcome is, the better.

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It’s best to choose more actionable words than “understand” when you’re describing your transformation. Consider create, write, make, speak, design, etc. Outcome-based training is the most important thing for being able to outline your online course—and also for your students to comfortably progress through their learning. This will also help you identify if your course is best suited as a standalone course, a subscription, a mini course, or even a course with coaching options.

Step 2: The breakdown: modules & sections

Now that you have the umbrella of the overarching goal open, it’s time to get more specific by looking at the modules/sections that are underneath it. While you’re determining this, keep a time frame in mind. Many creators will split the modules within a certain number of weeks or days to help students pace their learning. If you want your course to be five weeks long, then determine the most important five subtopics that need to be covered, and each of these becomes a module.

Alternatively, you can also decide what the most important subtopics are and then base the time frame off of that.

Step 3: Writing powerful learning objectives

Once you’ve determined the modules, go ahead and decide what is most important for students to learn in each one. Learning objectives usually start with “Students will be able to…” and then include some kind of action word, followed by the task or skill. Remember to get specific with the action words, ideally avoiding the words “understand” and “know” for more concise words that are measurable, outcome based, and taught in the course material.. (For example, how do you measure if someone understands something? That’s a lot more nuanced and subjective than measuring if someone is able to create a podcast or design a website.)

Use the formula below to quickly make learning objectives that are highly effective and measurable:

Students will be able to + [insert specific verb] + [description of end product or demonstration of knowledge]

Students will be able to produce a podcast episode. Students will be able to write a completed screenplay. Students will be able to author a book proposal with two sample chapters. Students will be able to construct a gardening plan.

Examples of strong verbs to use: create, produce, write, design, develop, assemble, collaborate, invent, construct, build, blog, devise, podcast, manage, facilitate, generate

Step 4: Organize the material (including homework)

Now that you have the course broken down into modules, it’s time to sort through the material you want to include. Ideally, each module will include the learning objective, some type of content where the material is being taught (keep reading for the five basic content types!), and “homework” of some kind. This is really just a chance for students to practice and implement whatever skill is being taught in this module—it doesn’t have to be very long, but rather to provide a chance for students to move from passively taking in information to actively getting involved with what you’re teaching. Invite them to try their hand at whatever it is being taught, because the more action and practice that they’re taking, the faster and more thoroughly they’ll learn!

Five basic content types

The style of your course is up to you, and the method of content delivery you think will make the most sense for your subject matter and students may differ from course to course—even section by section or lesson by lesson. There are five basic content types that are most often found on Teachable creators’ courses: text and photo, PDFs and downloadables, slide decks, screen recordings, and video. Since people have different learning styles, incorporating a combination of content types will enhance student learning. We break them down to help you better understand which might be ideal for your course.

• Text and photos: easy and quick; best used for simple concepts or lessons that can be demonstrated in a format that’s most similar to a blog post or article. Just be cognizant that not everyone learns best by reading, and if your lesson has multiple steps, perhaps blocks of texts and pictures aren’t the best option.
• PDFs and downloadables : include spreadsheets, workbooks, cheat sheets, resource material, checklists, etc. that can easily be referenced; not ideal for complex subjects that require walkthroughs or explanations of why.
• Slides : visually emphasize your points; walks students through material one step at a time

• Screen recordings and videos: ideal for complex topics that need step-by-step attention as well as explanation and demonstration; provides more interaction with students and gives a more personalized instructional experience. Screen recordings can be as simple as you talking through a slide presentation or a recording of your computer screen as you demonstrate your skill and provide commentary. They’re cheap to produce and provide a lot of value to students.

• Home videos are also another popular option for content delivery. Luckily, you don’t have to spend a lot to get quality video at home . For your course videos , you can speak directly to the camera, film your hands doing work, or even use a pre-recorded webinar or live event you’ve done.

Some lessons may need just one content type, like a screencast, but others may need two, like a video with a companion PDF workbook. It’s perfectly fine—and encouraged—to use a variety of methods within your course.

Step 5: A closer look at assessments & reflections

Including these elements in your course is a potent way to ensure that students are really getting the most from the material you’re providing. Keep in mind, the assessments can be simple, and you certainly don’t have to grade them! You can use questions that align with the learning objective to assess. For example, if the learning objective is “Students will be able to utilize Podcastle to edit a podcast”, then the assessment or homework would be to familiarize themselves with the platform and to edit a podcast episode! Pretty straightforward, right? Although uncomplicated, this is an effective way for students to implement and check their own learning.

It’s a proven pedagogical theory that reflection on the learning process actually helps to deepen understanding of the material and help it stick. Some weeks the homework could simply be to reflect on what they learned or what areas they found challenging or the most interesting from that module.

Step 6: Decide on a pre & post assessment

Along the same lines as number five, having a pre and post assessment is a great way for students to track their learning, and it can also give you helpful feedback about your course. Including a few questions that align with the learning objectives in your course are a good measure of the learning that’s taken place. These can be collected on a survey (like Typeform or Google survey) for ease of feedback and also a way to collect testimonials!

What do you know about producing a podcast? How confident are you with editing and publishing individual podcast episodes?

The end result

We believe in the art of simplicity, so we’ll do anything we can to help make your road to course creation a simple one. In fact, we’ve built our entire online course platform to do just this.

So, once you’ve learned how to outline your online course and have pumped out some content, you can easily use Teachable to physically create your course. Our one-click bulk upload option will also help you upload your course sections and lessons simply. From there you can customize your content, preview, and publish.

Course outline examples & template

If you want a template to create your course outline, then look no further. With Teachable’s outline templates, you can be led through creating a Course Outline in a step-by-step process. To get it, just click here to download for free ! You can even think of it as a preview of what’s needed if you’re still in the ideation phase of creating your virtual product.

The example below shows how your course outline could look once it’s uploaded onto the platform. Splitting the modules into different categories is a helpful way to keep things organized for your students.

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Key takeaways:

• Actionable transformations lead to the most successful courses and are the easiest to outline and plan.
• A course is made of sections and lessons . Sections contain groupings of lessons. Lessons are structured, informational units composed of text, files, video, and images.
• Sections are the milestones in your course a.k.a. major concepts and skills your students need to master in order to achieve the final transformation.
• Lessons are the bite-sized units of video, audio, text, images, etc. within your section that deliver one takeaway.
• Mapping out your content delivery method will help prepare you for the creation process.
• Use the one-click bulk upload button on the Teachable platform to begin to organize your content.

Outlining your course doesn’t have to be daunting. And, putting in just a little bit of elbow grease before you start creating will not only save you lots of time and energy later on, it will also enhance the learning experience of your students. Future you is already thanking past you.

Why create a course outline?

Creating a course outline is an essential part of producing your course. It provides you with structure and organization, which is very helpful as the process can feel overwhelming at times. More importantly, it means that the course material you’re curating is intentional and focused on providing students with the most value possible—having course objectives that you’re building off of creates a solid foundation for learning. Having this outline also means you can share learning objectives with your students so that they feel empowered in their learning process. Overall, a course outline makes it more clear for you and your students, and provides a sense of ease for you during the creation process.

What is the difference between a course outline and a syllabus?

Generally speaking, a course outline is a tool for course creators to consider during the planning phase, while a course syllabus is intended for students to read ahead of starting the course. Once you’ve created a course outline, you can move on to creating the course syllabus, which includes more detailed information, including the course description, specific modules and assignments, dates, a grading rubric, rules of conduct, and other course requirements and expectations of the teacher.

Additional reporting by Nicole Quintana-Wolf

Caitlin Miller , Caitlin Miller is the Manager of Content Marketing Strategy at Teachable. In her spare time, she's often found listening to vinyl records, buying too many house plants, and enjoying a run on the streets of Brooklyn.

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How to Create an Online Course Outline | Complete Guide & Template

You have chosen your online course topic. Great! Now what? To create a winning course outline, you must encompass your course vision, details, and templates. Course outline sets the tone for the entire learning experience for the students and ensures they get the most out of their course.

A  well-designed course outline clearly defines what students can expect and how it can benefit them. Creating a course design template efficiently standardizes the online course outline and lays out a clear pathway for learning outcomes.

Wondering how to create a course outline that wins? Let’s explore all the key steps to create a winning course outline.

What is a Course Outline?

A course outline is a comprehensive document that includes information about the topics, objectives, and learning outcomes of a course. It is an essential tool that serves as a guide for both teachers and students during the course of study.

A course outline provides a roadmap for the students to stay on track and remain organized with their studies.

A clear and concise course outline acts as a framework for the assessment of student performance as they move through the course. You must know how to make a course outline that helps students construct and organize a learning flow in a sequential manner and provides a foundation before they enroll.

The Benefits of Having a Clear Course Outline

The purpose of the course outline is to support the learning process. A clearly structured course outline allows you to  promote your course online  with an organized roadmap for students. Let’s explore the key benefits of developing a clear course outline:

• A clear course outline provides a structure and logical order and help students and teacher stay organized.
• Explicitly outlines topics, concepts, activities, objectives, and resources for students.
• Promote self-directed learning, and allow students to complete their coursework at their own pace and take responsibility for their learning.
• Promotes student engagement to bolster learning and give them direction to track their progress

Key Elements in a Course Outline: An Overview

A course outline is an essential document for both student and instructor alike, as it ensures all objectives are covered and relevant information stated. While the course information and outline are filed away neatly in your brain, it is important to deliver in a format for students.

For this, you need to identify key elements in a course outline that are ordered in a way that sets out a promise for the student about their learning journey.

Let’s look at key elements in a course outline.

• Course Title & Information: Provides a brief description of the subject matter covered in the course.
• Course Objectives: Describes the broad learning outcomes for students.
• Course Content: Relevant material for students such as study resources, information, videos, assigned readings, and all other data sources needed for learning.
• Learning Outcomes: A statement that defines students at the beginning what they can expect, and what value they will gain as a result of taking a course.
• Assessment & Evaluation: Determines the extent of learning for students from the course and provides goals and outcomes. 
• Supporting Material: Information, and data not limited to lectures, study notes, and syllabus. It includes visual aid, images, diagram, external data resources, and access to journals, study guides, web-ready content, and educational software.
• Course Schedule: Classifies topics for a specific course that will be taught in each week/module in detail.
• Course Policies: Policies concerning attendance, assignment submission, re-submissions, participation, academic integrity, missed exams, recorded lectures, and other related guidelines.

For example, this Microsoft Word Basics course outline highlights all the essential information that relates to the course outline.

How to Create an Effective Course Outline in 7 Easy Steps: An Overview

Sorting through piles of content and creating an entire course outline by yourself can be overwhelming. Ask yourself questions such as what unique elements you can add.

What will make your course stand out from others? And what difference in your course can benefit the students?

At this point, think about how you can best sell your course. Even if it’s manageable, you can take help from an online course promotion agency to get started.

1. Explore the Topic: A Brief Overview

It may seem obvious, but only the best instructors know how to explore the topic in-depth from different sources and create a comprehensive course outline.

Begin the process early, and give yourself plenty of time to explore the topic. Careful planning and continual refinement can set your course apart.

Explore Books on the Topic

There is a wide range of books written on your chosen course. You can always refer to them. It can become your key to further dividing the course outline into modules and lesson plans.

For example, as an online course instructor, you can explore a range of books available online to create a comprehensive course outline.

Case Studies from Relevant Industry

Case studies are the most effective way to get students to understand the practical application of the skills and knowledge developed during a course. Include case studies of the relevant industry to make students learn facts from real-world situations.

Instructors can visit different websites including online resources, and universities websites to explore case studies on diverse topic areas.

For example, MIT Sloan Management School has provided real-life organizational case studies for the subject of Accounting and Finance.

Analyze Similar Online Courses

SOURCE: MIT Sloan Management School 

Learning objectives for your course can be a bit different from what others are offering, still, you can prepare the right material by examining different courses of similar subject areas available on online learning platforms.

For example, platforms like Udemy provide access to thousands of courses online, where you can look for similar course content. Here you can see 10,000 results for SEO Courses.

SOURCE: UDEMY

Search the Internet for High-Ranked Courses

Research, research, and research! The Internet is full of different online courses, make sure you go through some of the top courses on search engines to make notes about what you might want to add, or what can set your course apart.

Once you’ve sketched the outline, start putting the pieces together, considering  SEO strategies for an online course  to ensure it reaches the relevant audience.

For example, you can search “Python Development Course Online’ and Google will show results for the most high-ranked courses.

2. Defining Your Course Objectives: Setting the Direction

A clearly defined course objective will provide your students with an outline of what they can learn from the course. When defining your course objective, you must consider the learning outcome your target audience (students) wants to achieve.

Make sure objectives and learning outcomes are SMART, specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Identifying Your Goals & Outcomes

When designing your online course creation template , firstly identify your goals and outcomes. It can also help your better sell course online to the right target audience.

Some questions to consider:

• Who are your learners?
• What they want to achieve?
• What different can you offer?
• How will your course benefit their learning?

Once you’ve answered these question, you can sharpen your focus and stay on track to create an inclusive course outline.

Aligning Objectives with the Curriculum Framework

It is equally important to ensure your course curriculum is aligned with the objectives. An aligned course curriculum ensures students reach the milestones outlined during the course module.

It can guide students to stay connected and achieve the desired learning objective from your online course.

Setting Clear & Measurable Learning Objectives

It can be achieved by identifying the level of knowledge necessary to achieve the learning objectives and precisely intending to accomplish the course.

Each learning objective involves a measurable outcome for the expanded growth of students with each module or lesson plan.

3. Outlining the Course Content

Constructing a course outline is an essential piece when designing any course. As an instructor, you can go through numerous course outline examples related to the topic on the internet.

The prerequisite and the co-requisite will establish a link and align students with the outcomes mapped out in the shape of course content.

Dividing the Course into Modules or Units

Dividing your course into modules and learning units is always the best choice as it creates a sequence of course content. It can help students identify under what module or unit knowledge will be demonstrated and the criteria for performance.

Modules or units support students throughout the course, as they help them organize the assessments, and learning activities.

Arranging the Content in a Logical Sequence

The logical sequence in online course content refers to all forms of delivery that will be used, including videos, lectures, readings, case studies, explanations, and assessments. It may sound simple, but it isn’t easy to set up and arrange online course content.

• Sit down, draw objectives
• Define learning outcomes
• Create draft course outline 
• Get curriculum organized and planned
• Finalize assessments

Estimating the Time Allotment for Each Module

While there is no exact formula to calculate the time allotment for each module, it can take about 3 days to 2 months to create course modules, depending on the complexity of the course.

Defining the Learning Outcomes for each module

Learning outcomes for each module clearly define students with statements that demonstrate content from the start till the end of the course. Module-level learning outcomes showcase the complete learning process and experience that students will undertake by enrolling in this course.

Deciding on the Appropriate Teaching Methods for each module

Once you’ve set out the course objectives and goals, it’s time to decide on the most appropriate teaching methods. As an instructor, you need to employ different teaching methods for a balanced provision of lecture delivery.

However, it’s always better to ask yourself certain questions before making the decision. For example:

• Who are the learners?
• What is the objective of the course?
• What are the gaps you’re fulfilling through this course?
• What resources students will require during the course?

4. Content is King: Building the Core of Your Course

High-quality course content helps you build credibility and gain the trust of students. Until students see potential in your online course, they’re not likely to opt for it. Make sure your content is designed to create an impact, attract students and generate profitable leads. 

Well, only focusing on the content can certainly help you achieve relevance for the students, but  marketing affiliate programs  for online course promotion can increase your reach and conversions.

Without any doubt, we all know that Google loves quality content. Thus, you must exactly know what it takes to get in the good graces of search engines and rank on the first page.

Conducting a Comprehensive Content Audit

Now that you know  how to create an online course outline , you need to systematically review all the content that you have organized for the course.

The content audit enables you to closely review the content, instantly optimize the quality of content and align it with the course objective that you’ve already defined.

You can conduct a content audit by undertaking following steps:

• Define the course metrics
• Measure inventory of your content
• Analyze the organized content
• Draw up a clear action plan

Choosing the Most Relevant Topics to Cover

When it comes to topic selection, it can be tricky. Some course instructors struggle to organize relevant topics in their course outlines. A fail-proof online course requires an efficient  content marketing strategy  to arrive at a coherent outcome.

Here are five pro tips you must keep in mind while choosing the most relevant topics to cover in an online course:

• Choose topics that attract the right number of students
• Choose topics that provide clear direction for learners
• Choose topics that sets the pace for learning
• Choose topics that engage more learners online
• Choose topics that impact the course significance to make it relevant

5. Incorporating Supporting Materials

Supporting materials and resources are significant for learners, as they assist them throughout the course. Commonly available supporting materials for your online course include textbooks, software, reading materials, videos, and recorded lectures.

Choosing the Right Format for Supporting Materials

It’s time to learn how to create a course outline that includes the right format of support materials. Your supporting materials must engage the learners, and offer ease of use, meeting their ability to perform the course tasks.

As an instructor, you need to make sure that the format for supporting material is audient appropriate, and offers all relevant information they will need throughout the course.

Integrating Supporting Materials into the Course Outline

Supporting materials such as examples, narratives, definitions, statistical data, facts & figures, and testimony are significant for the learners and must be integrated into the course outline.

Relevant supporting materials in course content emphasize the learner on the outcomes and enable them to believe in the course. 

Including Assessments and Evaluations in the Outline 

Assessments and evaluation plans in online course outline template sets out a standard for the learners and helps them determine whether or not the goals, of course, are being met as per their requirement.

It can also help learners to improve practice, develop reflective habits, and meet the standard learning outcome of the course.

6. Types of Content for Creating A Course Outline

It’s no wonder that online courses consume less energy than face-to-face teaching, but you need to pick the  right course content to sell  a great learning experience.

You can produce content for online courses in more than one format, usually, the one preferred by students. 

Now let’s take a deep dive into the types of content an online course outline must include.

Lecture Content

Lecture content refers to the information and topic that you plan to teach the learners.

1. Online Lectures: As an online course instructor, you can deliver lectures online, in real-time, and in form of recorded videos.

2. Text-based Content: Designing course content with a text-based approach ensures a better understanding of the subject matter, and provides explanations for every topic. It can be in form of study notes, case studies, research papers, and other text-based materials.

Reading Material

Reading material refers to anything designed for the purpose of being read by the learners. It can be in different forms, depending upon the objective and goal of the course.

1. Textbooks: Online courses can include e-textbooks for student study reference, and in-depth understanding of the topic.

2. Online Articles: Including online articles in the course outline extend learning options for learners and provide comprehensive information on the topic.

Multimedia Content

Multimedia content refers to any content that utilizes a combination of text, images, visuals, videos, and audio to deliver lecture.

1. Videos: The most commonly used multimedia content format by online course instructors is videos. As an instructor, you can pre-record lectures in form of videos or deliver live lectures in video format.

2. Audio Recordings: It is one of the most efficient ways to deliver course content to students, as they get greater flexibility to process information at their own pace.

3. Interactive Activities: It helps learners retain information faster, and develop communication skills. Immersive and engaging interactive activities along with other learning formats can drive more engagement, and attention, and promote retention.

Assessments and Evaluations

Assessments and evaluations refer to the diagnostic tools that focus on the learning of individual students during the course. Evaluation can determine the extent to which the learner has been able to achieve pre-defined course objectives and goals.

1. Quizzes: It provides a quick and informal assessment of the knowledge of the learners. The result of quizzes determines whether the student has been able to comprehend the course content and where the gap exists.

2. Exams: To improve the learning and ability to retain information, exams serve as the most efficient way to evaluate the learning outcome.

3. Group Projects: Online courses often include group projects to ensure learners can develop teamwork, collaboration, analytical thinking, and critical analysis skills while tackling conflicts and managing project tasks.

7. Planning for Assessment and Evaluation to Measure Success for Student

Assessment and evaluation are the heart of the learning process. There is a lot more than what you think when it comes to testing the knowledge and skills students have gained throughout the course.

To assess and evaluate the learning from your online course, you can set clear criteria and clarify expectations from the students. Learning from online courses can be measured through:

• Percentile ranking
• Standard scores
• Completion progress

Tips for Crafting a Successful Course Outline: Overview

When you are creating an online course to sell online, you must create excitement, curiosity, and engagement among the students whom you plan to target.

Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to create content for an online course, and put together a winning course outline. Establish a uniquely crafted course outline and  build a sales funnel  for your online course.

Read on and get ready to craft a successful course outline.

Keep it Organized & Structured

Keep your online course outline interesting for the students, provide a piece of solid course information, and define a clear roadmap with outcomes. Keeping it organized will help students know what to expect and get prepared for it. 

Test the Outline

Make sure you validate your online course outline before the final launch. Refine your course outline by answering the following questions yourself:

• If I were the student, would I have paid to enroll in this course?
• What pain points does it address for the learners?
• What outcomes learner expect after completion of course?

Most importantly, go through other online courses to understand the offerings in the market, and make your online course unique.

Selecting the Right Tool for Your Course

Teaching tools are vitally important to help you stay more organized, and make your course easier for learners. Numerous tools can make your course delivery fast and efficient, but you need to evaluate the options that fit best with your course requirements.

It doesn’t matter how you’ve organized everything for your online course until you’ve finalized the right tools. 7 high-demanding course tools include following:

• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Microsoft Note
• Cloud Outliner

Frequently Asked Questions:

How do you write an outline for an online course.

Step 1: Understand the topic

Step 2: Understand your target audience

Step 3: Define learning objectives and goals

Step 4: Organize your core content

Step 5: Select online course delivery methods

How do I evaluate and refine my course outline as I create it?

• Review course outline from student perspective
• Assess information covered & materials
• Justify the learning outcomes
• Align learning objectives with course content

How do I keep my course outline up-to-date and relevant?

• Explore the topic
• Stay relevant and accurate
• Define content types
• Validate your course outline
• Optimize content for learning

Final Words

It’s time to put all the wisdom that you’ve gained from here to practice. You’re on your journey to create a successful online course outline to deliver a great learning experience for your students.

Ensure you develop engaging and enticing online course content that excites learners to enroll and generate more sign-ups. Remember, the most important part is to stay relevant, organized, and focused on a topic and make it easier for learners.

I'm Manno, the founder and lead marketing strategist at Think Orion. My role revolves around assisting online education providers in crafting and implementing effective go-to-market strategies, while also guiding our team to bring these strategies to life. With a deep commitment to marketing principles, I often emphasize the importance of research, positioning, and messaging. I'm passionate about uncovering significant opportunities through innovative and creative ideas.

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Coursework vs Exams: What’s Easier? (Pros and Cons)

In A-Level , GCSE , General by Think Student Editor September 12, 2023 Leave a Comment

Coursework and exams are two different techniques used to assess students on certain subjects. Both of these methods can seem like a drag when trying to get a good grade, as they both take so many hours of work! However, is it true that one of these assessment techniques is easier than the other? Some students pick subjects specifically because they are only assessed via coursework or only assessed via exams, depending on what they find easiest. However, could there be a definite answer to what is the easiest?

If you want to discover whether coursework or exams are easier and the pros and cons of these methods, check out the rest of this article!

Disclaimer: This article is solely based on one student’s opinion. Every student has different perspectives on whether coursework or exams are easier. Therefore, the views expressed in this article may not align with your own.

Table of Contents

Coursework vs exams: what’s easier?

The truth is that whether you find coursework or exams easier depends on you and how you like to work. Different students learn best in different ways and as a result, will have differing views on these two assessment methods.

Coursework requires students to complete assignments and essays throughout the year which are carefully graded and moderated. This work makes up a student’s coursework and contributes to their final grade.

In comparison, exams often only take place at the end of the year. Therefore, students are only assessed at one point in the year instead of throughout. All of a student’s work then leads up to them answering a number of exams which make up their grade.

There are pros and cons for both of these methods, depending on how you learn and are assessed best. Therefore, whether you find coursework or exams easier or not depends on each individual.

Is coursework easier than exams?

Some students believe that coursework is easier than exams. This is because it requires students to work on it all throughout the year, whilst having plenty of resources available to them.

As a result, there is less pressure on students at the end of the year, as they have gradually been able to work hard on their coursework, which then determines their grade. If you do coursework at GCSE or A-Level, you will generally have to complete an extended essay or project.

Some students find this easier than exams because they have lots of time to research and edit their essays, allowing the highest quality of work to be produced. You can discover more about coursework and tips for how to make it stand out if you check out this article from Oxford Royale.

However, some students actually find coursework harder because of the amount of time it takes and all of the research involved. Consequently, whether you prefer coursework or not depends on how you enjoy learning.

What are the cons of coursework?

As already hinted at, the main con of coursework is the amount of time it takes. In my experience, coursework was always such a drag because it took up so much of my time!

When you hear that you have to do a long essay, roughly 2000-3000 words, it sounds easily achievable. However, the amount of research you have to do is immense, and then editing and reviewing your work takes even more time.

Coursework should not be over and done within a week. It requires constant revisits and rephrasing, as you make it as professional sounding and high quality as possible. Teachers are also unable to give lots of help to students doing coursework. This is because it is supposed to be an independent project.

Teachers are able to give some advice, however not too much support. This can be difficult for students who are used to being given lots of help.

You also have to be very careful with what you actually write. If you plagiarise anything that you have written, your coursework could be disqualified. Therefore, it is very important that you pay attention to everything you write and make sure that you don’t copy explicitly from other websites. This can make coursework a risky assessment method.

You are allowed to use websites for research, however you must reference them correctly. This can be a difficult skill for some students to learn also!

What are the pros of coursework?

Some of the cons of coursework already discussed can actually be seen as pros by some students! Due to coursework being completed throughout the year, this places less pressure on students, as they don’t have to worry about final exams completely determining their grade.

Some subjects require students to sit exams and complete some coursework. However, if a student already knows that they have completed some high-quality coursework when it comes to exam season, they are less likely to place pressure on themselves. They know that their coursework could save their grade even if they don’t do very well on the exam.

A lot of coursework also requires students to decide what they want to research or investigate. This allows students to be more creative, as they decide what to research, depending on the subject. This can make school more enjoyable and also give them more ideas about what they want to do in the future.

If you are about to sit your GCSEs and are thinking that coursework is the way to go, check out this article from Think Student to discover which GCSE subjects require students to complete coursework.

What are the cons of exams?

Personally, I hated exams! Most students share this opinion. After all, so much pressure is put on students to complete a set of exams at the end of the school year. Therefore, the main con of sitting exams is the amount of pressure that students are put under.

Unlike coursework, students are unable to go back and revisit the answers to their exams over many weeks. Instead, after those 2 (ish) hours are up, you have to leave the exam hall and that’s it! Your grade will be determined from your exams.

This can be seen as not the best method, as it doesn’t take student’s performances throughout the rest of the year into account. Consequently, if a student is just having a bad day and messes up one of their exams, nothing can be done about it!

If you are struggling with exam stress at the moment, check out this article from Think Student to discover ways of dealing with it.

Exams also require an immense amount of revision which takes up time and can be difficult for students to complete. If you want to discover some revision tips, check out this article from Think Student.

What are the pros of exams?

Exams can be considered easier however because they are over with quickly. Unlike coursework, all students have to do is stay in an exam hall for a couple of hours and it’s done! If you want to discover how long GCSE exams generally last, check out this article from Think Student.

Alternatively, you can find out how long A-Level exams are in this article from Think Student. There is no need to work on one exam paper for weeks – apart from revising of course!

Revising for exams does take a while, however revising can also be beneficial because it increases a student’s knowledge. Going over information again and again means that the student is more likely to remember it and use it in real life. This differs greatly from coursework.

Finally, the main advantage of exams is that it is much harder to cheat in any way. Firstly, this includes outright cheating – there have been issues in the past with students getting other people to write their coursework essays.

However, it also includes the help you get. Some students may have an unfair advantage if their teachers offer more help and guidance with coursework than at other schools. In an exam, it is purely the student’s work.

While this doesn’t necessarily make exams easier than coursework, it does make them fairer, and is the reason why very few GCSEs now include coursework.

If you want to discover more pros and cons of exams, check out this article from AplusTopper.

What type of student is coursework and exams suited to?

You have probably already gathered from this article whether exams or coursework are easier. This is because it all depends on you. Hopefully, the pros and cons outlined have helped you to decide whether exams or coursework is the best assessment method for you.

If you work well under pressure and prefer getting assessed all at once instead of gradually throughout the year, then exams will probably be easier for you. This is also true if you are the kind of person that leaves schoolwork till the last minute! Coursework will definitely be seen as difficult for you if you are known for doing this!

However, if, like me, you buckle under pressure and prefer having lots of time to research and write a perfect essay, then you may find coursework easier. Despite this, most GCSE subjects are assessed via exams. Therefore, you won’t be able to escape all exams!

As a result, it can be useful to find strategies that will help you work through them. This article from Think Student details a range of skills and techniques which could be useful to use when you are in an exam situation.

Exams and coursework are both difficult in their own ways – after all, they are used to thoroughly assess you! Depending on how you work best, it is your decision to decide whether one is easier than the other and which assessment method this is.

How to Write a Course Description: Examples & Templates

February 13, 2023

For something that’s usually only a bit longer than the average tweet, a course description is a surprisingly powerful marketing tool. In fact, your course descriptions are one of the last marketing messages students see before they click “enroll.” Short but important, these can be tricky to write. That’s why we’ve put together some course description examples that will hook students and make your job easier. (If you’re wondering whether you should use AI to write your course descriptions , we wrote a whole separate article on that.)

Use these course description examples and our template below to write your own course descriptions that entice students to click “Register now!”

Along with sharing our list of best practices, we’ll dissect a series of examples so you can see exactly what works and why. Use these course description templates to make creating your course catalog a breeze! 

Course Description Example 1: Get Students “Hooked”

Open every course description with a sentence that “hooks” the reader and then conveys the essential information in an accessible and engaging way. A hook can be anything that captures the prospective student’s attention or encourages them to keep reading. 

These can take a variety of forms, including:

• A callout to a specific audience.  Example: For a class on poker strategy, your “hook” could read, “ Calling all card sharks for this 4-week class that will transform your poker game as you learn how to read your opponents, spot tells, understand game theory, check-raise, bluff, and more.” 

Hooking the attention of your ideal student is important, but it’s just part of what a strong first line can do. You can pack a lot of information into this one sentence! 

Course Description Example 2: Keywords, Keywords, Keywords

Keywords help search engines find your course descriptions , which helps students find them too. When you write a course description, try to use the words a student is likely to use to search for courses on that topic. Use a tool like Semrush or Moz to do some keyword research. Find keywords that you can target and build your course description around those terms. 

But don’t go overboard. Remember that course descriptions are supposed to help the student, not just fit an algorithm. Use the keywords that make sense in context and relate closely to your program. 

Here’s an example of a course description that uses keywords effectively: 

Course Title: Breaking and Baking Bread

Course Description: Not your average bread baking class, this 6-week course shares the joy of making bread from scratch by breaking down the essentials of a great starter and giving expert tips about yeast and flour. You will bake breads such as sourdough, rye, brioche, challah, ciabatta, and popovers while learning about oven heating, mixing, kneading, fermenting, egg washing, and more. Your guests will clamor for the bread basket at your kitchen table and luxuriate in the smell of warm bread in your home after you become part of the ancient tradition of bread baking . 

This course description uses variations on the keyword “bread baking” to optimize for SEO. Try to use your selected keyword in the course title. Include three to five relevant keywords in the description as long as it sounds natural to do so.

Course Description Example 3: Outcomes Over Operations

While instructors tend to focus on things like course mechanics, lessons, and assignments, prospective students are more interested in what they’ll gain from taking the course. Will they earn a certification ? Will they be a member of a group? Will they have a new skill to put on their resume? 

Use the course description to tell students about the outcome, such as:

• A formal certification 
• An advanced understanding of the topic
• Access to an exclusive group 
• A tangible skill or experience
• A portfolio 

The outcome should be closely related to the class topic and something that the student is likely to value. For example, a course on finance might promise students a personalized plan for reducing debt while a course on fashion might help students define their own style. Outlining these outcomes helps the student recognize the value the course will bring to their life. It can also set your courses apart from others on the same topic.

The SWBAT strategy can help define the outcome students can expect from a course. This stands for “Students Will Be Able To …” by the end of the class. 

Define your program’s brand promise — the commitment you make to your students about the quality, value, and benefits of your classes — by pinpointing the outcome students can expect from each class. A simple way to do that in your course descriptions is by using the SWBAT strategy: this stands for “Students Will Be Able To …” by the end of the class. Whether it’s paint with watercolors, speak basic Spanish, or play a song on the piano, highlight the specific outcome for students.

Here’s an example of a course description that focuses on the outcome:

Course Title: Finding Your Voice Through Songwriting 

Course Description: Make music that expresses your true self in this 12-session class that studies wordplay, poetry, and phonics to help you write lyrics that resonate. You’ll write and workshop two full songs and perform one at the final class meeting so you can experience the full process of songwriting , from ideating and conceptualizing to drafting, editing, revising, and finalizing. You’ll break down classic songs, mix melodies, and learn how legendary songwriters mastered their craft to gain a new appreciation for the art of making music. 

This description outlines several outcomes:

• Writing two full songs
• Experiencing the full process of songwriting

Each of these might be useful to the student on their own, but together they make for a unique and valuable course.

Course Description Template

We’ve covered a lot of examples, but let’s cut right to the heart of the matter.

A template that works for nearly every course description looks like this:

Course Title: Topic + Intended Audience (or) Topic + Outcome

Examples:  

• Topic + Intended Audience: Mindful Parenting for Busy Parents
• Topic + Outcome: Storytelling Through Portrait Photography

Course Description:

Sentence 1 hooks the reader by including the important information in an accessible, interesting way. 

Sentences 2-4 tell students what they gain from taking the course and include keywords. 

Sentence 5 tells students how to register. 

You can add a few more sentences if you need extra space to truly explain your outcomes and course structure. Just don’t get too lost in the details. If you do need to provide a lot of supplementary information like materials lists or policies, consider adding those as an attachment students can download and review. 

Here’s an example of how a course description comes together. 

Course Title: Make Your Home Garden Grow

Course Description: (1) Whether you have a green thumb or a brown one, this 8-session class will teach you how to grow and maintain an indoor garden of peperomia, snake plant, philodendron, English ivy, hoya, pothos, and calathea. (2-4) No matter the size of your space, you’ll create a thriving forest of greenery and gain access to a virtual gardening library which includes a comprehensive care spreadsheet for 200+ common houseplants, a guide to watering, an encyclopedia of perennials, and a manual for pruning. With a live online class format, you’ll get to work in your own garden space while learning about soil composition, sun exposure, seed germination, pest control, tool care, and more. (5) Register now!

A course description like this moves students to want to register. So make it simple for them to do. CourseStorm makes course registration simple and seamless. Add registration links directly to your course descriptions so students can go from interested to registered quickly and easily. Contact us today to get started or start your free trial now.

Nic is skilled in scaling start-up edtech and education organizations to growth-stage success through innovative marketing. A former journalist and copywriter, Nic holds a postgraduate certificate in digital and print publishing from Columbia University School of Journalism's publishing course.

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Blog Marketing How to Create an Engaging Online Course in 10 Steps [+ Customizable Course Templates]

How to Create an Engaging Online Course in 10 Steps [+ Customizable Course Templates]

Written by: iSprings Solutions May 27, 2021

Online learning, or eLearning, offers several advantages to today’s learners, whether they are in the workplace, an academic setting or anywhere else.

The benefits of setting up online courses include the ability to scale instruction to reach a wider audience than traditional live, classroom-based training, and at a lower cost too.

By making use of interactive elements such as interactive quizzes, dialogue simulations, scenarios, and multimedia, eLearning is a highly engaging medium that can drive customer engagement and conversion.

With these many advantages, it’s no surprise that the eLearning industry is booming. If you’re ready to start creating online courses , follow our 10-step strategy to set yourself out on the path for success.

You can then start creating online courses’ materials for your business with  Venngage for Marketers . We offer templates in presentation format that can easily be exported as PowerPoint files to be used for any online courses.

START CREATING FOR FREE

Click to jump ahead:

• Decide on the course topic
• Define learning goals and objectives
• Organize the work with SMEs and stakeholders
• Create an online training course storyboard
• Write the script
• Make an online course in an authoring tool (+ customizable course templates)
• Add assessments
• Publish the course
• Share the course
• Collect feedback about the course

Step 1: Decide on the course topic

The first thing you need to do is define the topic of the course.

There may be different approaches to this issue, depending on what you’re developing it for. For example, if you’re going to create your own online course to sell it online and make money, the smartest thing is to choose a niche in your expertise and a topic that you know inside out.

Venngage, for example, offers courses and webinars for visual communication, infographic design and marketing best practices:

CHECK OUT VENNGAGE COURSES

To start design your course, think of the audience you’re targeting and what problems they may be facing that you can solve.

For example, you might find that your customers want to use visuals in their communications but they’re lacking design skills. You can solve this problem by offering an easy design solution and a comprehensive course on how to use the platform for non-designers.

Conduct an in-depth analysis of what you can provide to your customers and what differentiates your course from others. This will serve as the base for your next steps, which involve defining course objectives, writing course script, and more.

CREATE THIS DIAGRAM TEMPLATE

Note : Based on the content, you might be better off creating a webinar instead of a course. Check out our comprehensive guide on webinars and how to best create one.

Of course, there’s another approach to choosing a topic if you’re going to create online classes for employee training. Here, you need to strengthen your employees’ weak points and foster their growth zones.

Consider using an employee skills training matrix to help you easily identify existing skills, find potential skill gaps, and decide on what course an employee needs to take to improve their skills.

CREATE THIS ROADMAP TEMPLATE

Return to Table of Contents

Step 2: Define learning goals and objectives

A learning objective is a concise way of stating what the expected outcome is for the learner upon completion of the course; in short, it’s what they’ll be able to do after gaining skills or knowledge during the instruction.

In the workplace, this often corresponds to behavior when on the job. For example, learning objectives could include:

• Describe the features of a new product
• Change a tire on a car correctly
• Select the most appropriate item to recommend to your customer based on their unique needs

You may notice that each objective begins with a verb, or an “action word.”

Additionally, each objective is something that can be observed and measured. It’s clear when someone performs these tasks correctly, and you could provide feedback or guidance if they are unable to perform the task (hint: connect your learning objectives to your assessment, which we’ll discuss later in the article).

For the best results, when writing learning goals and objectives, think SMART . SMART goals, with their detailed structure, give a clear idea of what your learners need to achieve.

CREATE THIS INFOGRAPHIC TEMPLATE

Learning objectives provide a roadmap for both you and the learner alike.

As the designer, learning objectives are your north star that determines which content you should and shouldn’t include in your course.

Objectives also provide similar guidance to your learners by answering the question, “What’s in it for me?” and telling them what they should expect to gain from the course.

Step 3: Organize the work with SMEs and stakeholders

Throughout the course development process, you’ll work with both subject matter experts (SMEs) and stakeholders. We define each role as:

For example, if you’re creating a sales training course, your SMEs may include the VP of Sales, sales managers, and even the salespeople themselves. Your additional stakeholders might be the executives who commissioned the course and/or the project manager who is tasked with overseeing the rollout of the new training initiative.

It’s important to define roles and responsibilities for both your SMEs and stakeholders early in the design process, to help ensure smooth course development.

By determining who should be involved at what point in the process and what their responsibilities are regarding providing and reviewing the course’s content, you’ll run less risk of revisions and reworks once you start building the course.

Customize this communication plan and share it with your SMEs and stakeholders to help them get involved in the process:

CREATE THIS PLAN TEMPLATE

Step 4: Create an online training course storyboard

After compiling all the information that will go into your course, the next step is to map it out in what is known as a “storyboard.” This could be in the form of a document or presentation deck, or even a rough prototype or mock-up of what the final product could look like.

The purpose of the storyboard is for your SMEs and stakeholders to review the course content and sequence of activities before building anything in the authoring tool.

In addition to the written content, also include any images, multimedia (such as videos or podcasts), and navigational directions for how the learners will progress through the course. You will want to give your reviewers a complete understanding of what the course and each microlearning module that it will include will look and feel like.

Here’s an example of the eLearning storyboard for an intro slide in the course:

You can also use this template to create your storyboard, add images, icons or illustrations to it and export it as a PNG or PDF that you can share with your stakeholders:

It is much simpler and faster to make changes in a document at this early stage than it is later in the process. The investment of time spent creating a storyboard is time well spent, as you will be rewarded with a faster course building and review experience later in the development process.

Related: 25+ Free Online Teaching Resources For University Professors

Step 5: Write the script

Similar to a play or a movie, your course script includes all audio narration as well as all on-screen text. The instructional designer must write this course copy based on the information provided by the SME(s), which could come from any number or type of source files.

During this step, it’s important to consider not only how the words sound, but how they look on screen. Here are some tips on how to write a good script for your online course:

Read the script out loud to yourself as you write it

If you get tongue-tied or confused while reading it, then it won’t sound good to your learners either.

Aim for short, concise sentences

If your learners are likely to complete your course on mobile devices, you may also want to make use of short passages of text that learners can read with a minimum of scrolling.

Write like how you (and your audiences) speak

Ultimately, your course’s content will be more engaging and effective if it reads like it was written (and narrated!) by a human being, and not a robot.

Think of your audiences while you’re writing the script as well, and make sure you cover the “What’s In It For Me” aspect well in your copy.

Related :  How to Design an Outstanding Webinar [Free Ebook + Templates]

Once you’ve done writing your script, you can use this template to help you write a course outline that can be shared with your stakeholders or use in the official course:

Step 6: Create your online course in an authoring tool

Once your storyboard and script have been approved by your stakeholders, you’re ready to begin building the online course.

The authoring tool is the software in which the course comes to life. If you have some experience in instructional design, you’ve probably come across with tools like Articulate 360 or Adobe Captivate. They are quite popular but definitely require training for a novice course developer.

If you’re not ready to invest time in training and want to start building courses with no prior knowledge in instructional design, you might want to try a tool with a familiar interface and no learning curve.

For example, iSpring Suite uses PowerPoint as a basis. So, you can build a course the same way that you create a presentation and then publish it to an online format in a couple of clicks.

A slide from a course created with iSpring Suite

To make content development even faster, you can use ready-made course templates. For instance, iSpring has its Content Library with templates that include basic course elements: a title slide, a table of contents, chapters, a timeline, and more.

You can also customize Venngage’s easy-to-edit  webinar templates , export your design as PowerPoint slides and use them for your courses. Here are some great ones you might want to use:

Product onboarding webinar presentation template

This template was created for Venngage’s  Infographic Masterclass , but you can easily edit it to use for any product onboarding courses:

CREATE THIS PRESENTATION TEMPLATE

Phishing threats employee training template

You can use this template as is or add any additional slides easily. With a Business account, you can apply your branding elements to your design and export it as a .pptx file to present with PowerPoint or Google Slides in just several clicks.

Anxiety presentation online course template

This can easily be customized for any courses that tackle a new or complicated concept/process that needs explaining for your employees, especially new hires:

Here, you’ll also find some chart and other infographic templates that you can leverage for your courses to make them even more effective and professional looking.

For example, you can use this simple flowchart as a slide or a separate PDF for your course on workplace violence policy and program.

CREATE THIS CHART TEMPLATE

You can easily customize this template for your course overview or for a course that spreads over multiple sessions (click to see the full infographic).

Step 7: Add assessments to your online course

Think back to your learning objectives. What measurable, observable actions are your learners expected to perform upon completion of the course?

It’s now time to create assessments to determine if your learners have mastered the content or not. Many authoring tools typically include a quiz maker that allows you to build online tests.

For example, iSpring Suite provides a variety of assessment options, ranging from traditional multiple-choice and true/false style tests, to fill-in-the-blank and moving objects on the screen (known as “drag-and-drop”).

A slide from a quiz created with iSpring Suite

Assessments can happen during the presentation of the course as well, especially if you’re presenting live and trying to engage your learners. Before introducing this slide, for example, you can add another slide that asks your learners different ways they’ve used to spot a phishing email:

Assessment can be as active and impactful as the instruction itself, and the creation of the assessment can be as easy as the course creation, thanks to the inclusion of pre-built common assessment methods in the authoring tool.

The use of feedback based on learners’ answers or overall performance can also add an interactive, educational component to the overall experience, serving to reinforce any important concepts.

Step 8: Publish the course

Once your course meets the approval of your stakeholders, it’s time to publish!

This is the exciting moment where your course goes live for your learners or for a pilot group. Based on how simple course creation and the creation of assessments are, it may come as no surprise that publishing is just as easy.

Simply click “Publish,” and your authoring tool will output a file that is ready to be uploaded to your hosting service, such as a learning management system (LMS) , website, or even YouTube.

Step 9: Share the course

As mentioned, there are different platforms for online course sharing . We’ll consider the most convenient and effective ones, depending on various cases:

Academic LMSs

These platforms are designed specifically for teaching students. Some popular academic LMSs include Moodle, Blackboard, and Schoology.

Acamedic LMSs allow tracking students’ progress through their grading system and provide gradebooks for monitoring attendance and assignment results.

They also have the time frames that are specific for educational institutions like semesters, trimesters, and quarters, as well as capabilities for creating student groups for class projects.

Corporate LMSs

Some popular corporate LMSs include iSpring Learn, Docebo, TalentLMS, and Adobe Captivate Prime. These platforms provide access to learning materials online and automate various aspects of training processes, but they’re typically more flexible from the point of view of course timeline and reporting to fit all business needs.

Course selling platforms

These are online course hosting platforms specifically designed for managing and selling training content. They have everything a user might need to build, host, and sell courses . Here are just a few big players: iSpring Market, Udemy, Thinkific, Teachable, and Kajabi.

Step 10: Collect feedback about the course

After your learners take a course, ask them to give feedback on how they liked it. This experience will help you understand what is good about your course and if it needs to be improved.

To collect feedback, you might create a survey with an authoring tool of your choice or Google Forms and share it online with your learners. Or you can use the Venngage template feedback form and tailor it to your needs:

CREATE THIS FEEDBACK FORM TEMPLATE

Final thoughts: Create an effective online course full of visuals to best engage learners

eLearning is a powerful solution businesses to engage, increase and convert their audiences.

Whether you’d like to create online courses, online quizzes or both, following a strategy for the design and development of your content helps to ensure high-quality results.

Empower your learners to achieve both their goals and the goals of your organization by presenting them with content that is engaging, interactive, and relevant to their needs. With most people learning better with visuals , it’s best to incorpo27rate images, icons and illustrations in your course materials.

You can start designing your own online course for free with Venngage. There are lots of fully customizable templates that you can easily edit with Venngage’s drag-and-drop editor, no design experience required.

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• Resume and Cover Letter
• How to Include Relevant...

How to Include Relevant Coursework on a Resume (with Examples)

13 min read · Updated on September 11, 2023

If you are a recent graduate struggling with a lack of work experience, knowing how to include relevant coursework on a resume can be one of the best ways to create a more compelling resume narrative.

One thing that many recent college graduates have in common with one another is a general lack of work experience. That lack of experience can sometimes make it difficult for them to construct a resume that sells their potential to be the best candidate for a job. Fortunately, there are ways to still create a strong and compelling resume, even without experience. For example, did you take classes that might be relevant to the position? If so, including relevant coursework on your resume may be the perfect solution to your resume challenges.

In this post, we will explain how you can identify relevant coursework and where it should be listed in your resume. We will also include several examples of relevant coursework on a resume so that you can see the best options for using these details to strengthen your job search efforts.

What is relevant coursework?

Of course, when we talk about relevant coursework, we are talking about those classes and educational activities that have direct relevance to the position you are seeking. The first thing you need to recognize is that many of the classes you took during your college career will not need to be included in your resume. After all, most degrees require that students complete any number of basic foundational courses that will have little if any relation to their chosen job — at least from a resume standpoint. 

So, what types of classes, achievements, and activities should you focus on as you identify suitable courses to add to your resume? While this sounds like a simple question, it actually requires some serious thought and evaluation. Fortunately, there are some basic rules that you can follow as you make that determination. Below are just some of the potentially relevant things that you might want to include in your resume: 

Coursework that demonstrates that you have a foundation of knowledge in a required aspect of the job you are seeking. For example, if communication skills are needed for the position, you should include courses that focused on business communications, writing, etc.

Projects that are related to particular job skills. For a marketing position, you should include any marketing-related projects you completed during your studies. Or you could include research projects you engaged in if you are seeking a job where research skills are essential.

Academic achievements can also be included, including notably high GPA scores or awards you received. Also, be sure to include any related extracurricular activities. That could include everything from clubs to sporting activities if they helped you develop skills that would be useful for the job.

Again, do not include coursework that has no bearing on the job at hand. This will require you to carefully consider each course to determine its relevance. One way to do that is to read the job posting and select keywords and phrases of import that seem to be describing the skills or educational qualifications needed for the job. Then go through your coursework and try to match courses to those skills. As you do so, remember that some basic courses like those involving communication—both written and verbal—may be included, since communication is one of those soft skills that every company values .

You can learn more about the difference between hard and soft skills by reading our excellent article, Key Differences Between Hard Skills and Soft Skills . A better understanding of those critical soft skills can help to ensure that you don't underestimate the value of any of your classes. There's a great chance that you have more marketable soft skills than you realize! 

When should you include relevant courses on your resume?

Before you add your job-related classes to your resume, you should decide whether it is necessary. For example, you can almost certainly benefit from including your relevant coursework on your resume if: 

You recently graduated from school or are beginning the process of looking for a job because you are close to graduation. Students and recent graduates typically have little or no real job experience to highlight skills. Fortunately, their studies and project assignments will likely have helped them to develop important skills that they can highlight in their resumes.

Your educational achievements are necessary to qualify for the position you are seeking. In those instances, your prospective employer will be interested in knowing that you have fulfilled those requirements and have the basic knowledge needed for the position.

There may also be times when you need to include coursework even after you have been in the workforce for some time. For example, if you are switching careers and your current work experience does not include the skills needed for your new job, that may not matter as much if you can show that your studies prepared you for the role. 

Including coursework related to your minor

As you select relevant coursework for your resume, don't forget to consider courses of study related to your minor too. Hopefully, you will have selected a minor that is at least tangentially related to your desired career path. If so, then chances are that some of the courses you completed may have some relevance that can translate to a useful resume listing. For more information about minors and when they can be added to your resume, read How to Include a Minor on Your Resume .

When should I take coursework off my resume?

Obviously, there will be times when you should forgo any mention of your courses in your resume. Some examples of situations where you might not need to list your specific coursework include:

When your coursework is not really relevant to the position you seek. Including irrelevant coursework could actually distract from your important skills and experiences.

Situations in which coursework was completed so long ago that the information is no longer useful. For instance, many technology-related courses can lose their value over time. Other examples include old marketing courses and other educational achievements that involve skills that have evolved rapidly in recent years.

If your resume is already filled with enough work experience and skills that there is no need or room for specific course details. Remember, you want to add your courses to enhance your value as an employee. If adding a particular course does nothing more than add length to the resume, skip it. 

Where should relevant coursework be listed in your resume?

In most resumes, the coursework should be placed in the education section, with a subheading titled “Relevant Coursework.” When creating this part of the education section, you should insert the subheading under the name of your degree, with a list of the courses you studied. For example:

Bachelor's in [Name of Degree]

[College Name, City, Graduation Date]

Relevant Coursework: [Course 1], [Course 2], [Course 3], [Course 4], [Course 5]

Alternatively, you can also opt to show your courses in a bullet-point list if your resume is short and you need to fill more space. You can even elaborate on each course with a few words to describe the skills you learned in class. For example:

Relevant Coursework:

If you have no actual work experience, you may even want to consider using your education section as a substitute for that experience section. If you choose that option, you may want to place the education section closer to the top of your resume and flesh out each course in the same way you would detail a job listing in your work experience section. That means using detailed descriptions that include quantifiable results highlighting your achievements.

Key tips to remember when listing relevant coursework

Before we show you some examples of how to list relevant coursework on your resume, there are a few tips that can help to ensure that your final product is as compelling as possible. By incorporating these ideas into your resume creation process, you can more effectively make that all-important great first impression on any hiring manager.

Only list relevant coursework if you lack sufficient work experience to meet the job requirements.

Always make sure that the courses you list highlight skills and knowledge needed for the position. If a course has nothing to do with your chosen line of work, it has no place in your resume.

Relevant courses may be related to hard and soft skills.

If you choose to use descriptions for each course, use that as an opportunity to insert relevant keywords from the job description. This can be a great way to ensure that your resume can get past any applicant tracking system .

Always proofread your entire resume to eliminate spelling mistakes, punctuation and grammar errors, and style or formatting discrepancies.

Make sure that you tailor your resume to fit the job you want. Since you will likely be applying for different jobs during your job search, you may need to modify your educational coursework details to align with the needs of each position.

Do not forget to include important skill information in your coursework descriptions. Again, try to use those job description keywords.

If you are maintaining an updated resume throughout your educational career, be sure to continually edit your resume as your coursework evolves over time. This can make it easier to keep it updated and can save you some time when your job search begins.

3 Examples of relevant coursework on a resume

In this final section, we will explore some different examples to show you how you can successfully incorporate relevant coursework into your resume. We have included a couple of examples of the most basic listing options, as well as an expanded sample that enables you to provide more details and skills. You can refer to these samples and use them as guides as you create your own relevant coursework section.

Example #1: The Basics

Bachelor's in Information Technology

My College, Anytown 2022

Relevant Coursework: Cyber Security 101, Business Intelligence, Application Development, Networking and Telecom, Artificial Intelligence

This simple listing would be a good option for anyone who has at least some relevant work experience but who still needs an additional boost to meet the job requirements. In this case, the job seeker's coursework listing is presented in a minimalist format, documenting the specific courses and areas of focus—but without any other information about those studies.

Example #2: Bulletpoint List of Courses

Cyber Security 101

Business Intelligence

Application Development

Networking and Telecom

Artificial Intelligence

This option is similar to the first example but presents the classes and areas of focus as separate bullet points. This provides additional emphasis for each area of study, while also taking up a bit more space in the resume. This can be a great option if your resume is a little short and you need to expand the content.

Example #3: Detailed Format

My College, Anytown

Completed in 2022

Certified Cyber Security Expert, skilled in protecting data, information, and infrastructure.

Coursework included training on risk analysis, threat mitigation, compliance assurance, and cloud security.

Completed multiple projects and research assignments designed to test knowledge and adaptability to various types of cyber threats.

 Business Intelligence

Business analytics certificate, training focused on data interpretation and communication to resolve business problems with a data mindset.

Course included 3 projects testing analytical skills using hypothetical business challenges based on real-world business scenarios.

 Application Development

Courses focused on the development of software coding skills used for web application creation, troubleshooting, and debugging.

Final course project involved the creation of an independent web app to streamline online sales processes for a test company.

Training focused on routing, packet switching, and cybersecurity needs.

Spent eight weeks as a volunteer networking intern for a local ISP, receiving hands-on training from experienced networking professionals.

AI and machine learning studies, emphasizing tech integration into business processes, impact on sales and marketing, and ethical concerns.

Conducted study for the course final, evaluating potential AI benefits for enhanced marketing in the digital age and impact on online sales.

This more detailed example is a superior option for those who have no work experience and need their educational credentials to highlight their skills. In this sample, each area of interest is accompanied by bullet point details describing the types of courses studied and the lessons or skills developed during those classes. In addition, bullet points are added to highlight specific achievements, describe studies and real-world application of skills, and demonstrate competency in the subject matter.

This type of format can enable your coursework section to serve as a replacement for work experience if you have never been employed. When used for that purpose, you can expand on each course listing to include additional skills and keywords from the job post. Simply add new bullet points where needed to flesh out each area of emphasis.

Again, if you choose to replace your work experience section with this relevant coursework section, make sure that you move this section closer to the top of your resume so that it receives more prominence. Basically, if your strongest selling point is your education, then make sure that your important courses are one of the first things that a prospective employer sees. Also, you may want to highlight your educational qualifications in your resume summary so that the reader expects to see those coursework details.

Don't underestimate the power of a well-crafted and compelling resume

Finally, it is important to reiterate just how vital it is that your resume makes the best possible impression. When you approach the labor market with little or no work experience, you are usually already at a competitive disadvantage. There will almost always be someone else who has a similar level of skill and educational background, as well as real-world experience. To compete against a qualified rival, you need a resume that can effectively sell you as the best candidate for the job.

For recent graduates and job seekers moving to entirely new careers, a lack of relevant work experience can be a major impediment to landing job interviews and employment offers. One way to overcome this obstacle is to learn how to use relevant educational coursework on your resume to highlight your qualifications and skills. Hopefully, this post and its resume examples can provide you with the inspiration and help you need to translate your educational experience into a compelling resume narrative. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that your resume effectively positions you to have the best chance at landing any interview and job. To make sure that your resume is up to par, get a  free resume review  today. And if you really want to be sure that your resume is ready for prime time, take a few moments to discover just how easy it is to get professional resume assistance from our team of experts!

Recommended Reading:

What Should I Say About My Education On My Resume?

Ask Amanda: What's the Best Way to List Education on a Resume?

14 Reasons This is a Perfect Recent College Grad Resume Example

Related Articles:

Do Hiring Managers Actually Read Cover Letters?

How to Create a Resume With No Education

From Bland to Beautiful: How We Made This Professional's Resume Shine

See how your resume stacks up.

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... reflected light from interplanetary dust (May, 2008).

According to May (2008), the telescopes were not strong enough to ...

"...radial velocity measurements may indicate a significant interstellar component in the dust" (May, 2008, p. 59)

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Huang, Z. (2023) Spatial Interfaces and user design . PhD thesis. Robert Gordon University. Available at: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/880907 (Accessed: 25 July 2024).

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