essay writing certificate

2024 Best Online Writing Certificates

If you have a passion for writing or want to improve your skill set, you can investigate the many types of writing certificates available.

There are numerous writing certificate programs online that could help you take your writing to the next level and demonstrate your expertise to employers. After all, well-written and engaging content is the backbone for most businesses, and creative writing is the backbone for our most common forms of entertainment.

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Read on to learn more about the coursework and potential outcomes of various writing certificates.

Online Writing Certificate Programs

Before you take a deep dive into the creative world of writing, it’s necessary to decide on the online writing certificate you want to pursue. Below, we have detailed four types of common online writing certificate programs: business writing, creative writing, professional writing, and technical writing.

Select the program that most interests you to jump to that section of the guide:

• Online Certificate in Business Writing
• Online Certificate in Creative Writing
• Online Certificate in Professional Writing
• Online Certificate in Technical Writing

You can explore these programs to see which ones best match your interests and goals.

Business Writing Certificate

A business writing certificate is designed for individuals who want to further develop their business communication skills. Those who undertake this writing certificate learn the art of persuasion alongside various business writing practices.

A business writing certificate could help you develop the ability to write compelling and persuasive formal and informal business documents. Some of the main course topics you’d likely study with a business writing certificate include public relations, client communication, bargaining and negotiation, and theories in persuasion.

Those who complete this certificate often go on to pursue journalism, grant writing, business proposal writing, resume writing, and copy editing careers.

Creative Writing Certificate

Most creative writing certificates let students hone a particular writing skill and meet their writing goals with newly developed expertise. Most students specialize in either short stories, poetry, essay writing, novel writing, memoir writing, or a hybrid combination of these.

The coursework you’ll take as part of a creative writing certificate program will depend on the area of writing you want to specialize in. Some of the topics you might study include prose poetry, personal essays, storytelling for social justice, and dialogue and point of view.

Those who complete this certificate often choose to become authors, poets, copywriters, freelance writers, and creative writers.

Professional Writing Certificate

A professional writing certificate focuses on essential business writing. It involves practical applications and a series of concepts to help students understand the subtle art of communication, grammar, clarity, and concision.

Often, the coursework emphasizes professional writing expertise to teach you how to incorporate corporate brand stories or personal stories into each piece of written communication. This writing certificate also focuses on teaching you how to write and appeal to target audiences.

Some course topics you could study include the fundamentals of professional writing, advanced academic writing, the power of storytelling, and writing with data. Additionally, those who complete this certificate may become editors, fundraising consultants, speechwriters, and grant writers.

Technical Writing Certificate

A technical writing certificate is for students seeking a modern communication skill set that resonates with employers across various industries.

Through a technical writing certificate, you have the chance to develop your skills in writing for web applications, social media strategy, journalism, and more. A few common course topics found in technical writing certificate programs include internal workplace communication, presentations, business-to-consumer writing, and business-to-business writing.

Those who complete a technical writing certificate may go on to become computer interface designers, communications officers, social media strategists, technical writers, or web content developers.

Common Types of Writers

As there are many different writing certificates, there are also many kinds of writers. Below we have briefly discussed some common types of writers:

• Ghostwriters. A ghostwriter is an individual who writes articles, blogs, novels, web copy, and other written tasks without seeking name attribution or credit for their work.
• Authors. An author is a person who writes short stories, articles, novels, essays, or columns. Authors write in numerous genres—including horror, fantasy, history, romance, sci-fi, and young adult—across fiction and non-fiction.
• Scriptwriters. Film scripts, play scripts, ad scripts, and other copy that has an element of a visual medium are written by scriptwriters.
• Content writers. A content writer writes content on a specific topic, idea, product, or market. These writers are typically paid on an assignment or salary basis and not on commissions or royalties.
• Copywriters. Generally, copywriters are similar to content writers, but copywriters usually focus on writing ad slogans, publicity material, and marketing campaigns for companies and products.

Determining which type of writer you want to become could help you choose the type of writing certificate that fits your interests.

Writing Careers & Salaries

Those who graduate with a writing certificate take up writing-related positions in various industries. Some work in media and communication, healthcare, governmental organizations, businesses, advertising, publishing, and non-profit organizations.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , here are the median salaries of positions that require or could benefit from skilled writing.

The type of position and salary you can qualify for may depend on your level of education and experience as well as your chosen industry. Employers may require bachelor degrees for many of these positions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of writers and authors is expected to experience a steady growth rate of 4% over the next ten years.

Writing Certificate Curriculum & Courses

Below are a few common courses usually included in different writing certificate programs:

• Introduction to Public Relations: During this course, you’ll learn the elements of an effective public relations strategy alongside how to manage and evaluate outside PR counsel.
• Professional Client Communication: You’ll explore professional-client communications while exploring social and managerial activities and organizational theory.
• Writing for Media: This course teaches fundamental journalistic writing techniques to help you learn clear, crisp, and concise writing.
• Strategic Writing for Fundraising: During this course, you’ll learn about the continuous fundraising cycle and explore how to use strategic communication approaches during real-life situations.
• Bargaining and Negotiation: During this course, you’ll learn the bargaining and negotiation processes in various theoretical approaches, including managerial and social situations.
• Writing with Data: In this course, you can develop practical data literacy skills, and you can learn how to think critically and ethically about data as well as how to use online data visualization tools.
• Novel Writing: Throughout this course, you’ll explore various novel writing methods, including characterization, plot, structure, and voice.
• Writing for Social Media: You’ll learn how to use social media writing to build a reputation, create coherent messaging, and cultivate reader loyalty by exploring social media campaigns.
• Advanced Academic Writing: During this course, you can develop academic writing skills to write effective manuscripts for publications.
• Fundamentals of Professional Writing: This professional writing course helps you learn how to critically analyze different writing situations and how to make writing a purposeful act of professional communication.

Each program and type of writing certificate will have different course offerings available. To learn more about potential coursework, you can investigate various certificate programs in the specialty that interests you.

Admissions Requirements

Much like with programs leading to on-campus or online English degrees , the admission requirements for an online writing certificate program will differ from institution to institution. Even though there are different admission requirements at different schools, here are some common criteria found across multiple colleges:

• SAT or ACT scores (only some schools require them)
• A high school diploma or GED equivalent
• Minimum GPA requirement
• Online application

In addition to these requirements, a university or college could also require an application fee. Depending on the type of certificate program, some schools may also require applicants to hold a bachelors degree.

Accreditation

One of the key factors to consider when choosing a writing certificate to complete is the school’s accreditation status.

Accreditation speaks to a school’s quality of educational services. Regional accreditation is considered the most prestigious type of accreditation, and it is most widely recognized by employers and postsecondary institutions. Attending an accredited school can also be an eligibility requirement for certain forms of financial aid.

You can visit the Council for Higher Education Accreditation ’s website to verify a school’s accreditation status and learn more about the accreditation process.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

There are a variety of financial assistance options available for students who qualify. These can include federal aid, state aid, scholarships, and employer benefits. Scholarship opportunities can be available from a range of sources, including schools, professional organizations, and public institutions.

You can also seek need-based aid from the government. Filing a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can determine your eligibility for student loans, work-study programs, and grants. Some employers may also offer tuition benefits to workers who want to develop their professional skills.

What Is a Writing Certificate?

A writing certificate is an academic credential offered by postsecondary institutions to help you develop your expertise in a specialized writing area. Most writing certificate programs are specially designed for new or experienced professionals who want to improve their writing knowledge and skills.

An online writing certificate program can help you improve your skills in communication, reading, writing, and editing. Often, these programs also teach you how to apply what you’ve learned in a professional environment. This field of study has different areas of specialization, including social media writing, technical writing, grant writing, content writing, and creative writing.

What Can You Do with a Writing Certificate?

There are various career paths you can pursue with a writing certificate, depending on your chosen writing specialty, any prior experience, and the field you choose to work in.

Many students choose to become authors, freelance writers, content creators, technical writers, business writers, social media specialists, and fundraisers. What you can do with a writing certificate can also depend on whether you have any other educational degrees. For example, a writing certificate can be complementary to a bachelors degree in business, public relations, media, communications, or literature.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Writing Certificate Online?

How long it takes to get a writing certificate online will depend on the institution you attend and your course requirements.

While on-campus or online professional writing degree programs may require the completion of as many as 40 courses, many writing certificate programs consist of between 4 and 7 courses. While some online novel writing certificate programs take 2 years to complete, other writing certificates can be completed in 6 months to 1 year. Many online programs have more flexible formats, allowing you to study at your own pace.

While taking an accelerated track may allow you to finish sooner, enrolling part-time could extend the overall length of your program.

Are Writing Certificates Worth It?

Yes, writing certificates are worth it for many students. An online writing certificate could help high school graduates break into the field of writing. Additionally, degree holders can use an online writing certificate to further develop and fine-tune their writing skills and expertise.

Working professionals may even pursue a writing certificate to further their skill sets in their chosen careers. The media and communications sector is expected to see 6% job growth over the next ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics). This steady growth is as fast as the average for all occupations.

Universities Offering Online Certificates in Writing Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

Cornell University offers an online certificate program in Content Writing. Courses are designed to teach how to present information succinctly, share key points in a compelling way, develop website audience personas, and craft web content that engages readers. Courses are typically 2 weeks long and the certificate may be completed in 2 months.

Cornell University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

New York University offers a certificate in Professional Writing program online. Potential courses include Content, Purpose, and Audience, Writing and Leadership, and Corporate Storytelling. The program aims to focus on writing and editing a variety of professional documents across digital and traditional formats. The certificate must be completed within 3 years of taking the first course.

New York University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Stanford University offers an online certificate program in Novel Writing. The program aims to help develop story ideas, creative processes, and daily writing practices to improve comprehensive composition and storytelling skills. The program’s 6 courses tend to focus on writing long works of fiction, and, on average, are completed in 2 years.

Stanford  is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

The University of California–Berkeley offers an online program for a Creative Writing certificate. Common courses include The Craft of Writing, Advanced Fiction Writing, Short Story Masterpieces, and Story Lab. The curriculum aims to teach fiction, screenwriting, poetry, creative nonfiction, journalism, and science writing. At least 8 courses must be completed.

The University of California – Berkeley is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The University of California–Los Angeles offers a certificate in Creative Writing. The program may be tailored to personal interest by choosing from tracks in Novel Writing, Personal Essay, or Poetry. The program spans 21 total credit hours and has 1 required course, Creative Writing Certificate Capstone.

UCLA is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

The University of Illinois–Springfield offers a Technical Writing certificate program online. Potential courses include Introduction to Technical Communication, The Communication Triangle, Revising and Editing, and Writing as a Process. The curriculum covers topics like the technical writer’s role, conducting research, drafting, and editing and revising.

UIS is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Iowa offers an online program for a certificate in Writing. Potential courses include Business Communication and Protocol, The Art of Revision, Advanced Fiction Writing, and Introduction to Grant Writing. Courses aim to teach knowledge and skills in academic, creative, and professional communication strategies. The program requires the completion of 22 semester hours.

The University of Iowa is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

The University of Pennsylvania offers a certificate in Professional Writing program online. The completion of the Fundamentals of Professional Writing course is recommended first, followed by 3 additional professional writing courses. These courses are typically 8 weeks long, and focus on developing skills needed to pursue writing and editing careers in a variety of fields and industries.

The University of Pennsylvania is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The University of Washington offers an online program for a certificate in Writing. The program was designed to help develop the skills needed in pursuit of new writing opportunities. Courses typically teach writing topics in fiction, nonfiction, memoir, screenwriting, publishing, and children’s literature. The program typically offers new admissions every quarter.

The University of Washington is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire offers a certificate program in Technical Writing. The program typically offers a basic, intermediate, or advanced certificate with optional emphases in Editing, Proofreading, Technical Documentation, and Workplace Experience. Studies can usually start at any time or a fixed time schedule is also commonly available.

The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

Getting Your Certificate in Writing Online

Getting a writing certificate online could help you develop your writing abilities and communication skills. Students may pursue a certificate in writing to expand their career opportunities and gain a versatile skill set to help them meet professional expectations in the workplace.

There are also many types of writing certificate programs, allowing you to specialize in the area that interests you the most, whether it be grant writing, social media writing, creative writing, or business writing.

So, if you’re interested in a writing career or simply want to develop your writing skills, you could explore available writing certificates from accredited schools to find the program that’s right for you.

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Honing your writing craft will help you produce the kind of crisp, engaging writing that captures the attention and imagination of readers. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your overall writing chops or focus on a particular type of writing, we offer a wide variety of courses to help you refine your skills and accomplish your goals.

General Writing Courses

Business writing: reports, proposals & documents.

Learn how to write a variety of long-form business documents. Adopt best practices for clear, concise and effective writing. 

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Learn the business fundamentals of self-publishing and gain the skills and knowledge you need to transform your manuscript into a self-published book.

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Explore the essential principles and practices for developing your narrative voice and creating writing worth reading.

Fiction Writing Courses

Fiction writing: character.

Learn to create authentic characters and discover how they impact staging, drama and dialogue.

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Explore the key elements of storytelling craft and learn techniques for making your prose come alive.

Fiction Writing: The Novel

Gain valuable insights into the process or writing and revising your novel or short story collection.

Nonfiction Writing Courses

Women's personal essay writing: a workshop.

Learn the essential elements and key techniques for developing a compelling personal essay. By the end of the course, you'll have developed two workshopped essays that are ready for submission. 

Children Literature Courses

Writing children’s literature: picture books.

Explore the picture book format and get insider knowledge for developing your own work.

Earn a Certificate

You can earn a Certificate in Writing by completing three of the courses listed above in any combination within two years or less. After you complete your third course, you can request your certificate by calling Registration Services, 206-543-2310; there's a $50 certificate fee.

Other Writing Programs

Looking for more options? We also offer programs in  UX writing ,  technical writing ,  grant writing  and regulatory medical writing . Explore all our  programs for writers and editors . 

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Online Class: Essay Writing 101

• 25 Exams & Assignments
• 4,041 Students have taken this course
• 11 Hours average time

Course Description

Mastering the Essay: A Comprehensive Guide to Excellence in Academic and Professional Writing

In today's digital age, effective communication remains pivotal. The power of the written word hasn't diminished; in fact, with the increasing emphasis on content marketing, social media narratives, and online publishing, its value has arguably skyrocketed. Central to this universe of words is the essay, a versatile medium that encapsulates ideas, arguments, narratives, and information. An adept essay writer stands out in academia and many professional arenas, turning this skill into an essential tool for success.

Course Overview:

A strong essay can be a ticket to better grades in education, a persuasive tool in the corporate sector, and a means to convey critical information in fields like journalism and law. As per a recent survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, written communication skills are among the top attributes employers seek on a candidate's resume. This course is meticulously designed to offer an in-depth understanding of essay writing, guiding you through its various nuances and intricacies.

Course Highlights:

Nature and Structure of Essays: Dive deep into the history of essays and explore their evolution over time. Understand the essence of what makes an essay compelling.

Types of Essays: Not all essays are created equal. Explore narrative, descriptive, expository, and argumentative essays, among others. Each serves a unique purpose, and we'll delve into when and how to use them effectively.

Grammar Refresher: Even the best ideas can falter with poor grammar. Strengthen your foundation in English grammar, covering everything from the basics of parts of speech to the complexities of subject-verb agreement.

Spotting and Rectifying Mistakes: Learn from real-world examples of exemplary and flawed writing. Recognize common pitfalls, and more importantly, understand how to avoid them.

By the end of this course, you will not only grasp the theory behind crafting impactful essays but will also have the practical skills to draft, edit, and polish your pieces, ready for academic or professional presentation.

Course Breakdown:

Lesson 1: Dive into the 'Anatomy of an Essay', breaking down its structure and core components.

Lesson 2-4: Deepen your understanding of 'Grammar Basics', a three-part series covering Parts of Speech, Capitalization and Punctuation, and Subject-Verb Agreement. These lessons are peppered with exercises and examples to cement your knowledge.

Lesson 5: Explore the 'Types of Essays'. Understand the subtle differences and appropriate use cases for each kind.

Lesson 6: Delve into 'Topic and Thesis Selection', a crucial step that lays the groundwork for your essay.

Lesson 7: Understand 'The Argument, Research, and Citations'. Backing your essay with credible sources is indispensable, and this lesson will show you the ropes.

Lesson 8: Organize your thoughts with 'Outlining the Essay', ensuring a logical flow of ideas.

Lesson 9-10: Dive deep into crafting the 'Introduction', 'Body', and 'Conclusion' of your essay – the trio that determines its impact.

Lesson 11: Perfect your essay with 'Revisions and Finishing Touches', ensuring it's polished and free from errors.

Lesson 12: Conclude with 'Some Final Writing Pitfalls to Avoid', a compilation of common mistakes and how to steer clear of them.

Each lesson comes with assignments and resources, enabling you to practice what you learn, gather feedback, and refine your skills continuously.

In an era where communication is paramount, mastering the art of essay writing is more than just an academic exercise; it's a critical life skill. Join us on this enlightening journey, and harness the power of words to shape narratives, influence opinions, and make a lasting impact.

• Completely Online
• 6 Months to Complete
• 24/7 Availability
• Start Anytime
• PC & Mac Compatible
• Android & iOS Friendly
• Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons

Lesson 1. Anatomy of an Essay

Lesson 2. Grammar Basics. Part I. The Parts of Speech

Lesson 3. grammar basics. part ii. capitalization and punctuation, lesson 4. grammar basics. part iii. subject-verb agreement and other writing mishaps.

Lesson 5. Types of Essays

Lesson 6. topic and thesis selection, lesson 7. the argument, research, and citations, lesson 8. outlining the essay, lesson 9. the introduction, lesson 10. the body and conclusion, lesson 11. revisions and finishing touches, lesson 12. some final writing pitfalls to avoid, learning outcomes.

• Describe the anatomy of an essay.
• Define the parts of speech.
• Demonstrate capitalization and punctuation usage.
• Recognize subject-verb agreement and other writing mishaps.
• Describe types of essays.
• Formulate topic and thesis.
• Define the argument, conduct research and record citations.
• Outline the essay.
• Create the introduction.
• Create the body and conclusion.
• Revise the essay.
• Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Additional Course Information

• Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
• Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
• Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
• View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
• Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

Choose Your Subscription Plan

Student testimonials.

• "My instructor had patience, she worked with me over and over until I understood what I have to write." -- Deborah E.
• "This course was extremely helpful. I am an English teacher and needed this course for CE so I was very familiar with the material provided. It gave me a new insight to teaching essay writing and research writing that I have not seen--or rather seen put together so well!" -- Amy B.
• "My prof was superb in extending her helping hand to understand all my downs in going through with this course." -- Mary Ann C.
• "I found the explanations extremely helpful. I also liked how everything was divided into sections where it was easy to read." -- Patricia P.
• "I enjoyed the instructor's comments and the coursework." -- Kathy C.
• "What was most helpful was the instructor correcting my grammer and spelling." -- Patricia N.
• "ALL THE LESSONS ESPECIALLY THE LAST 4. THEY BROUGHT ALL THE CLASS INFORMATION TOGETHER. VERY HELPFUL IN COMPLETING THE ESSAY." -- Roland H.
• "The progression of the assignments were most beneficial. By gradually building from learning the parts of speech and sentence structure, to outlining and drafting I acquired a strong foundation from which I built my final essay." -- Joan C.
• "This instructor was very detail oriented and helpful." -- Chandradarshini B.

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Creative Writing

Develop creative writing skills in multiple genres of interest including fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and more. This customizable program culminates in a capstone project in which students make significant progress on a polished collection of work. This certificate can be completed online or in the classroom.

This program is perfect for...

• Those new to writing who want to explore various genres while cultivating their skills
• Writers looking to hone their craft and develop a solid portfolio of work in a particular genre
• Writers considering graduate-level writing study, including those who wish to polish pieces for submission to MFA programs
• Individuals who want to become part of a vibrant and supportive community of artists who share their passion

What you can learn.

• Identify your creative writing goals and develop a plan to achieve them
• Deepen your practice within a chosen genre, or explore various forms of creative writing
• Discover techniques of powerful storytelling, craft compelling characters, and write memorable scenes and stories
• Receive guidance from successful writers and workshop in a group of supportive peers

Achieve results and reach your writing goals.

Whether you are new to writing, have a specific project you'd like to get off the ground, or are preparing to apply to an MFA program, the Certificate in Creative Writing is an immersive program for developing professional writing skills.

Our fully customizable certificate honors each individual student’s journey, allowing you to pursue the coursework that is most meaningful to your specific writing goals and level of expertise. 

The program offers the opportunity to specialize in genres like poetry, short stories, novel writing, essay writing, memoir writing, or to explore writing across genres, hybrid genres, and new forms without the limitation of a prescribed curriculum. 

The only required course, the Creative Writing Certificate Capstone , allows you to compile and further refine your writing from prior coursework into a final portfolio representing the finest examples of your craft. 

Taught by a prestigious roster of instructors who are published writers and active professionals, courses in this certificate program can be taken onsite, online, or a combination of both. 

Expect more from your education.

MFA, fiction writer, author of the story collection Once Removed (UGA Press) and winner of the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. 

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My UCLA Extension coursework, teachers, and colleagues have shaped my writing life, fueled the creation of my novel, and provided continual inspiration.

Certificate Curriculum

The Certificate in Creative Writing is fully customizable. You may follow a Writers’ Program sample curriculum plan based on specific writing goals, or design your own program of study.

Students must complete 21 total units comprised of the 3-unit Creative Writing Certificate Capstone course and 18 units of 400-level Creative Writing coursework.

Sample Program Tracks:

Novel I WRITING X 411.1

Novel II WRITING X 411.2

Novel III WRITING X 411.3

Novel IV WRITING X 411.4

Novel V WRITING X 411.5

Dialogue and Point of View WRITING X 462.1

Creative Writing Certificate Capstone WRITING X 460

Personal Essay I WRITING  X 422.1

Personal Essay II WRITING X 422.2

Personal Essay III WRITING X 422.3

Storytelling for Social Justice WRITING X 424.21E

Writing the Thinkpiece WRITING X 424.15E

The Art of Creative Research WRITING X 461.23

Poetry I WRITING X 431.1

Poetry II WRITING X 431.2

Poetry Toolbox WRITING X 432.10E

Prose Poetry WRITING X 432.11E

Reframing the Form WRITING X 432.7E

The "F" Word: Innovative Poetic Forms WRITING X 432.8E

Cuento Poems WRITING X 432.32E

Click below to view the required and elective courses, if applicable, for this program.

Students must complete 18 units of elective coursework. Select from courses numbered WRITING X 400-499 in the following areas:

Students may select courses in the following area with advisor approval:

Editing and Publishing

How to Get Started

Courses in this program are open enrollment, and each course is paid for individually.

Sequential courses should be taken in numerical order, starting from the lowest course number and progressing to higher numbers.

You may take Creative Writing courses without committing to the entire program.* However, by establishing candidacy in the program, you will receive  many benefits exclusive to our certificate students such as priority placement on waitlists and access to the UCLA Career Center's job board. Creative Writing Certificate students can also receive a customized curriculum tailored to your writing goals.

Need assistance? If you have any questions or need advice on course selection, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] .

Benefits exclusive for Writers' Program certificate students:

• Advising : Receive a 30-minute, one-on-one goal-setting consultation with a Writers’ Program advisor. During this consultation, the advisor will customize a certificate program curriculum tailored to your experience, interests, and writing goals.
• Enrollment : Receive advance notice of upcoming Writers’ Program courses and enroll before the general public each quarter. You also receive preferential placement on wait lists.
• Manuscript Consultation : Within six months of completing certificate program coursework, receive 50% off a one-on-one manuscript consultation with a Writers' Program instructor. Learn more .

Advanced standing at Antioch University*

Students who complete the Certificate in Creative Writing can receive Advanced Standing in Antioch University Los Angeles’s MFA in Creative Writing .

Advanced Standing allows a student to enter the MFA program with the equivalent of one semester completed. In addition, you may be eligible for Antioch’s fellowships and scholarships.

Additional benefits exclusive to all UCLA Extension certificate students:

• Career Resources : Access UCLA Extension’s Career Resources including online career coaching, workshops, networking events, and other resources.  Learn More .
• Handshake Access : Explore thousands of job and internship postings through UCLA Career Center’s online job board. Learn More .
• UCLA Alumni Association Membership : Upon completing your certificate, join the nationwide Bruin family as a member of the UCLA Alumni Association. Learn More .
• Graduation Celebration : Attend the annual UCLA Extension Graduation Ceremony on campus to celebrate your achievements. Learn More .
• UCLA Recreation Facilities : Enjoy access to UCLA Recreation facilities as a student affiliate. Learn More .
• Bruin ID Card : Obtain an affiliate/Guest UCLA Bruin ID Card for additional student-related benefits. Learn More .

How to Apply - Establish Certificate Candidacy

• Click the Apply Now button below
• Login or create a new student account
• Once you are logged into the student portal, you can select “My Applications” from the left side menu at any time to return to your application. Click the yellow “Start” button to proceed.
• On the Certificate Application page, follow the instructions and click save. Then submit your application. 
• Proceed to checkout and pay the nonrefundable candidacy fee to finalize your application. 

Estimated Cost Breakdown

All courses in this program are paid for individually, unless otherwise noted. An application form is required to establish candidacy in this program. From the 'Apply Now' button, complete the online application and pay the application fee if applicable.

Application & Candidacy Fee

Estimated program tuition, estimated program textbook/materials.

*The Application & Candidacy Fee establishes your candidacy in the program for a period of time covering normal progress toward completion and may allow you to access a variety of program benefits.

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Federal Financial Aid

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities to disclose certain information for any financial aid eligible program that, “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation”. This information includes program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; on time completion rate; and for the most recent award year: the number of students who have completed the program, the number of students who complete the program within the estimated duration, the job placement rate, and the median Title IV and private loan debt incurred by those who complete the program. For gainful employment information for this program, visit our  Financial Aid page.

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Essay and report writing skills

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

Writing reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. Learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report. This free course, Essay and report writing skills, is designed to help you develop the skills you need to write effectively for academic purposes.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• understand what writing an assignment involves
• identify strengths and weaknesses
• understand the functions of essays and reports
• demonstrate writing skills.

First Published: 10/08/2012

Updated: 26/04/2019

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Writing Courses

• Social Sciences

Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

Gain critical communication skills in writing and public speaking with this introduction to American political rhetoric.

Effective Writing for Health Care

This Harvard Medical School one-year, application-based certificate program is designed to help clinicians, researchers and allied health professionals achieve their writing career goals.

• Writing an effective essay: Cambridge B2 First

• Posted on 28/02/2018
• Categories: Blog
• Tags: B2 First , C1 Advanced , C2 Proficiency , Cambridge CAE Certificate of Advanced English , Cambridge CPE Certificate of Proficiency in English , Cambridge Exams , Cambridge FCE First Certificate of English , Learn English

Students take language certifications like the Cambridge B2 First qualification for lots of different reasons. You might do it to motivate yourself to improve your language abilities, to prove your level of English to an employer, or even to achieve an ambition like travelling around the world and going to live in an English-speaking country.

The Cambridge B2 First exam includes a two-part writing section, which can be daunting for some people. So if you’re thinking about taking an exam like this, we have some top tips to help you write an excellent exam essay.

Most of the advice in this article can also be applied to any exam where you have to write an essay, such as the C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency or IELTS .

Writing test structure

Before we get into the details, let’s take a look at the structure of the writing paper. You have 80 minutes to write two texts – and it will go quickly!

The first part is the essay; the second part is an article, email, letter, report, or review.

You will be given the essay title and two ideas or prompts . It’s essential that you include both of these ideas in your essay, as well as another relevant idea that you have to come up with yourself .

You have to write 140-190 words in each part and it shouldn’t take you more than 40 minutes per answer .

Writing an essay in three steps

Take a look at this example from a sample paper and then think about how you would answer it in an exam:

Essay title:

Some parents teach their children at home rather than sending them to school. Is this a good or a bad thing for the children?

• 1. having a parent as a teacher
• 2. making friends
• 3. …..

Question taken from http://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/first/exam-format/ (Cambridge Assessment English, Feb 2018).

What could the third idea be? Stop reading, grab a pen and write down some ideas! Keep them general, but relevant. When you’ve finished, scroll down to the bottom of the page to see some of our ideas * .

Step One: plan it (10 minutes)

That’s what my old history teacher used to tell me. I hate to admit it, but he was right! If you don’t usually plan before you start writing, you really need to get into the habit . Ten minutes may seem a lot, but the more time you spend planning, the clearer your ideas will be and the quicker the writing process will be.

A good place to start is to brainstorm keywords and phrases related to the topic.

Next, you should think about how you’re going to begin ( the introduction ), how you’re going to connect the three main ideas ( the body ) and how you’re going to finish ( the conclusion ). If you know where you’re headed , you’re much less likely to get lost along the way!

Step Two: write it (25 minutes)

OK, you’ve got our plan – you’re good to go ! It’s important to know what the examiners are looking for. The mark you get for the essay is based on the following four aspects :

Content: Have you included all three ideas? Remember, all content should be 100% relevant to the topic, so don’t go off on a tangent !

Communicative achievement: Is the style or tone of your essay appropriate? It should be neutral and quite formal, so avoid contractions (e.g. it’s, don’t, they’ll) and first person pronouns (e.g. I, me, my, we, us, our).

Organisation: Does your essay follow a logical order? To help your writing flow , try to include linking words. Here’s a website with some examples.

Language: Have you used a variety of vocabulary and grammatical structures? Don’t always write the first word that comes to mind – look for synonyms . Using some complex structures (e.g. different verb tenses, passives, inversion) will boost your marks, but be sure to use them correctly!

Step Three: check it (5 minutes)

This final step is essential. It’s your chance to read (and re-read) your essay to identify any mistakes. No matter how careful you’ve been, there are probably a few things that you can improve. Check for spellings. Check for plurals. Check for verb agreement . Basically, check everything!

5 quick tips to improve your proofreading

• Keep a list of (your) frequent mistakes, so you know what to look out for
• Read it slowly
• Use your finger to guide your eyes
• Correct one thing at a time (e.g. only punctuation, then only spelling)
• Focus on the little words (pronouns, articles, prepositions, etc.)

Still not sure if this is the right exam for you?

There are many benefits of earning an English certification, but before you decide to do so, it’s very important to check your English level . This will help you select the right exam course and make sure you don’t waste time completing one that’s too hard or too easy for you.

If you decide to do an exam preparation course with us, one of our trained level testers will work with you to assess your level. But, if you can’t wait until then, here’s a multiple-choice test for you to complete to give you some idea.

This article also outlines the differences between the Cambridge and IELTS exams to help you decide which exam is for you.

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Daunting (adj): something that worries you because it might seem difficult to do.

Prompts (n): something serving to suggest or remind.

To come up with (pv): to think of something such as an idea or a plan.

To get into the habit (exp): to begin to do something regularly or often.

Headed (adj): destined for.

You’re good to go! (exp): you’re ready!

To go off on a tangent (exp): to start doing, discussing, or thinking about something completely different.

To flow (v): to proceed smoothly and continuously.

adj = adjective

pv = phrasal verb

exp = expression

*Example ideas: ‘group work’, ‘bullying’, ‘class sizes’, ‘working parents’, ‘free curriculum’

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5 Powerful Tools to Perfect Your Pronunciation

• By: oxfordadmin
• Posted on 22/02/2018

4 Ways English Words are Born

• Posted on 07/03/2018

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How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE) Writing

Luis @ kse academy.

• noviembre 24, 2019

As you probably know already, Cambridge English exams usually have some or all of the following parts: Reading, Writing, Use of English and Listening. In this post I am going to talk about the FCE Writing B2 part and, more specifically, about how to write an essay for FCE Writing . We will see a good example of an essay for FCE and you can check out a full FCE Writing Guide where you can find more examples of emails , letters and other types of writings.

Essay Sample Answer

Este artículo también está disponible en castellano.

What are the parts of the FCE Writing?

The First (FCE) Writing has only two parts. For each part, you must write a composition which will depend on the instructions you receive for each task. For the  first part , you will always be asked to  write an essay , as it is the only option provided. However, in the  second part , they allow you to choose one out of 3 options. These include  different types of writing , which are : letters/emails ,  articles ,  reviews and  reports . Each piece of writing must have between 140 and 190 words , approximately.

Since they are different types of writing , the language and structures to use will also differ. But that’s what I’m here for, to explain to you exactly how to write each part. And today, I’m starting with  how to write an essay .

How to Write an Essay for FCE Writing

An  essay is an opinion writing with which we analyse a topic , a situation or an issue from different points of view , providing different arguments and expressing our opinion about it. For this reason, an  essay must have the following features:

• Purpose: What we usually do with an essay is to analyse and assess a topic, situation or issue which, in some way, is interesting or controversial. It is normally set as a writing task after a class debate. In the exam, you have to imagine the debate, obviously.
• Tone and style: Given that you’re writing about a  serious or controversial issue , an essay is written in a formal style, so we must stick to an objective tone and style . Our language must be formal, thus avoiding words that are simply too common or generic (E.g.:  things, stuff, get,   etc.) and contractions (E.g.:  can’t, don’t, won’t,  etc.).
• Structure: Like every piece of writing,  an essay must present a defined structure . For starters, we can choose either to give it a title or not. Personally, I would say that it is more appropriate to have an essay with title . Then, the body must be divided into introduction, idea 1, idea 2, idea 3 and conclusion. This means that, in general,  essays must have 5 paragraphs ,   although it is not entirely necessary.
• Opinion:  There are countless ways of expressing your opinion in an essay, so you must choose the one that suits you best. However,  it is advisable to remain impartial throughout your writing and give your opinion only in the last paragraph , as a conclusion. But, as I say, it is optional. The most important thing is that you justify everything you say in your essay.
• Coherence: Coherence is essential in every type of writing, but especially in an essay. As it tends to be an argumentative text, you must avoid writing incoherent paragraphs that have nothing to do with one another. Your ideas must  follow a logical order and be well connected with appropriate linkers .

FCE Writing Essay Example

Now that we are familiar with the  characteristics of an essay for First (FCE) Writing , let’s take a look at an  example of an essay at B2 level , both at the task and at a sample answer.

Instructions of an Essay

In the following image you can see the instructions of an essay which involves a typical topic, that of the environment:

In these instructions, we must pay attention to the following:

• The  first paragraph introduces the topic: … different ways in which you can protect the environment.
• The  second sentence is usually the same in every task:  Write an essay using  all the notes…
• In the box , you are given the main topic as a question and they give you something to talk about:  recycle, using bicycles and walking, your own idea . As you can see, you have to come up with the third idea, something connected to the topic which is not provided in the exam task.

Given the model task above, each paragraph will correspond to a different idea, apart from the introduction and conclusion. Again, it is only natural to have 5 paragraphs. So, the best way to know how to write an essay for FCE Writing is to take a look at an  example of an actual essay for FCE Writing :

At first sight, the essay has  a title and 5 paragraphs (introduction + idea 1 + idea 2 + idea 3 + conclusion). And if we stop to read the essay more carefully, we’ll notice the following things:

• The paragraphs are visual and well defined , which is very important.
• The title summarises the topic  of the essay. Another option is to use the question ( What can people do to help protect the environment? ) as title. However, it usually tends to be too long, so I prefer to summarise it into a shorter heading.
• Introduction: it introduces the topic in a general way and it leads to the second paragraph (first idea).
• Paragraph 2: it deals with idea 1.
• Paragraph 3: it deals with idea 2.
• Paragraph 4: it deals with idea 3.
• Conclusion: we express our opinion to conclude and summarise the essay.
• It uses connectors to define the development of the essay:  firstly, second, finally, etc.
• It doesn’t use many contractions or pet words.
• One of the things that
• In the last few decades,
• For this reason,
• First, / Second, / Third,
• By doing so,
• For example,
• In conclusion,

This is a good example of an essay for FCE Writing . By the way, you must bear in mind that it has been written to simulate a strong B2 level, without reaching C1.

FAQ: Do I get penalised for writing over 190 words?

This is the most typical question in this part of the exam and the answer is « yes and no «. Let me explain myself. Cambridge English examiners don’t count the number of words and penalise you based upon that fact alone. There’s a rumour going around among teachers and pupils that says that for every 10 words over 190, they take «this many» points off, but it is not true. However, think about this: if you’ve written 50 or 100 words more than asked, you are probably including irrelevant information to the task , right? Now that’s a reason for losing points. In the same way that if you  write under 140 words you are probably missing essential information , don’t you think?

For this reason, I always recommend writing up to 10 or 20 words over the limit. In this way, you won’t lose any points for including irrelevant information.

FCE Writing Guide with examples (pdf)

Although I intend to write more posts on how to do each piece of writing for FCE, if you don’t want to wait any more, simply download the official KSE Academy FCE Writing Guide . In this guide you will learn:

• How to write an essay  and 3 examples.
• How to write an article  and 3 examples.
• How to write a review  and 3 examples.
• How to write a report  and 3 examples.
• How to write an email or letter  and 3 examples.
• Over 300 useful expressions for every FCE Writing .

Would you like to see a sample of this guide? Here it is!

Did you find this useful?  Why not share it with other teachers and students of English? Don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, y YouTube. 🙂

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Essay – examples & model answers | B2 First (FCE)

FCE Essay Examples:  Topic (Environment) 

Example exam task:, example answer (grade: 3), example answer:.

I think that my country has problems with pollution to the environment like all other countries. This problem is normal for Russia. We have big problems with transport because there are too much cars in our country. And because of that we have problems with atmospeer, air in my city and in all Russia is really dirty and sometimes I can’t make a sigh because it smells around me and of course around that cars on the road. I’ve heard about tradition of one country. They don’t go anywhere by car one day a month or a year, they just use bycicle or their feet. I think it could be very good if we had a tradition like that.

So, what about the rivers and the seas? Yeah, there are some really good and clean rivers and seas where you can go, but there are not many of them. Once I saw the river OB in my city, it was about two years ago but I stil remember that in some places it was not blue, it was green or purple I didn’t really understand because it had different colours.

I don’t know what should we do. Maybe we should just open our eyes and look what we did. But Russian people don’t care about the world around them many people care only about themselves an that’s all.

So, the best idea is look around and try to do something good for our planet and for us and our children.

FCE, CAE, CPE

Practice, write & improve, examiners comments & grade:, example answer (grade: 3-4).

To begin with pollution and damage to the environment is the most serious and difficult problem for countries of all over the world. Scientists of different countries predict a global ecocatastrophe if people won’t change their attitude to our planet.

First of all a huge damage to the environment brings a transport. People can’t imagine their living without cars, buses, trains, ships and planes. But it’s an open secret that one of disadvantage of these accustomed things is harmful exhaust. Needless to say that use of environment friendly engines helps us to save atmosphere from pollution.

In addition to this our rivers and seas are in not less danger situation. It’s a fact of common knowledge that numerous factories and plants pour off their waste to ponds. Obviously that cleaning manufacturing water helps to avoid extinction of ocean residents.

Apart from this I’m inclined to believe that every person can and must contribute to solving this important problem. Doing a little steps for protection our environment every day we will be able to save our Earth. And it’s a task of each of us.

Model Answer (Grade: 5)

DEVELOPMENT VS ENVIRONMENT

If we surf the web looking for pollution and environmental catastrophes, we will find out that every country in the world suffers them. This is a natural consequence of the struggle between development and environment.

If a country decided to live isolated from the rest of the world, living on what it can naturally grow and produce, it surely wouldn’t be highly polluted. But we all want exotic food and technological items from all over the world, so we have to pay the price.

Investing on electrical transport would benefit the environment a lot. Even more if this electricity came from a natural source of energy like wind, rivers and solar boards. It’s difficult to achieve this because petrol companies will fight against these actions.

We also have to take care of our rivers and seas. We all have heard about factories throwing highly toxic substances to rivers, without minimizing their poisoning effects. A really strict law should be applied to fine these factories and make them change their policy.

But what about ourselves? We also can do a lot! If, when possible, we bought larger packs of food, we would be producing less rubbish. And this is only an example!

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Fashion) 

In today’s world, the fashion industry has a strong importance in people’s lives. The fashion industry say to the society what to wear and creates new types of clothes all the time.

Some people claim that the fashion industry has a bad effect on people’s lives, they say that the fashion industry creates clothes that the society has to wear. Furthermore, the clothes’ price is extremely high and people, who can’t afford it, should not be in the society.

In the other hand, the fashion industry guide the people to be in a good appearance, because, nowadays, the appearance of the person is more important than the person itself.

In my opinion, the fashion industry doesn’t has a bad influence on people’s lives. It’s something which was created to help people what to wear.

Example Answer (Grade: 4)

Fashion industry is very a discussed subject nowadays: they create and design new clothes everyday in order to satisfy some people needs.

There are many people who claim that the fashion industry is important and good for society. According to them, this industry design beautiful clothes and thanks to that every person can wear shirts, trousers or any acessory which is on today’s fashion.

On the other hand, the fashion industry in some people opinion, controls the market of clothes and because of that they can’t wear what they want to. In addition, the industry can increase the price of clothes, forcing people who don’t want to be “oldfashioned” to buy and pay a large amount of money to keep “beautiful”.

In my opinion, we can’t let the fashion industry decide what we must or musn’t wear. We shouldn’t judge people for its appearance,because that is not important. We must wear whatever we like, want and feel confortable with.

The society we live today is characterised by technology in constant development, fast speed processes, information travelling and getting to people at a blink of an eye and a complex web of social networking. In this context, the fashion industry is becoming increasingly important and having a more and more paramount role in our lives.

On one hand, the fashion industry is undeniably a source of profit and income. It hires millions of people all over the world and generates millions of dollars every year. Furthermore, such profitable business is also believed to be able to spread and make known the culture of a people, encouraging and enhancing a better understanding of each other.

Nevertheless, for those who are neither impressed nor motivated by numbers and figures, the fashion industry is seen as one which segregates people, isolating those who not fit their laws and commands. It is stated that people place too much importance on appearance and the material, world, sadly true, and the fashion industry just spurs on such situation. Moreover, not only are the costs of fashion item unrealistically high, it is thought to be a money better spent on more pressing issues, such as poverty and hunger.

I do believe that the fashion industry, as it is today, has a harmful effect, because it values a minority of people in detriment to the majority. However, it has such a wide reach that, it put into a good use, it can save lives.

FCE Essay Examples: Topic (Languages) 

“There are more reasons to learn a foreign language than to pass a test”

Everything around us revolves around language(s), it is the most important thing in our lives. Society would just not function without it. They are It is our future and I would personaly love to learn as many as I possibly can.

Not everything in life is done because it is necessary. Learning a new language can be a lot of fun. Many people only do it as a hoby, or their knowledge is something that brings them pride and pleasure.

Secondly, we have people who do it simply to challenge themselves. Truly I believe that having a great outcome that stems from your hard work and dedication to learn something new is a wonderful way to challenge prove your ability to yourself and others. Then there is travelling. It is very important to be able to understand and have a conversation with someone abroad, unless you would like to get lost or worse.

To conclude, I think that learning a new language is an amazing thing no matter why you do it. It is always better to do things out of enjoyment, but even if you do it for a test, that knowledge will always be useful.

Learning a a foreign languages is very important nowadays. English, in particular, is essential because it allows is spoken all over the world. That’s the reason why we start studying it from the age of six years old. Going abroad and being able to speak to native people is very satisfying and that’s why I want to improve my knowledge about foreign languages.

I decided to take this exam to know how high my level of English is, but also because I need this certification to go abroad next summer. I really want to come back to Cornwall, an amazing region in the South-West of England. I’ve been there twice with my family, but now I want to go alone. Only being there to England I can really improve my English comprehension and speaking skills.

Fortunately I can will have some English lessons which taught in English at university and I can’t wait for it because it will be an interesting challenge for me. Studying foreign languages is essential to live and to travel. It isn’t simple and I surely have to challenge myself everyday, but the result is so satisfying that we I can’t do without it.

FCE Essay Example: Topic (History) 

A very common topic that is being discussed nowadays is wether schools should teach subjects that some may consider useless later in life. A clear example is history, since it is quite difficult to learn and does not help us in day-to-day activities.

However, many people do not realize the importance of it or that it affects our lives today. For example, our political system would not be this way if it weren’t for the Ancient Greeks, numerous politicians and wars who helped shape democracy and our constitution. Yet it is still thought that it’s useless.

In addition, it is very important that we never forget about our past since we must know where we were standing years ago. Moreover, there are some things, such as World War II, that we have to remember to prevent them from happening again. We should also know where we we were standing a century ago: our origins, our identity. The more you learn about your ethnicity, the better.

All in all, I think that it is extremely important to learn about one’s own country’s history. Anyone who gets the chance to do this should not waste it, since they are very fortunate to have this opportunity

What is your level of English?

Professional Certificate Templates

Easy to Customize & Download

Certificates of Excellence

Best Essay Writing Certificates

by admin · August 20, 2019

In every institute, the teachers give the written assignments of essay writing to their students. The basic purpose of these assignments is to ensure that the student can do creative writing.

In many educational institutes, the essay writing competition is conducted. In this competition, the creative writing and the grip of the student on the particular language are checked. The student who manages to perform best in writing essay is awarded the certificate commonly known as best essay writing certificate.

Importance of essay writing:

The essay writing competition develops the interest of writing in the students. The student learns to transform his thoughts into words. When the student writes in his own writing skill, he gets the opportunity to enhance his vocabulary. A student after learning creative writing can become logical thinker, writer, poet, editor, speaker and what not

What are the benefits of best essay writing competition?

Just like any other certificate, the best essay writing competition certificate is also very encouraging and motivating for the student who earns it. The key benefits of this certificate for students are:

• Achieving the certificate boosts confidence in the student. When a student wins the certificate, he can realize that he is good enough in writing essays. Even if the student cannot write a good essay, he gets motivated to write the essay. The student al least tries to write the essay just in order to earn the certificate. Then eventually there comes a time when the student becomes well-versed with essay writing.
• Essay writing certificate encourages other students to participate in the competition which promotes the competition in the classroom.
• After achieving the best essay writing certificate, the person can use this certificate to get a job as a writer or editor in a magazine. Being able to write an essay is a skill. This skill can be brought up in the resume of the person as a key competency

 How to create the best essay writing certificate?

In order to create this certificate, you can follow the following guidelines

• Mention the name of the institute awarding this certificate on the top of the certificate along with the title.
• Mention the name of the candidate winning this certificate.
• Mention a few common details of the essay written such as the language in which the essay was written, the platform at which the essay the candidate was given the opportunity to write an essay and many other basic details
• Add the date on which the certificate is being awarded and signatures of the authority issuing this certificate.

In order to draw up a perfect looking best essay writing certificate, you are required to follow the format in which a general certificate is created. For this purpose, pay more attention to the format of the certificate and the layout of the content on the certificate. The content of the certificate should also be counted to ensure that it contains the relevant and necessary information.

Dimension: 11″ x 8.5″

[For Word: (.docx) File: Personal Use Only] [Size: 2204.0 KB]

[For Word: (.docx) File: Personal Use Only] [Size: 6204.0 KB]

[For Word: (.docx) File: Personal Use Only] [Size: 1204.0 KB]

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