Becoming a Great Essayist
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer Cognard-Black
About this listen
If you have a clever anecdote, an interesting memory, a new way to explain how something works, or an opinion on a social or political issue, then you have an essay in you. Unlike a novel, history book, or scientific publication, essays provide you with the versatility to express all the various facets that make you you. The concise and direct nature of an essay means that you may tap in to your sense of wit, share your individual point of view, persuade others to your perspective, and record a part of your memories for future generations in as many distinct essay forms as you wish. The essay is, above all else, one of the most profoundly personal outlets for writing.
Discover the keys to unlocking your potential in essay writing with Becoming a Great Essayist. These 24 illuminating lectures explore numerous genres or types of essays, challenge you with stimulating writing prompts, and provide insights into how to get to know yourself like never before so that you may write honest, compelling, and great essays. And because essays are so flexible in their style and function, the skills you build writing great essays may be applied to almost all other forms of writing.
While the goal of this course is to provide you with fundamental abilities that will improve your essays, the skills you will learn also provide a foundation to develop any writing project you undertake. This is an unrivalled opportunity to advance your critical and creative thinking skills, enhance your ability to master a strong and persuasive style, and, most importantly, get to know your own inner voice.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
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In July 1995, San Jose Mercury-News reporter Gary Webb found the Big One - the blockbuster story every journalist secretly dreams about - without even looking for it. A simple phone call concerning an unexceptional pending drug trial turned into a massive conspiracy involving the Nicaraguan Contra rebels, L.A. and Bay Area crack cocaine dealers, and the Central Intelligence Agency.
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Bigger than You Thought
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Great concept, interesting writing.
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English Grammar Boot Camp
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Grammar! For many of us, the word triggers memories of finger-wagging schoolteachers, and of wrestling with the ambiguous and complicated rules of using formal language. But what is grammar? In fact, it's the integral basis of how we speak and write. As such, a refined awareness of grammar opens a world of possibilities for both your pleasure in the English language and your skill in using it, in both speech and the written word.
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Spectacular
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Easy Spanish Step-by-Step is designed in such a way that each section builds upon the last to help your brain progressively create lasting and meaningful connections to each new word and grammar concept. Simply by listening and speaking out loud with us, you will naturally progress, step-by-step, toward Spanish communication and fluency.
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Best so far . . .
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Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue
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A survey of the quirks and quandaries of the English language, focusing on our strange and wonderful grammar. Why do we say "I am reading a catalog" instead of "I read a catalog"? Why do we say "do" at all? Is the way we speak a reflection of our cultural values? Delving into these provocative topics and more, Our Magnificent Bastard Tongue distills hundreds of years of fascinating lore into one lively history.
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Great for casual linguists
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What listeners say about Becoming a Great Essayist
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Fredonna Walker
- 08-10-20
Perfect instruction!
Although I’ve always been a writer, I’ve always hated writing essays. This series of lectures, however, makes it interesting and fun! I highly recommend it, if you are afraid of essay-writing or if you just need to brush up your general writing skills.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-28-17
engaging and educational
this series was incredibly educational and surprisingly captivating. the lecturer not only instructs on the elements of writing construction but hones in on great authors, showing why some compositions stand the test of time.
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3 people found this helpful
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- I buy stuff.
- 11-23-22
Excellent. Starting again
excellent. starting again now to do each task. she gives great assignments and great insight. already have come up with multiple essay ideas. and no it's about revising and revising again.
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1 person found this helpful
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- June Anne Insco
- 01-09-23
For beginners and advanced writers
Cognard-Black covers a lot of ground in a well organized series of lectures. This is the first Great Courses series I found worthwhile. I went back and listened several times to the lectures that best fit my writing areas or needs.
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- Jason
- 08-08-16
Makes you excited to write more essays
I love the break down of this course. It is not the same five paragraph writing drills, but she walks you through different types, storylines, teaches you how to make the read feel the words.
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22 people found this helpful
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- Sammy
- 02-23-17
Slow
My mind tended to wander quite a bit during the whole book. Good info just not engaging.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-22-16
Great course
This was the most interesting and easy to listen to course I've experienced. The subject matter is engrossing and the narration is excellent.
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5 people found this helpful
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- Joseph T. Hobson
- 09-10-22
Lucid!
If you really want to enhance literary and intellectual acuity, this is the book! Incredibly coarsing with erudition , wisdom and scholastic reference, this lecture series is straight out of Boston College!
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1 person found this helpful
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- Dr. Mc.
- 09-03-16
OK, not great
I disliked the cliches that pervaded the course. She actually used the "outside the box" metaphor. There was some info that was useful in writing and publishing essays, but not nearly enough. Instead there too many summaries of essays, and they were often very old ones. What you could learn from these about writing and publishing essays today was limited.
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22 people found this helpful
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- CB_1975
- 03-30-17
For person who likes to journal
This book is for someone who writes personal essays, in a journal, or possible wants to write a biography. If this is your focus, it is a good book.
This book will not help with professional writing, grammar, or style.
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12 people found this helpful