what is the meaning of coursework

What is Coursework?

Table of Contents

Definition and Meaning

So what is coursework? Coursework is an integral part of the educational process, which refers to written or practical tasks that students perform during educational courses. These assignments are typically evaluated and contribute to the final grade or mark. The coursework definition, especially the term “curriculum-mandated” signifies that instructors are required to assign coursework within certain guidelines. This aspect of academic work is crucial as it extends learning beyond the traditional classroom setting.

While some coursework may involve practical tasks conducted within the classroom, a significant portion is often completed independently by students, such as in their homes or dormitories. Notably, certain colleges in Texas are adopting policies that mandate a minimum of 20% of writing coursework to be completed in class, under the supervision of educators. This approach ensures the authenticity of students’ work and provides an opportunity for direct observation of their writing skills.

Additionally, it’s common for students to access previously submitted coursework online, serving as a resource for their own assignments. However, when utilizing such materials, it is imperative to thoroughly rewrite and adapt the content to maintain originality and avoid plagiarism.

Types and Examples of Coursework

The many faces of coursework.

So, what is coursework? Coursework isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of deal. It morphs to fit the subject, the course, and the learning objectives. Here’s a snapshot:

• Essays and Written Assignments. From reflective pieces to extensive research papers, these are staples in humanities and social sciences.
• Lab Reports and Scientific Research. Science and engineering students often get hands-on with experiments, followed by detailed reporting.
• Art and Design Portfolios. For the creatives, it’s about showcasing their artistic journey through portfolios.
• Group Projects and Presentations. These emphasize collaboration and communication skills, common in business and management courses.
• Fieldwork and Case Studies. Especially in disciplines like anthropology or marketing, where real-world application is key.

Examples in Different Fields

• Biology Coursework. Might involve a lab-based investigation into a specific biological phenomenon.
• Literature Coursework. Could be an analysis of a particular literary work or a comparative study of multiple pieces.
• Computer Science Coursework. Often involves coding projects or developing software solutions.

Importance and Objectives

More than just grades.

What is coursework? Coursework is about more than chasing an ‘A’. It’s an integral part of the learning process. Through coursework, you:

• Develop Critical Skills. Like research, analysis, and problem-solving.
• Apply Theoretical Knowledge. It’s your chance to use what you’ve learned in a practical context.
• Prepare for the Future. Whether it’s further academic pursuits or the professional world, coursework lays the groundwork.

Educational Objectives

Graduate coursework, in particular, is designed to deepen expertise in a field. It’s less about memorizing facts and more about developing a sophisticated understanding of complex concepts.

Challenges and Strategies

Common roadblocks.

• Time Management: Juggling multiple assignments can be overwhelming.
• Understanding Requirements: Sometimes, assignment briefs are as clear as mud.
• Maintaining Academic Integrity: The line between inspiration and plagiarism can get blurry.

Navigating the Coursework Maze

• Start Early: Procrastination is your enemy. Begin as soon as you get the assignment.
• Seek Clarification: If you’re not sure, ask. Better safe than sorry.
• Use Resources Wisely: Libraries, online databases, and even study groups can be goldmines.

Helpful Sources

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Merriam-Webster
• Can you attend two colleges at once ?

Final Thoughts

In a nutshell, what is coursework? Coursework is an indispensable part of the academic journey. It’s where theory meets practice, where skills are honed, and knowledge is deepened. As education continues to evolve with technology and changing societal needs, so does coursework. It adapts, transforms, and continues to play a crucial role in shaping competent, well-rounded individuals ready to take on the world. So, embrace your coursework – it’s not just a stepping stone to a grade, but a pathway to learning, growth, and success.

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What is Coursework? | Definition, Meaning & keypoints!

What is coursework.

Coursework is a practical work or study done by a student in partial fulfilment of a degree or training. Projects, field work, design studies, long essays etc constitutes a coursework. The nature of work which requires to be carried out depends on the course. It is largely a part of learning exercise and a step to prepare you to handle the required work/ task effectively and efficiently.

• folios of essays
• art and craft items
• speaking tests
• practical work
• assignments and experiments undertaken and assessed during the course

As per Oxford dictionary “Coursework” is defined as

Written or practical work done by a student during a course of study, usually assessed in order to count towards a final mark or grade.

Who assigns coursework and why?

Coursework can be assigned by your teacher or mentor. The reason can be an assessment by the teacher but in most of the cases it’s a requirement as per course structure. A coursework is meant to reflect understanding of what has been taught. How well you understand it and apply it in different situations. Your own thoughts and way of thinking about a topic is reflected in your final work. As mentioned earlier nature of coursework is very diverse. Institutions may make you to write (essays, paper, term paper, thesis etc) or make something (sculpture, are & craft related things) or take some form of test. All these activities done as a coursework award you marks or grades which are counted to evaluate your overall grade for a particular course or purpose. Your creativity, understanding, innovative aspect, talent etc are reflected in the work done by you. Some of the most widely used form of coursework include thesis, dissertations, research paper & term paper as far as writing is concerned. Model making, crafts and other similar activity is generally given when creativity aspect is to be assessed. There may be a combination of these in few cases. The whole purpose largely depends on what your course and what it prepares you to be.

Major types of coursework & how to go about them?

Students have different and mix reaction when coursework is given. Some are excited as it gives them an option to put in effort and bring out something new. They are happy and confident to present their viewpoint and grasp of the topic. While some feels it is a burden and unnecessary task and just want to get away with it. Whatever the case may be there are few guidelines and rules while writing coursework which everyone should follow. Writing a coursework can also be fun!

Some of the steps to help you get started includes:

Coursework for academic topics which require writing:

• Do some research about your topic of interest or assigned topic
• Finalize your topic
• Prepare a structure especially for long writing coursework such as thesis
• Write an abstract or summary for approval from mentor/teacher.
• Do a thorough research for collecting data , facts.
• Start writing and keep on doing the required research
• Check for plagiarism (if any) and work to remove it
• Give credits & references

What makes a good and effective content

A good and effective content is easy to read and understand by readers. Some of the points while writing a content to improve its quality are

• Well- structured
• Well Illustrated
• Predictable

Coursework requiring you to make something like model, sculpture or artwork

• Find something which you appreciate (its design, concept, through, history, significance)
• Come up with what remains the focus area for your coursework
• Decide what you wish to make and in what form eg. model (scaled or not to scale), sculpture or some craftwork
• Finalize the materials to be used such as waste materials, wax, wood, metal, plastic etc
• Collect all the required stuff for making your masterpiece
• Have a mental image prepared and preferably a rough sketch
• Get working!

Key points to be kept in mind while working on coursework

• Originality – Your topic/ idea should be original. Originality of idea is given significant importance and can be a deal breaker. This is not just of the requirement in most of the cases but also a scoring parameter. There are countless number of students and scholars doing research so having an original idea keeps you on positive side. Some students prefer contacting  SmartWritingService coursework writing service to get professional help from experts.
• Need – If you coursework is solution oriented then you must clearly identify the key problems and issues which you aim to cover under your work. A good solution cannot be provided unless the problem has been understood well.
• Uniqueness – Uniqueness in terms of idea and work. Preparing good questionnaires and conducting surveys adds to uniqueness and originality of content. Not only your topic and but also content should be unique. Avoid plagiarism, copying is a strict “NO”. Any form and extent of plagiarism is dealt seriously if caught and can even disqualify your submission.
• Your Input – This is the most crucial aspect. Your inputs will reflect the understanding and applicability of topic by you. This is the whole purpose of having a coursework. Try your best and put best foot forward. Having a well structured and presented work is something a teacher and mentor is looking for.
• Outcomes & way forward – Having worked and making lots of efforts doesn’t have much value unless useful outcomes are shown. Having a good & meaningful analysis and presentation of data with the  best data extraction service is an essential factor. These can be in form of proposals or problem identification. Your work might conclude your topic or pave a path for others to continue working. Depending on the work and nature of coursework give a conclusion to your study and propose what can be done next or how it can be used.

Coursework & Higher Education

Doctorates are the highest degrees conferred by universities. An online or on campus doctorate can lead to a high-level position in a number of different fields, from business administration to health care to quality control. The lengthy road to earning a doctorate can be shortened by at least several months through online study.

The doctorate degree requires two to five years of postgraduate work, the writing of a thesis, and the passing of oral and written examinations. Most doctoral degrees are the doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) degree, although recipients of this degree may have studied a number of academic fields other than philosophy.

Doctorate degrees are now available in numerous fields, including:

• Business Administration
• Computer Science
• Environmental Engineering
• Health Administration
• Industrial Engineering
• International Business
• Quality Control

Admission to doctoral programs requires completion of an undergraduate degree program and typically, but not always, of a master’s degree program. Students earning a doctorate must take a specified number of advanced graduate-level courses, requiring at least two or three years of study beyond the master’s degree. Upon passing written or oral examinations, or a combination of both, doctoral students are granted the status of doctoral candidates. Then they must research and write a dissertation on an original topic, and then satisfactorily defend the dissertation before a committee of professors in the field.

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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.

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What Is a Coursework and How to Write a Paper: A Simple Guide

24 August 2023

last updated

Academic writing is an essential activity in high education and comes in various forms. Basically, one of these forms is coursework writing, where instructors assess students’ level of understanding of a course during a semester. In this case, unlike other papers, coursework assignments evaluate students’ understanding of the course and not just a topic in the class. Moreover, various forms of coursework writing include essays, term papers, theses, dissertations, and report projects. Hence, students need to learn what is a coursework assignment and how to write such a paper.

What Is a Coursework Paper

College and university students undertake different kinds of academic exercises, with writing projects taking a significant portion. Basically, one of these exercises is the writing of coursework, an assignment that they submit at the end of the semester. Ideally, this kind of work assesses students’ understanding of a particular field of study within a single semester. In turn, instructors rarely require students to write a coursework assignment for things they learned during the previous semester.

For writing your paper, these links will be helpful:

• Essay Writing Service
• How to Write a Research Paper
• How to Write a Research Proposal
• How to Write a Term Paper
• How to Write a Case Study

Definition of a Coursework

By definition, a coursework assignment is an academic project that students undertake in the course of study and which they must submit before the closure of the semester. For example, such an assignment aims to evaluate students’ level of knowledge and skills acquisition, meaning the work contributes to students’ final grades. Ideally, coursework is what students learn during a semester, and such an assignment is meant to measure how well they have understood the subject matter. Moreover, students use reliable and relevant sources to study, examine and evaluate the chosen coursework topic. Therefore, a coursework assignment is very similar to other writing assignments, such as essays, reports, thesis writing , and dissertations.

Differences With Other Papers

In the course of their classes, students write different types of papers , including essays and reports. Basically, the major difference between coursework writing and these papers is that it assesses students’ understanding of what they have discovered throughout the semester. In contrast, essays and other papers assess students’ understanding of a specific topic, concept, result , or theory. Moreover, students may need to address an issue in their coursework that they might have addressed in an essay assignment sometime during the semester. As such, a coursework assignment is broad 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. Therefore, students are expected to complete their coursework assignments according to their instructor’s or department’s instructions. In most cases, this expectation includes presenting the assignment in an essay format, where they select a title of their choice. Depending on the subject, some coursework assignments expect students to collect, examine, infer, and report data when answering a specific question.

When it comes to the grading 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. In this case, students must use an approach that they believe is likely to give them a higher grade, meaning an approach that helps them to answer the question methodically, logically, and critically by using relevant information. In essence, these are three dimensions for grading a coursework assignment.

Constructing a Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write a Coursework Assignment

Like an essay, a coursework assignment takes a particular structure. Basically, students should understand the core components and make sure that they address them in their academic writing . In this case, the most significant issue for students 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 the concepts and theories that the student has learned in a specific course during the semester.

Step 1: Preparation

Planning or preparation is the first step in writing a coursework paper. For instance, the essence of any form of academic writing is to measure a student’s level of understanding about a particular area of study. Since the coursework measures what a student has learned in a given course, it is paramount for each person to prepare well when executing the 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 this case, the reasoning that guides this decision is the expectation outlined in assignment instructions. Lastly, students should understand their audience – consumers of their work or readers. Like any other assignment, the audience is course instructors. Hence, writers should ensure coursework satisfies a curiosity of readers.

Step 2: Setting Up

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

Step 3: Writing the Coursework

After preparing and setting up the stage, students should start writing the coursework assignment. In this case, armed with notes taken during the review of reliable sources and the outline they have created, students should start with the first draft, where they develop a thesis statement. Basing all opinions and arguments on the thesis, writers should answer the assignment prompt methodically, logically, and critically. Moreover, the thesis statement should ‘hook’ the audience and make them interested in reading the substantial part of the paper – the body. In essence, the body is where students use all the evidence they have gathered about the topic, while the thesis informs the audience of what individuals have focused on in the paper.

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. Therefore, after completing the draft, students should read it through, at least twice, to identify these mistakes and correct them. Basically, the processes of correction include revising and editing the 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 the paper to be logical and interesting to read. Concerning editing the paper, students should proofread their work to ensure it is free of spelling mistakes, punctuation errors, and other grammatical mishaps.

Step 5: Developing Body Paragraphs

The body paragraph of any academic text, including a coursework assignment, utilizes several features to make the paper logical. Basically, the first feature is the topic sentence that opens up each paragraph. Also, the purpose of this feature is to strengthen the central idea captured in the thesis statement. Then, the rest of the paragraph structure backs up this claim using evidence gathered from different sources. In turn, another feature is a concluding sentence, which closes each paragraph. For instance, the goal of this aspect is to connect the topic sentence with the thesis statement. Finally, another feature is a transition – words and phrases that help readers sense a logical flow of ideas throughout the 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 the paper is written methodically and logically, students should see that it meets the highest academic writing standards. In this regard, they should ensure it follows after a particular format – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian. In most cases, the assignment prompt dictates the format that learners should use. Moreover, the referencing format informs about the structure of the paper and the format of citations. In turn, another essential activity that students should perform is to commit the paper to peer review. Here, authors give coursework papers to distinguished scholars, such as a professor or classmate, to assess the validity and quality of information used, including sources.

Step 7: Writing the Final Draft of a Coursework Paper

After subjecting the first draft to vigorous scrutiny through revisions, editions, and peer review, students should start writing the 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. Moreover, it should indicate an effective use of transitions in the body paragraphs. In short, the final draft is an improved version of the 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 the final draft, at least once, to ensure it is perfect before submission to the department. In turn, if students note several mistakes, it means another revision is necessary. Hence, the student’s focus should be the content, organization of ideas, style of writing, and format.

Types of Coursework

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

Coursework Writing Techniques

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

1. Compare and Contrast Technique

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

2. Cause and Effect Technique

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

3. Investigation Technique

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 the subject, which is indicated in their methodical, logical, and critical analysis and presentation of information. In this case, ensuring that research findings are interpreted and presented in an organized manner throughout the essay is critical. Ultimately, the technique enables writers to demonstrate their articulate understanding of the various viewpoints about the issue under investigation. 

How to Present Strong Arguments

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

Major Mistakes in Courseworks

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 the topic and instead tries to be broad in their argumentation. In this case, the problem with this approach is that they waste space talking about irrelevant material, leaving them with little space to write about the core idea. Also, the solution to this problem is to develop a thesis statement that sets out the paper’s specific agenda. In doing so, students can realize every time they go off-topic.

Another common mistake involves colloquialism, where students use a language that is not standard for academic writing. Basically, this problem is particularly common with students who become excited about the topic and try to express their ideas creatively. Moreover, the problem is that the coursework shifts from being evidence-based to a document about the student’s opinion. In turn, the solution to this problem is to pick a topic that is exciting and critically discussed in the literature. As a result, they can identify several sources that discuss the topic to use as bases for evidence of their claims and arguments about the topic.

Sample of a General Coursework Outline

The coursework paper adopts a typical outline, as indicated below:

• Table of Contents
• Abstract or Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Body Paragraph(s)
• Reference list

Reason for Similarity of a Coursework Assignment With a Research Paper

Ideally, the 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 the writer’s focal points. More importantly, the coursework outline has a body, where writers use different paragraphs to make an argument about the topic. Also, 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 the writer’s claims and arguments, which are linked to the thesis statement.

Summing Up on What Is a Coursework Assignment and How to Write a Paper

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

Students should master the 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 the temptation of using data that may prove irrelevant.
• Use evidence (quotes and statistics) selectively. In this case, relevancy is a significant indicator of a high-grade paper. As such, where students 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, students should note the standards of the format in use – APA, MLA, Harvard, or Chicago/Turabian – as each has a unique approach.
• Revise, edit, and proofread the paper. In turn, high-quality coursework writing should be free of inconsistent arguments, irrelevant sentences, and spelling, punctuation, and grammatical mistakes.

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Definition of course

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Definition of course  (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

intransitive verb

• methodology

Examples of course in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'course.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Middle English cours, borrowed from Anglo-French cours, curs, going back to Latin cursus "action of running, charge, movement along a path, progress," from currere "to run, flow" + -tus, suffix of verbal action — more at current entry 1

Note: As pointed out by Michiel de Vaan ( Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Leiden, 2008), the expected outcome of the verbal adjective in *-to- and the verbal noun in *-tū- would be *kostus < *korstus < *kr̥s-to-, kr̥s-tū-, from the verbal base *kr̥s- (> currere ). The attested form cursus for both the past participle and verbal noun reflects remodeling on the pattern of stems ending in a dental (as morsus from mordere "to bite," versus from vertere "to turn"). As generally in Latin, the verbal noun, where full grade of the root would be expected, has been supplanted by zero grade of the verbal adjective.

Middle English coursen "to pursue," derivative of cours course entry 1

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing course

• assault course
• collision course
• in the course of time
• in the usual / normal / ordinary course of business
• crash course
• on a collision course
• obstacle course
• let nature take its course
• sandwich course
• run its course
• pervert the course of justice
• the course of history
• as a matter of course
• course load
• correspondence course
• course of events
• holder in due course
• course of study
• of course not
• stay the course
• veer off course
• matter of course
• course of action
• golf course
• refresher course
• normal / ordinary course of events
• run one's course
• in due course
• survey course
• par for the course

Dictionary Entries Near course

coursed ashlar

Cite this Entry

“Course.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/course. Accessed 13 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of course.

Kids Definition of course  (Entry 2 of 2)

Middle English cours, course "action of moving in a certain path, path of movement, progress," from early French curs, course (same meaning), derived from Latin currere "to run" — related to corridor , current

Medical Definition

Medical definition of course, more from merriam-webster on course.

Nglish: Translation of course for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of course for Arabic Speakers

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What Is The Meaning Of Coursework?

But what is the meaning of coursework? In the academic community at large, the term “coursework” is used to refer to the work required for courses of study, which are normally taken in between semesters throughout a university’s academic year. These coursework requirements generally begin in the fall of the senior year and conclude in the spring of you r senior year. Coursework generally is grouped into units called units, and each of these units has a corresponding title. For example, your term papers will be grouped under the category of “Term Papers”.

The meaning of coursework varies among different colleges and universities. At some colleges and universities, coursework consists of in-depth research projects. Others entail extensive reviews of primary sources. Still others require courses in literary study, history, etc. Some universities have courses in the liberal arts. Others still offer courses in the sciences.

What is the meaning of coursework? It may seem to answer the question, “what is the meaning of coursework?” with an instant answer. But such an answer could make the problem worse, by confusing what courses are required in what academic degree program at a given school.

A more accurate explanation of the meaning of coursework would be this: coursework indicates the work required for success in any educational program. In other words, coursework is a measure of how well you’ve learned throughout your educational experience. If you’ve studied well, you’ll be able to do well in that educational program. And that’s what coursework reflects!

Coursework can also mean the units taken in any educational program. You see, in order to succeed, you need to learn something. Now each unit can represent a particular course. If you want to know the meaning of units, just think of all the units taken in a typical four-year college. You’ll get a pretty long list!

In a nutshell, coursework is the sum of all the units you’ve learned throughout the duration of your educational program. That’s why it’s called a “term.” Just like in sports, each game or term has its own specific term. In studying human growth hormone, for example, students learn standardized measurements and abbreviations. Each term has its own purpose, so that the term “growth” refers to the development of height, while the term “volume” refers to the production of matter.

Finally, the last term we’re going to discuss for our discussion about what is the meaning of coursework is the assignment. Any educational program includes some form of homework assignment; it’s just that these assignments are meant to help you learn. The assignment may involve developing an idea, implementing it, testing it, presenting it, etc.

A word of caution, though: Many people try to assign a meaning to the term “what is the meaning of coursework?” without necessarily understanding what it actually is. It may be easy to understand the concept of a course, but defining what a “course” is difficult to do. So don’t ask, “what is the meaning of coursework,” but rather, “how do I best use this material in my educational program?”

The term “textbook” is another frequently asked term. A book is a collection of reading material – usually texts, but sometimes scholarly articles or journals – presented in a certain ordered, or format. Textbooks are used in every educational setting, from grade schools to doctoral programs. For this reason, every college student should have at least one textbook on their shelf, though many will probably have more than one. Some will never use any other books on their shelves (they might only have a few textbooks that they rarely read); others will have several and will probably use several of them at once for studying.

Of course, the term “textbook” can also refer to any written material that a student reads; for example, a student’s personal notebook, or academic writing software. It doesn’t have to be a printed publication, though such reading materials may provide some clues about what is the meaning of coursework. For example, an essay may include definitions of various terms, for comparison between two concepts, as well as examples of using the concept. In this case, “the meaning of…” isn’t necessarily the correct answer. The writer of the essay should be asked, “What is the meaning of?”

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a direction or route taken or to be taken.

the path, route, or channel along which anything moves: the course of a stream.

advance or progression in a particular direction; forward or onward movement.

the continuous passage or progress through time or a succession of stages: in the course of a year; in the course of the battle.

the track, ground, water, etc., on which a race is run, sailed, etc.: One runner fell halfway around the course.

a particular manner of proceeding: a course of action.

a customary manner of procedure; regular or natural order of events: as a matter of course; the course of a disease.

a mode of conduct; behavior.

a systematized or prescribed series: a course of lectures; a course of medical treatments.

a program of instruction, as in a college or university: a course in economics.

a prescribed number of instruction periods or classes in a particular field of study.

a part of a meal served at one time: The main course was roast chicken with mashed potatoes and peas.

Navigation .

the line along the earth's surface upon or over which a vessel, an aircraft, etc., proceeds: described by its bearing with relation to true or magnetic north.

a point of the compass.

Nautical . the lowermost sail on a fully square-rigged mast: designated by a special name, as foresail or mainsail, or by the designation of the mast itself, as fore course or main course.

Building Trades . a continuous and usually horizontal range of bricks, shingles, etc., as in a wall or roof.

one of the pairs of strings on an instrument of the lute family, tuned in unison or in octaves to increase the volume.

the row of stitches going across from side to side in knitting and other needlework (opposed to wale ).

Often courses . the menses.

a charge by knights in a tournament.

a pursuit of game with dogs by sight rather than by scent.

golf course .

to run through or over.

to chase; pursue.

to hunt (game) with dogs by sight rather than by scent.

to cause (dogs) to pursue game by sight rather than by scent.

Masonry . to lay (bricks, stones, etc.) in courses.

to follow a course; direct one's course.

to run, race, or move swiftly: The blood of ancient emperors courses through his veins.

to take part in a hunt with hounds, a tilting match, etc.

Idioms about course

in due course , in the proper or natural order of events; eventually: They will get their comeuppance in due course.

of course ,

certainly; definitely: Of course I'll come to the party.

in the usual or natural order of things: Extra services are charged for, of course.

Origin of course

Other words for course, other words from course.

• mul·ti·course, noun
• un·der·course, verb, un·der·coursed, un·der·cours·ing, noun

Words that may be confused with course

• coarse , course , curse

Words Nearby course

• course protractor

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use course in a sentence

And, that can hamper a site owner’s ability to fully identify patterns of problems across the entire site, export more URLs by category, and then of course , address all of those problems in a timely manner.

A relatively tiny spend for someone like Bezos could alter the course of how we address climate change and what we focus on globally.

If you enter any keywords into Google Trends, you get to see how interest in that topic has increased or decreased over the course of time.

Home wins over Nebraska would not do much to help Maryland’s tournament résumé, but over the course of just a few days, the Terps could significantly improve their 4-9 Big Ten record.

Over the course of 2020, the paid search team drove a 137 percent year-over-year increase in CTR through keyword audits, URL audits, ongoing performance optimizations, and flexible allocation of budget to the most efficient keywords.

Its biggest asset, of course , is the steely Atwell, who never asks you to feel sorry for Carter despite all the sexism around her.

The U.S. military has said it is too early to make any conclusions, other than the war is on course .

“Competition is there, of course , but I think there is enough business for everyone as long as the demand is there,” he says.

All of these far future speculations, of course , depend on a series of “ifs.”

And of course , Rod, being Rod, goes for it a hundred percent; his mouth drops open and he says, ‘What?’

And she would be wearing some of the jewels with the white dress—just a few, not many, of course .

Of course , considerations of weight have to be taken into account, but the more mould round the roots the better.

Of course the expression of this value is modified and characterized by the nature of the thing spoken of.

What course was taken to supply that assembly when any noble family became extinct?

Of course it is only the hardiest Ferns which can be expected to grow well in the town garden.

British Dictionary definitions for course

/ ( kɔːs ) /

a continuous progression from one point to the next in time or space; onward movement : the course of his life

a route or direction followed : they kept on a southerly course

the path or channel along which something moves : the course of a river

( in combination ) : a watercourse

an area or stretch of land or water on which a sport is played or a race is run : a golf course

a period of time; duration : in the course of the next hour

the usual order of and time required for a sequence of events; regular procedure : the illness ran its course

a mode of conduct or action : if you follow that course, you will certainly fail

a connected series of events, actions, etc

a prescribed number of lessons, lectures, etc, in an educational curriculum

the material covered in such a curriculum

a prescribed regimen to be followed for a specific period of time : a course of treatment

a part of a meal served at one time : the fish course

a continuous, usually horizontal, layer of building material, such as a row of bricks, tiles, etc

nautical any of the sails on the lowest yards of a square-rigged ship

knitting the horizontal rows of stitches : Compare wale 1 (def. 2b)

(in medieval Europe) a charge by knights in a tournament

a hunt by hounds relying on sight rather than scent

a match in which two greyhounds compete in chasing a hare

the part or function assigned to an individual bell in a set of changes

archaic a running race

as a matter of course as a natural or normal consequence, mode of action, or event

the course of nature the ordinary course of events

in course of in the process of : the ship was in course of construction

in due course at some future time, esp the natural or appropriate time

(adverb) as expected; naturally

(sentence substitute) certainly; definitely

run its course or take its course (of something) to complete its development or action

(intr) to run, race, or flow, esp swiftly and without interruption

to cause (hounds) to hunt by sight rather than scent or (of hounds) to hunt (a quarry) thus

(tr) to run through or over; traverse

(intr) to take a direction; proceed on a course

• See also courses

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with course

In addition to the idiom beginning with course

• course of true love never ran smoothly, the
• crash course
• in due course
• matter of course
• par for the course
• run its course
• stay the course

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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Definition of coursework noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Questions about grammar and vocabulary?

Find the answers with Practical English Usage online, your indispensable guide to problems in English.

Nearby words

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.

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.

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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What Is Course? Definition, Types, & Key Elements

July 13, 2023

What is course?

A course is a set of lessons or classes that a student can attend to become educated on a particular topic or learn a specific skill. This is course meaning is in an educational context. The purpose of a course is for a teacher who has expertise about something to share that expertise with others. 

An example of course is Job Killing by Dan Klein . 

How to pronounce course: kors

Course synonym: Class, program, curriculum, studies

The meaning of course is a sequence of events, such as a sequence of classes. 

Why are courses important for education?

Courses are important for education because they provide students with a structured game plan for accomplishing learning objectives. Trying to learn a new skill, such as a digital marketing , without following a course can be challenging because you don’t have the necessary knowledge about the topic to know where you should start and which order of topics is best for achieving a suitable understanding of the subject. Courses allow education to be provided and received in an efficient format because they utilize experts to present the material in a logical order to optimize student comprehension.

Some common course definitions related to education are:

• What is an academic course? An academic course refers to any structured learning environment that takes place in a school, such as a high school, college, or university of higher education.
• What is course in college? A course in college is a class that a student completes as part of a degree or diploma program from a community college, liberal arts college, or technical school. College courses can also be taken without pursuing a formal degree if a student just wants to learn more about a specific subject. 
• What is course in university? A course in university is a class that a student completes as part of a degree or diploma program from a large academic institution that offers both undergraduate and graduate level programs. University courses typically have general education requirements and core courses pertaining to the chosen major that a student must complete in order to graduate from their chosen course of study. 
• What is a course of study? A course of study is a student's chosen area of specialty that consists of the series of courses they must complete before graduating from their current level of education. Some examples of common courses of study include General Education, Computer Science, or English Language Studies.
• What is course catalog? A course catalog is a collection of courses a learner can select from to meet their specific learning goals and interests. 
• What is course schedule? Course schedule is the calendar that shows when the various course content, like lecture dates, class meeting dates, homework due dates, and assessment dates, occur. 
• What is a required course? A required course is a class that a student must complete as part of their chosen course of study. It is mandatory for the student to successfully complete the class if they wish to graduate from the program. For example, a student pursuing a Marketing degree taking an affiliate marketing course because it's a requirement of the degree program. 
• What is an elective course? An elective course is a class that is not part of the core aspect of the program. Instead, elective courses are classes a student can choose based on their unique interests that meet the academic credit requirements of their overall program. For example, an international student pursuing a Business degree that goes to China to study Ecommerce  supply chains for a semester. 
• What is a crash course? A crash course is a class that provides intensive instruction and information within a short period to quickly prepare a student for an upcoming event, such as learning a new skill before starting a new job. 

What is the difference between a course and a program?

The difference between a course and a program is that a course is a specific class a student must complete as part of their particular degree program while a program is the overall degree program itself and its requirements for students to graduate. 

What is the difference between a course and a class?

The difference between a course and a class is that a course is a series of classes learners must go through to complete a student learning objective, while a class is just a single meeting of the overall course, usually lasting around an hour in the university setting. Students must attend many classes in order to complete a course, as classes are smaller units that make up an overall course. Class is often used in the place of course in modern conversation. For example, you may hear, “Who is the teacher of your accounting class?”.

What is the difference between a course of study and a degree?

The difference between a course of study and a degree is that a course of study is a learner’s chosen area of specialty, while a degree is the academic award they receive for completing all the requirements of their course of study.

What are the different types of courses available?

• Lecture course
• Seminar course
• Discussion section course
• Studio course
• Training course
• Online course

1. What is a lecture course?

A lecture course is usually a large-scale class in an auditorium-style room where a professor speaks and uses visuals like slideshows and videos to present topics while students take notes. Lecture courses in major universities can accommodate 300+ students. These lecture students are typically assessed with quizes and exams. 

2. What is a seminar course?

A seminar course is a discussion-oriented college course where students are encouraged to think critically about course topics and exchange ideas with classmates and the instructor. Seminars typically base assessment on class participation, assignments, and group projects or presentations, rather than traditional exams. 

3. What is a discussion section course?

A discussion section course is usually a smaller component of a lecture course where students break into small groups for interactive dialogue. It’s common for teaching assistants to lead discussion sections and they are equipped to help other students achieve a better comprehension of course material.

4. What is a lab course?

A lab course is class that allows students to apply key concepts of their course of study or a lecture class in a hands-on setting. Lab courses are typical of STEM majors, like biology or anatomy. They introduce students to procedures, tools and relevant methodologies that they would perform once they enter the workforce in their field. 

5. What is a studio course?

A studio course is for artistic disciplines like photography or dance, where students practice their art forms in a hands-on setting with peers and supervision from a skilled instructor. Studio courses allow students to receive constructive criticism to improve their craft. 

6. What is an independent study course?

An independent study course is when a student pursues a self-scheduled curriculum of their own devising. A student usually must first submit a proposal to receive approval and are then guided and assessed by a relevant member of the school faculty.

7. What is a training course?

Training course meaning is a series of lessons that are designed to teach you the skills and knowledge to successfully complete a particular job or activity. After completing a training course, you should be able to perform the functions you were taught in the course in the real world. Examples of training courses include CPR/first aid training, welding training, or body massage certification. 

8. What is an online course?

An online course is an education program that is presented and completed over the Internet. Online courses can be part of a degree program at an accredited university like Harvard University or just standalone training by an Internet instructor. Online courses typically consist of a combination of aspects like video recordings, interactive live training through video conference apps, digital materials like PDF guide sheets, and assignments to verify comprehension of the material. The purpose of an online course is to make education more convenient and accessible for students. 

Where can you take online courses?

You can take online courses from colleges, universities, online learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy , or from instructors' who self host their courses on their own platform. 

What is Course Hero?

Course Hero is an online learning platform where you can access course-specific study materials like study guides, practice exams, videos, and class notes that have been uploaded by previous students and educators. You can either pay a subscription to access these study materials or upload learning materials from courses you have taken to obtain access.

What are 5 key elements of a well-designed course?

• 1 Defines course goals and objectives - Student learning outcomes should be clearly communicated prior to the start of the course. 
• 2 Leverages high quality learning materials - The course should utilize learning materials that fit within the context of the course. Learning materials should provide up-to-date information and be easily accessible to students. 
• 3 Taught by professional instructor with expertise on course subject - The teacher(s) of the course should have expert level knowledge on the course material to clearly communicate course concepts and accurately respond to student questions.
• 4 Contains accountability component - In order to ensure students are keeping up with the course information and retaining concepts, there should be something to keep students accountable, such as assignments, assessments, or check-ins. Students should be able to demonstrate what they are taking away from the course learning experience.
• 5 Incorporates community aspect - It’s well documented that group collaboration has major benefits on a student’s learning outcome. It forces active learning, which helps students to solidify their understanding of new concepts through critical thinking and discussion. A community aspect can be especially beneficial for an online class so that stduents can interact with classmates because it enables the sharing of ideas and common questions. 

What does course mean outside the context of education?

Course as a noun :

• The action of moving along a path from one point to another. Example: The airplane is on course to its destination. 
• The physical plane an object moves across. Example: The ball travels along the golf course. 
• The progression of a normal action. Example: The sickness is running its course on him. 
• A food dish or set of food dishes served together. Example: Tonight I will be enjoying a 3 course meal consisting of an appetizer, main course, and dessert. 

Course as a verb :

• A liquid moving with ease on or through a surface. Example: Blood is coursing through our veins. 
• To move swiftly through or over an area. Example: Yesterday he coursed through the park on his skateboard in just 10 minutes. 

Common phrases using course :

• Course of action - Course of action meaning is the way in which a situation is dealt with. Example: His wisest course of action is to retake the class so that he learns the material. 
• Of course - Used to give a confirmation. Example: Of course she knows about SEO , she does local lead generation after all. 
• In due course - When something is done at the appropriate time. Example: I will scale my online business in due course. 

Course is a word that has many applications in the English language. However, the use of course in an educational context is likely the most common use of the word, when not considering everyday phrases containing course, such as “of course.” Educational courses are so popular because they enable people to expand their skill set and achieve a more prosperous life. For example, this local lead generation course can teach you how to make between $500 to $3,000 in passive income each month from your computer. Local lead generation is a business model that entails building websites to attract customers for local businesses. Although it can be challenging for you to set up these websites on your own, a course can efficiently teach you the skills to start making money online from local lead generation.  

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Total solar eclipse: What is it, where is it, and why is it dangerous to look at it?

A total solar eclipse is set to cross over North America on Monday, April 8, treating the US, Canada, and Mexico to the haunting sight of the light of the Sun being blocked by the Moon as it passes over.

Of course, one shouldn't look directly at it - it's dangerous. 

Regardless, the sight of a total solar eclipse is a rare one; they only happen every so often, and they aren't visible everywhere. In particular, this one will be perfect for North America, but those of us abroad won't have such luck. 

But what exactly is a total solar eclipse? What makes it dangerous? Where is the best place to watch it?

Here's everything you need to know.

What is a total solar eclipse? 

Eclipses have happened throughout human history, and they have often been ascribed numerous supernatural explanations - indeed, even Judaism has had some ominous words about them, with the renowned medieval rabbinic commentator Rashi saying an eclipse was a bad omen for the world

But these are natural events, purely in the realm of science, and we know exactly why they happen.

A solar eclipse happens when the orbit of the Moon around the Earth sees it cross between the Earth and the Sun. This causes the Moon to essentially block the Sunlight.

Sometimes, only part of the Sun's light gets blocked - this is what is known as a partial solar eclipse. But sometimes, all of the Sun's light gets blocked by the Moon - a total solar eclipse. 

Now, this might be a bit confusing at first. How can the Moon block the Sun? Isn't the size difference too much? 

And that's correct. The Moon can't block the Sun. It can only block a small amount of Sunlight, relative to the size of the Moon. This big Moon-shaped shadow is called the totality, and it moves around the Earth as the Moon and Earth both move. 

This is why total solar eclipses aren't visible everywhere, and only in certain places. Only specific areas will be within this totality.

Why should you not look directly at a solar eclipse? 

There are many myths regarding the dangers of solar eclipses. Some say looking directly at a solar eclipse will cause damage to pregnant women, others say it can even poison food.

This is all untrue, but make no mistake - you should absolutely not look directly at a solar eclipse. 

The reason for this is because, for one thing, you shouldn't be looking directly at the Sun anyway. 

The Sun is extremely bright - so much so that the human eye can't properly handle the sheer amount of power it emanates. Our eyes process light by having the lenses of our eyes focus it to the retina. This is similar to a magnifying glass, the light bending and focusing into the retina. 

But that's just for indirect Sunlight. Sunlight straight from the source is so strong that focusing it could basically burn the retina. Since the retina is made of nerve tissue, it doesn't repair itself like other parts of the body, meaning this is one Sunburn that won't get better.

And that's just on a normal day. It's actually much worse during a solar eclipse.

The human eyes adjust to the dark by having the pupils dilate. This lets more light come into your eyes when there is less light available. During a solar eclipse, the sky turns dark, and your pupils will naturally dilate as a result. 

When the Sun is totally blocked by the Moon, it is technically safe to look with your bare eyes, though still not advised. If you do, you will be treated to the Moon seemingly encircled by a ring of white or green light. It's beautiful, it's haunting, and it absolutely should not be looked at for any longer. 

Because when this short period ends, Sunlight will start coming back fast (it's called the speed of light for a reason). In that instant, your pupils will not have time to adjust, and all that powerful Sunlight will go right through your dilated pupils, making the damage severe and sudden.

Now, does that mean you can't see the solar eclipse at all? No, it's still possible. There are a number of indirect viewing methods that are safe to use, and you can always buy eclipse glasses (think extremely powerful Sunglasses - regular Sunglasses will not suffice) for safe viewing. 

Does an eclipse mean the world is about to end? 

No, of course not. Though some religious texts may beg to differ. 

There is plenty in Judaism and Christianity pointing to the eclipse meaning the End of Days. However, all of that is rather pointless since eclipses don't happen everywhere. 

So make no mistake, this is no apocalypse. It's just the Moon getting between the Earth in the Sun in the never-ending cosmic tango that is the heliocentric orbit.

When does the eclipse start?

According to CBS data, the total eclipse is set to start in the South Pacific, and the path of totality will first hit Mexico at around 11:51 a.m. EST. It will then move up into Texas, specifically over Eagle Pass at 1:10 p.m. EST. From there, it will keep crossing through Oklahoma and Arkansas, eventually going to Ohio and then New York, followed by Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Then it's off to Canada.

Not every place will have complete totality. Some, like Mazatlán in Mexico, Dallas in Texas, Cleveland in Ohio, and Burlington in Vermont will get the totality. Others will only have a near-total eclipse, such as New York City, Boston, and Detroit.

The totality is very short, with NASA predicting the longest totality to have a length of 4 minutes and 28 seconds near the Mexican locality of Torreón.

For those of us in Israel, there will be no eclipse to speak of. In fact, for those of us in Jerusalem, there won't be a total solar eclipse until August 8, 2241. 

So we have quite a long wait.

Masters cut line 2024: List of those who missed cut at Augusta National

Who will miss the cut at the 2024 masters follow our live tracker as the cut line moves during the second round from augusta national golf club..

This week, nearly 90 golfers descended upon Augusta National Golf Club with dreams of winning their sport’s most sought-after prize.

By the end of the day Friday, however, the field had been cut down to 60.

Qualifying for the Masters at all is a remarkable achievement, a testament to the skill and relentless work of a golfer to reach one of the highest pinnacles that the game has to offer. To remain there for the weekend of the tournament, though, is a different kind of challenge.

REQUIRED READING: Scottie Scheffler would withdraw from Masters and 'be out of here' if wife goes into labor

To make the cut after the first 36 holes of the Masters, a player must be in the top 50 places on the leaderboard, including ties.

While eyes of golf fans across the world will undoubtedly be glued to the top of the leaderboard, there will be significant intrigue over who does and doesn’t make it to the weekend, with the latter group potentially, and perhaps even likely, including some of the biggest names in the game.

What is the Masters projected cut line?

The cut line at the Masters is 6-over-par, with 60 players in weekend play.

Who is projected to miss the Masters cut?

Following the completion of the first round Friday morning and into the early stages of the second round, with a cut line of 6 over, here are some of the notable names who are projected to miss the cut, as of 8:30 p.m. ET Friday:

• Wyndham Clark (+7)
• Justin Rose (+7)
• Sergio Garcia (+7)
• Mike Weir (+7)
• Zach Johnson (+7)
• Victor Hovland (+8)
• Sam Burns (+9)
• Jordan Spieth (+9)
• Brian Harman (+9)
• Bubba Watson (+10)
• Charl Schwartzel (+11)
• Fred Couples (+12)
• Dustin Johnson (+13)
• Nick Taylor (+14)
• Emiliano Grillo (+15)

How many make the Masters cut?

The players in the top 50 places on the leaderboard, including ties, make the cut and continue playing at the Masters into the weeked.

Previously, anyone within 10 strokes of the lead also made the cut, but that rule was scrapped for the 2020 Masters, which was pushed back to November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What is the Masters cut? Rules and what you need to know

The cut at the Masters trims the field down to about half the 89 participants who began competing in the tournament on Thursday.

Cuts after the first 36 holes of competition are common throughout major golf tournaments.

REQUIRED READING: Tiger Woods score today at 2024 Masters Tournament: Scorecard, results from second round

Will Tiger Woods make the Masters cut?

Tiger Woods , the highest-profile figure in the world of golf, has made the cut after shooting a 72 to end the day at 1 over for the tournament.

It's the 24th consecutive cut Woods has made at the Masters, setting a record.

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UCLA Basketball: 3 Names the Bruins Should Target in the NCAA's Transfer Portal

Who will the Bruins add?

• Author: Jason Fray

In this story:

The college basketball season might be over, though it doesn't mean UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin is sitting on the golf course with a stiff drink and a Cohiba.

UCLA has landed two players thus far via the transfer portal in guard Skyy Clark (Louisville) and wing Kobe Johnson (USC). While these are significant additions, it doesn't appear as if the Bruins are done just yet.

NEWS: Oklahoma State transfer Eric Dailey Jr. will take an official visit to UCLA this weekend, a source tells me. Dailey is a former 4⭐️ recruit and was one of the top freshmen in the nation this season at Oklahoma State. He averaged 9.3PPG, 4.8RPG and 1.5APG this season. pic.twitter.com/ECssgRTGaw — 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) April 11, 2024

Adem Bona reportedly is leaving school in order to enter the 2024 NBA Draft. Freshmen Ilane Fibleuil and Jan Vide both left in search of other opportunities. Backup big man Kenneth Nwuba graduated, and there's still a possibility we see more attrition from this group.

Either way, there are a host of players UCLA has its eyes on. This piece will speak about possible options -- as well as players the Bruins should target in order to maximize the ceiling of next year's team.

SF/PF Eric Dailey Jr.

UCLA has been associated with the former Oklahoma State forward since he entered the portal. A former top-40 recruit nationally, Dailey Jr. spent one year in Stillwater before opting to leave for greener pastures.

Dailey Jr. is a terrific fit for Cronin's system. He's a plus athlete, and as such possesses the ability to switch on screens and defend multiple positions on the floor. Dailey Jr. competes very hard on both ends -- something that the Baby Bruins struggled with last year.

I put together some clips of Oklahoma State transfer Eric Dailey Jr. getting after it on offense and defense in the Big 12. Dailey Jr. will visit UCLA on April 14-16. @pointforwardpro @rp3natural @kingjosiah54 #gobruins pic.twitter.com/UFDsT7YvnS — Those Four Letters (@krisjohnsonlive) April 6, 2024

Offensively, the lefty can do a little bit of everything. He's a very efficient scorer at the rim , though he does have a nice mid-range pull-up game. His three-point shot is a work in progress, though by no means is it broken.

Both of his parents are coaches, and as such he's a very mature kid. It's reported that Dailey Jr. is visiting UCLA officially this weekend. Barring something surprising, it would be a shock to see him end up elsewhere.

CG Dominick Harris

Harris was once a top 100 recruit nationally in his class. Signing with Gonzaga, the Southern California native struggled to see the floor. Transferring to Loyola Marymount this past year, he blossomed -- averaging over 14 PPG as one of the team's better players.

NCAA Men's 3-Point field goal percentage leaders entering today: Koby Brea ( @DaytonMBB ): 49.8% Cade Tyson ( @BelmontMBB ): 46.5% Dominick Harris ( @LMULionsMBB ): 44.8% Antonio Reeves ( @KentuckyMBB ): 44.7% Chaz Lanier ( @OspreyMBB ): 44.0% Mark Sears ( @AlabamaMBB ): 43.6% — College Basketball Reference (@collegebb_ref) April 9, 2024

In the process, he was statistically one of the best three-point shooters in the country -- connecting on nearly 45 percent of his attempts.

Harris has two years of eligibility left and would give the Bruins a veteran presence in their backcourt. More than that, he'd add some much-needed shooting, as well as some athleticism from the off-guard spot. Harris is known to be an above-average on-ball defender. Whether as a starter or a reserve, he'd be an impact player for this program.

C Cliff Omoruyi

The former Rutgers big man is arguably the best center on the market currently.

A true rim protector, he'd be a perfect fit to take over for Bona as the team's starting center. UCLA struggled with a lack of both physicality and experience last year. If you bring Omoruyi on, you won't have to worry about either category.

The Bruins figure to have plenty of competition for his services. However, based on opportunity and everything UCLA has to offer, there's a world in which this opportunity looks highly attractive.

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• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of course in English

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course noun ( CLASSES )

• I did a course in creative writing.
• Julie has signed up for courses on English and French this year .
• There are still some vacancies for students in science and engineering courses.
• The course comprises a class book , a practice book and an audio tape .
• She's been offered a place on the nursing course.
• academic year
• access course
• Advanced Placement
• asynchronous
• foundation course
• immersion course
• on a course
• open admissions
• the national curriculum
• work placement

course noun ( SPORTS AREA )

• He spends every weekend out on the golf course.
• We walked the course the horses would have to run later .
• The race was cancelled because the course was waterlogged .
• He ran the course in less than an hour .
• Flags mark the course the cyclists will be taking.
• 18-yard box
• backstretch
• ground staff
• off his/her line idiom
• out of bounds idiom

course noun ( DEVELOPMENT )

• action They are considering legal action.
• course of action They have not yet decided on a particular course of action.
• measure Measures are in place to prevent flooding.
• step These simple steps will ensure that infections are not spread.
• Once we have committed to this course of action there is no going back.
• We came up against a lot of problems in the course of building our extension .
• In the course of history , love has driven men and women to strange extremes .
• I was grateful for his letter which hastened the course of the enquiry .
• He has been accused of obstructing the course of justice .
• a means to an end idiom
• methodological
• methodologically
• standard operating procedure
• stylistically

course noun ( DIRECTION )

• All attempts at diplomacy have broken down and the two states now appear to be on a collision course.
• He drove in an erratic course down the road .
• Some of the frontier between Germany and Poland follows the course of the river Oder
• The ship held its course.
• Most parents try to steer a middle course between imposing very strict discipline and letting their kids run wild .
• against the current
• circumduction
• cross-country
• direction of travel
• multidirectional
• the right/wrong/other way around idiom

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

course noun ( MEAL )

• If you make the main course, I'll make a dessert .
• I've only eaten one course and I'm already full .
• By the time the fourth course was served , I was stuffed to the gills .
• The average cost of a full three-course meal - appetizer , main course and dessert - including tip and a modest wine is about $25.
• I had salmon for my main course.
• accompaniment
• afternoon tea
• amuse-bouche
• English breakfast
• finger buffet
• plat du jour
• ploughman's lunch
• postprandial

course noun ( MEDICAL TREATMENT )

• blister pack
• chemotherapy
• patent medicine
• pharmaceutical
• prescription
• unmedicated
• wonder drug

course noun ( LAYER )

• agglomerate
• prestressed
• unreinforced
• wattle and daub
• weatherboarding

course noun ( BLOOD )

• be dripping with something idiom
• brim with something
• reinjection

course | American Dictionary

Course noun [c] ( direction ), course noun [c] ( development ), course noun [c] ( classes ), course noun [c] ( sports area ), course noun [c] ( meal ), course | business english, examples of course, collocations with course.

These are words often used in combination with course .

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acting or speaking together, or at the same time

Alike and analogous (Talking about similarities, Part 1)

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• course (CLASSES)
• course (SPORTS AREA)
• course (DEVELOPMENT)
• in the course of time
• with the course of time
• course (DIRECTION)
• change course
• course (MEAL)
• course (MEDICAL TREATMENT)
• course (LAYER)
• course (BLOOD)
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The NAACP is right. State lotteries are systemically racist | Opinion

Imagine that the private pilots who use Knoxville’s Downtown Island Airport wanted a bunch of infrastructure improvements around their rich man’s playground, including a new terminal, covered automobile parking and 24-hour on-site concierge service. Now further imagine that these pilots convinced city of Knoxville officials to pay for these projects and ongoing services by assessing a tax on Knox Area Transit bus riders – with a portion of that tax paying for a permanent advertising campaign extolling the virtues of poor people riding the bus.

Ridiculous? Of course. Just like state-run lotteries, including the one in Tennessee.

State lotteries are rigged games (their payout to players is lower than the regulator-required minimum payout for casino operators), marketed disproportionately to those who can least afford it, to benefit those who can most afford it. And they enable state governments to finance a portion of their state budgets with the most regressive form of tax imaginable – while wrapping themselves in a disgusting moral cloak of “supporting education.”

People in the lowest fifth economically exhibit the highest rates of lottery participation. Increased levels of lottery play are associated with certain demographic groups: males, African Americans, Native Americans and residents of impoverished neighborhoods. The NAACP denounces state lotteries as “one of the most neglected examples of systemic racism in the U.S.” It notes that Black people spend five times as much of their income on lotteries than do white people. Efforts to racially target potential lottery losers are evident, exemplified by Washington, D.C., lottery ads featuring an image of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and encouraging players to “honor his dream” by purchasing lottery tickets.

The Tennessee Education Lottery loves to brag that it has raised more than $6.6 billion for education. But who benefits from all that money? In the fall of 2022, 47% of Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship recipients were from families with more than $96,000 in adjusted gross income. The largest number of recipients came from families with AGIs above $168,000. The only income group to experience a decline in first-time scholarship recipients was those “under $24,000 annual AGI.”

I can always tell when the Super-Mega Whopper Jackpot gets above whatever the new ridiculous number is, because the parking lot of the gas station near my house is packed. This is the same gas station that sells single cigarettes. The parking lot is not full of Mercedes and Lexuses.

I understand that a lottery is simply a voluntary tax on people who are very, very bad at risk assessment. It is an intentionally regressive tax, marketed to and disproportionately paid by poor and less-educated citizens, specifically benefiting the affluent.

By any definition I can imagine, that is systemically immoral.

David Moon, president of Moon Capital Management , may be reached at [email protected].