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    Back to Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

    Learner Reviews & Feedback for Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description by Wesleyan University

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarHalf Faded Star
    4.7
    stars
    1,381 ratings

    About the Course

    In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the
    most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in sharp, sensory detail. We will also learn how
    to build credibility through research, and to use creative meditation exercises to deepen our own understanding of our story worlds, so that our
    readers can see all that we imagine.
    ...

    Top reviews

    EB

    Jul 2, 2020

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    Great course, it taught me things that I would have never learned otherwise, in this course you must take your time, don't rush, because if you do you will miss the most important points of the curse.

    MR

    Sep 14, 2023

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled StarFilled Star

    This was course was incredibly fun and engaging to do; the skills I've gained are wide ranged, and the assignments and activities were surprisingly helpful in streamlining many of my existing skills.

    Filter by:

    426 - 444 of 444 Reviews for Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

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    By MANIKANDAN M

    •

    Sep 25, 2022

    I started the course with great enthusiasm. Unfortunately the objective didn't get fulfilled compkletely. Why because I was doing the course to know the strength and weakness of my writings, only through reviews. But the reviews I got for most of the assignments were 'YES', 'OK.', '...' like that. Coordinators should seriously consider updating the user interface so that a review will be accepted only if it contain certain number of different words with some meaning. Otherwise it was good

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Amanda Y H

    •

    Feb 12, 2018

    This course was interesting, but I did not find it particularly helpful or insightful. I felt that everything taught about setting and description was very elementary (I say this as a K-3 teacher who has regularly taught the concepts of setting and description) and not that useful for someone looking to take their writing to a more professional level.

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    By Donna M B

    •

    Nov 15, 2021

    I appreciate the effectiveness of the videos in the teaching of this class. I was especially challenged by the assignment to write 350 words about an elapsed time of 10 seconds. It was my greatest learning in this segment of the series.

    However, there is a serious lack of worthiness in the peer reviews.

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    By Syam M

    •

    Feb 24, 2021

    I would have appreciated direct instructions instead of referring to some books and some time off. You don't get the full benefit of having an instructor when it is taught that way which would work at post-graduate level courses. This being an introductory course I would prefer more hands on instruction.

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    By Pamala B

    •

    May 22, 2021

    Loved the course! However, the peer reviews are a farce. Most of the reviews I received were not reviews at all but someone going through the criteria and entering 'yes' or '1' in each grading criteria just to satisfy the requirement. No actual reviewing being done at all. Very disappointing.

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    By Mohammed D

    •

    Oct 12, 2023

    Content is good initially but week 4 was terrible. If no better way of delivering its ideas exists, I would suggest deleting it. Also fix the peer-review, people reviewed me with "-" and gibberish.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Payal A M

    •

    Sep 16, 2023

    The instructor Amity Paige has a style that captivates the listeners. Some of the exercises didn't seem necessary but were interesting no the less.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Digant K

    •

    Apr 12, 2016

    If you've not read a single book on writing, this class might be good. Otherwise, don't expect to get much about the ~30 minutes of lecture.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Stephen S

    •

    Oct 22, 2024

    This course was extremely helpful with the exception of peer review. Peer review is the big disappointmen of this entire course.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Kaitlyn B

    •

    Aug 31, 2019

    I didn't actually learn anything. This felt like a waste of time, with largely boring assignments.

    Filled StarFilled StarFilled StarStarStar

    By Heather

    •

    Mar 18, 2024

    lots of hackers. no instructor interaction. can't see reviewers comments. some good content.

    Filled StarFilled StarStarStarStar

    By Roberto S

    •

    Nov 7, 2022

    Unfortunately, this course isn't too useful, even for beginners. These courses have a terrible feedback system, people can just write "Okay" or even a letter and that counts as feedback. Passing this course mean absolutely nothing with this feedback system and so the certificate could be earned by anyone at all. The talks between the course teachers with each other are long, boring and just go on and on and offer at times, little real advice. Why do I need to see previous teachers coming back to talk to the new course teacher for 10-15 mins? Feels a bit like I'm intruding with these teachers chatting to each other about random stuff.

    Filled StarFilled StarStarStarStar

    By Lisa C

    •

    Dec 10, 2020

    Disclosure: I opted out of the course after the first week. This would be a great class for someone who's not familiar with creative writing or hasn't done this type of writing regularly. As someone who's been writing for a long time I didn't find it particularly helpful. One of the reading assignments, The Odour of Chrysanthemums, was no longer available to read. Also I'm not a fan of peer reviewed grading which seems to be inherent in many of the courses on Coursera.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By Susana B

    •

    Mar 7, 2025

    Falsely flagged for plagiarism. Finally received a response after one month following my response to the claim. I was basically dismissed. I responded back to this and again waited weeks, only then for the plagiarism report to be dropped. Most concerning, is that I had worked on 4 courses in creative writing at this time and was a paying member. I also shared that I had record of the work I submitted and yet, this wasn't enough to warrant an initial investigation, rather than exploring further that, whoever clearly stole my work, might be lying. Because of this, I will not be engaging in the capstone, as well as due to the flaws in your plagiarism reporting system. I cannot trust my work will be safeguarded. And quite frankly, the amount of "non-work" I "graded," spanning from one-off sentences, gibberish computer typing, etc., I find personal insult in being flagged for plagiarism despite a long record of completed courses and evidence of my completed assignments. I received several reminders during this time of the seriousness of plagiarism. Allow me to remind you how serious false allegations of plagiarism are, particularly when you're a professional writer. Your AI reporting system and grading system is an insult to hardworking writers, and those who paid to be here, and quite frankly is representative of your own business model of clearly gaining profit with little employ of actual people to explore the work being submitted. After all the work, the interesting courses, the refresh of helpful basics, I am so sad to have this be the test that's left in my mouth. How disappointing. Please be mindful of the seriousness of false plagiarism claims in the future. It is your responsibility to uphold the dignity and respect of writers submitting their work in the same manner as flagging those who do not.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By Jessica W

    •

    Jul 20, 2020

    Highway robbery. The Course material is good and the assignments are good exercises but $66 dollars for the quality of feedback you get is robbery. This is the second course I have taken in the specialization. I initially felt the first course was good but since then I have learnt a lot more about what else is out there. On two separate occasions the peer feedback appeared to be written by someone who was new to English. They were confused about the most basic aspects of my assignments while other reviewers were not. On two other occasions the person providing the feedback simply provided one word three times because this is enough to fool the computer system into believing you have provided feedback and allow you to move on in the course. For $66 you can get much much much better value in lots of other places.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By Aleena A

    •

    Aug 13, 2020

    Although Amity Gaige was awesome at teaching and inspiring me to write (she's my reason for the one star), I may as well have watched similar videos on YouTube for free.

    The peer-review feedback for this entire specialisation so far has been a waste, and after completing 3 out of 5 of these courses, I have gotten only 1 constructive review - the rest have been one word answers or short lines (one even put full stops for feedback!) from people who seem to just want to get a grade.

    For aspiring writers, especially if you're hard up for cash, your money may be better spent elsewhere if you are truly interested in developing your skills. If you're simply looking for a certificate, this course is for you.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By Tanya W

    •

    Apr 30, 2022

    The course in general is good as is the teacher but the rules for peer review are ridiculous and waste of time. Since this couse is partially based on reviews how is it possible that people are premitted to submit reviews anonymouslly? Worse yet they give one or two word response.

    As a writer the need for feedback is crucial for learning how to improve your writing skills and if what you write is done well. I don't understand why this practice is allowed. Why would people want to remain anonymous anyway. I am very disappointed and I will be sure to contiue with my complaints on social media.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By jessica

    •

    Aug 9, 2016

    The peer reviewed assignments are next to useless, as there is no oversight on them. I think there needs to be a basic comprehension assessment done first, before allowing fellow learners the ability to pass/fail students in the course.

    Filled StarStarStarStarStar

    By Deleted A

    •

    Jun 12, 2024

    I can't unrenroll

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