Individual Course

Fundamentals of Writing: A Harvard Framework for College Success

Course Length

5 weeks

4–5 hours per week

Featuring faculty from:

Harvard Faculty of Arts & Sciences

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Class:

Certificate Price:

$ 650

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Prepare your student for college-level writing now.

This Harvard-designed online course—led by professor and prize-winning author Martin Puchner and featuring current Harvard students—gives high school writers a clear path to writing college-ready essays. Learners will choose a topic they care about, follow a proven step-by-step process, receive practical checklists and examples, and learn how to use AI in ways that enhance their learning process. Along the way, they will be introduced to the fundamentals of research and argumentation , such as gathering evidence, framing arguable claims, avoiding logical fallacies and revising for precision and impact. By the end, learners will hold a completed essay and a repeatable method they can rely on throughout their career.

Instructor-Paced

Harvard Online

Industries:

Education
Other Non-profit

Learning Outcomes
Write Essays To Be Proud Of
Learning Outcomes
Understand How College Writing Works
Learning Outcomes
Understand AI’s Place in the Writing Process

Learn from real case studies
Do it on your own time
Get a certificate, add it to your resume
Be part of the Harvard Community

Syllabus

This course gives gives writers the tools they need for success in college and beyond. Participants will learn how to choose a topic, frame arguable claims, gather and organize evidence, draft with intent, and revise for precision and impact. By the end, learners will hold a completed essay and a repeatable method they can rely on throughout their academic career—so their ideas come through clearly, credibly, and in their own voice.

Download Full Syllabus

Writing as Thinking

Writing as Research

Writing as Writing

Writing as Revision

Faculty

Industry Experts

Your Instructor

Martin Puchner

Byron and Anita Wien Professor of Drama and of English and Comparative Literature, Harvard University

Martin Puchner is the Byron and Anita Wien Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University. His prize-winning books range from philosophy and the arts to technology and include the Norton Anthology of World Literature, which has brought 4000 years of literature to students across the globe; The Written World, a Wall Street Journal bestseller that has been translated into twenty-five languages; and Literature for a Changing Planet, which draws lessons from world literature for addressing climate change. His most recent book, Culture: The Story of Us, from Cave Art to K-Pop is a global history of the arts and humanities. His personalized chatbots let users converse with Socrates, the Buddha and many others. He is a member of the European Academy and has received numerous awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, a Cullman Fellowship, the Berlin Prize, the Humboldt Prize and the Massachusetts Book Award. He writes on culture and the arts on his Substack: https://martinpuchner.substack.com.

Industry Expert

Izumi

Student, Harvard College

Izumi is a Harvard College student studying History of Science on the pre-med track.

Industry Expert

Kelly

Student, Harvard College

Kelly is a Harvard College student who is interested in writing about philosophy, feminist literature, and poetry analysis.

Industry Expert

Joseph

Student, Harvard College

Joseph is a Harvard College student from Singapore who enjoys badminton and zombie movies.

Industry Expert

Nico

Student, Harvard College

Nico is a student at Harvard College studying Environmental Science and Public Policy, focusing on climate change and health.

FAQs

Are there discounts available for this course?

I heard about a beta for this course, but I don’t see it listed on the course page.

What are the age requirements for this course?

What are the learning requirements and how are grades assigned?

You are expected to complete all coursework in a thoughtful and timely way. This includes completing the modules and fully answering the questions in each module between the course start and end dates so that the cohort can move through the course at a similar pace and benefit from social learning opportunities. ⁠In addition to completing modules and assignments, you are expected to provide feedback on other learners’ reflections and contribute to discussions on the platform.

⁠You can set your own daily or weekly routine and adjust it as needed, but to receive your certificate you must complete all modules and assignments by the stated course end date. Learners who do not complete the course requirements will not receive a certificate and will not be eligible to retake the course. No letter grades are assigned for this course; your participation is evaluated on a complete or incomplete basis.

For detailed information about technology and bandwidth requirements, please see our full Harvard Online FAQs.

What happens after I complete this course?

Upon successful completion of this program, you will receive a digital Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online. Our team reviews all participant coursework after the final deadline in your course, and, once eligibility is confirmed, your Certified Electronic Credential will be delivered to your email address.

You will have access to the materials in every prior module as you progress through the program. Access to course materials and the course platform ends 60 days after the final deadline in the program.

At the end of the course, you will be able to download a PDF summary highlighting key concepts that were introduced throughout the course. We hope the summary document will serve as a helpful resource after you finish the course.

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Past Participant Discounts

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program can receive a 30% discount, automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the edX platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount using a discount code. Please check your email for a code or contact us.