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Writing - Spring
Which Term? When registering online, you need to know which term your class is in. Here is how to tell: Spring classes have a -0 in the course code (e.g., ART C79-04). Summer classes have a -3 in the course code (e.g., ART C79-31). In addition, Spring CRN numbers begin with 4, (e.g., CRN 42081). Summer CRN numbers begin with 5 (e.g., CRN 50543). Please do not put two terms on the same registration form! e.g: Spring and Summer.
Writing Techniques, Tips and Tools
Fiction Writing
POETRY WRITING Fee: $125
Are you a poet? Have you been longing to sharpen your skills as a poet, to express your personal vision, to tickle your reader’s funny bone? Attend this class and begin to make life observations in this universal art form. You’ll improve your craft and enjoy having your work read and discussed by other writers. Share your insight about their work in a focused and supportive environment. Writers of all levels are welcome.
COM E13-01, ETHS, 6 Tue.,
4/10, 7-8:30 pm, Rosberg - CRN 40284
WRITING SHORT STORY Fee: $115
Create a story that works! Through exercises, reading, and discussion, hone your fiction writing skills and gain a greater appreciation of the short story as a form of personal expression. Define character, develop narrative complication, create scenes, and more. The instructors have published hundreds of short stories and poems.
COM E69-01, NILES N, 6 Wed., 2/1, 7-9 pm, Chwedyk - CRN 40156
COM E69-02, MAINE E, 6 Thu., 2/2, 7-9 pm, Fleming - CRN 40173
COM E69-03, MAINE E, 6 Thu., 4/12, 7-9 pm, Chwedyk - CRN 40157
BREAKING INTO SITCOM WRITING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Learn how to write professional sitcom scripts and how to break into show business from a veteran TV comedy writer. Master the art of creating a well-paced, action-packed story and telling it completely in jokes. Discover the secrets to writing dialogue that sounds real, fully serves the story, and makes an audience laugh. Avoid amateur mistakes, and peek behind the business of television writing. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM S39-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40948
COM S39-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40950
COM S39-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40951
COM S39-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40952
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Non-Fiction Writing
Courses marked with an asterisk (*) may be taken as noncredit or credit classes. Different fees and requirements apply for the credit version of any course. For questions regarding a college credit class, contact program coordinator Maureen Douglas at 847-635-1848 or douglas@oakton.edu.
INTRODUCTION TO BUSINESS
AND TECHNICAL WRITING* Fee: Listed with section
This course is designed for students who wish to develop competence in producing various types of business documents, including memos, letters, reports, and product literature. Emphasis will be on writing for an audience with an identified purpose. Students are instructed in using clear, concise prose, and effective graphic elements. Course will involve use of computer. Class is designed for students with college-level writing ability.
ELH A01-C01, OC/DP, 14 Mon./Wed., 1/30, 11 am-12:15 pm, $273 - CRN 40762
ELH A01-C02, Online, 1/30-5/11, $323 - CRN 40763
ELH A01-C03, OC/DP, 12 Tue., 2/14, 6-9:30 pm, $273 - CRN 40764
ELH A01-C04, OC/SK, 12 Sat., 2/18, 9 am-12:50 pm, $273 - CRN 40765
TECHNICAL WRITING APPLICATIONS* Fee: $323
Course develops competencies in producing technical and scientific documents. Content includes manuals, proposals, status reports and formal reports requiring research and data analysis. Focus is on writing and designing reader-centered documents illustrating principles and procedures typical of technical and scientific fields and instruction in design and integration of necessary visual elements such as tables, charts, and graphs Recommended: Successful completion of one college-level English course.
ELH A02-C01, Online, 2/13-5/11 - CRN 40766
TECHNICAL WRITING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Explore the well-paying field of technical writing. Learn to translate complex information into easily understood language and study technical writing conventions, interviewing skills, desktop publishing, graphics, templates, and more. Also, gain tips on how to enter this growing industry. Requirements: Any version of Microsoft Word, and Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM S11-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40881
COM S11-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40885
COM S11-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40902
COM S11-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40903
WRITE AND PUBLISH YOUR Fee: $114
NON-FICTION BOOK (ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Did you know that nonfiction book titles are 10x more likely to get published than fiction titles? Become a professional author or advance your career by learning to write, edit, and publish nonfiction books of all types. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM B35-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40843
COM B35-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40844
COM B35-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40846
COM B35-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40847
CREATIVE WRITING AND SELF-DISCOVERY Fee: $130
See the world and yourself through new eyes—then translate your unique vision into poems, stories or articles that interest and move others.
COM E43-01, NILES N, 8 Wed., 4/11, 7:30-9:30 pm, Miripol - CRN 40111
INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Journaling can help you learn more about yourself. Learn how to explore your dreams, values, and beliefs; improve your health; survive unwanted change; succeed in your career; and express your creativity through writing. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM B36-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40848
COM B36-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40850
COM B36-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40852
COM B36-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40854
DEVELOP YOUR CREATIVE
WRITING MUSCLES Fee: $115
Class will involve constructive writing exercises designed to fine tune basic, but crucial, elements of your work.
COM S27-01, MAINE E, 6 Thu., 4/12, 7-9 pm, Fleming - CRN 40172
KEYS TO EFFECTIVE EDITING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
All levels of writers and editors can benefit from this course, which explores the fundamentals of editing and recent professional advances that may be applied to both fiction and nonfiction writing. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM B17-300, 1/18-3/9 CRN 40839
COM B17-301, 2/15-4/6 CRN 40840
COM B17-302, 3/21-5/11 CRN 40841
COM B17-303, 4/18-6/8 CRN 40842
BECOMING A GRANT WRITING Fee: $114
CONSULTANT (ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Good grant writing consultants are always in demand. Use your creative writing skills and basic knowledge of grant writing to build a lucrative consulting business that can make a difference in the quality of thousands of lives. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
BUB A59-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40505
BUB A59-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40506
BUB A59-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40507
BUB A59-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40509
WRITING FROM LIFE Fee: $199
Do you like to write? Good writing speaks to what is universal in human experience. This workshop will emphasize development of the writer’s voice. We will analyze short works of literature together and you will craft your own work in a supportive environment. All sessions are open to all levels.
COM E50-01, MAINE E, 6 Thu., 2/9, 7-9:30 pm, Rosberg - CRN 40291
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Writing Techniques, Tips and Tools
WRITING CHILDREN’S BOOKS Fee: $150
This beginner-level course will assist you in exploring the field of
children’s literature. Emphasis will be placed on the children’s book
market and getting published. Instructor Elizabeth Brown is founder and
director of The Writer’s Annex.
COM M02-01, NILES N, 6 Wed., 4/4, 7-9 pm, Brown - CRN 40600
SO YOU WANT TO BE A FREELANCE WRITER Fee: $45
Course provides a self-assessment to help you determine if full time writing is right for you.
COM E72-01, OC/DP, 2 Tue., 4/17, 7-9 pm, Gustafson - CRN 40178
TRAVEL WRITING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Profit from travel to exotic lands—or even experiences in your own backyard—by writing and selling travel articles and books. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM E97-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40870
COM E97-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40879
COM E97-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40873
COM E97-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40874
WRITING EFFECTIVE GRANT Fee: $114
PROPOSALS (ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Learn to prepare grant proposals. Learn how to write professional proposals that actually succeed, and avoid the mistakes that get applications for wonderful projects tossed into the wastebasket! Requirement: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
BUB A58-300, 1/18-3/9 -CRN 40500
BUB A58-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40502
BUB A58-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40503
BUB A58-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40504
INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET WRITING Fee: $114
MARKETS (ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Look at how to sell e-zine articles; write for webzines and blogs; sell
manuscripts to an e-publisher; and self-publish your own e-book or a
traditional book using print-on-demand publishing. Requirements: Adobe
Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from
www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM B05-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40827
COM B05-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40829
COM B05-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40831
COM B05-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40832
CRAFT OF MAGAZINE WRITING Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
Magazine writing is fun, easy, and a great source of income whether you are retired, planning for the future, or a work-at-home parent. Jump start your dream of becoming a freelance writer with a magazine writing career. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM E95-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40863
COM E95-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40866
COM E95-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40867
COM E95-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40869
SCREENWRITING FOR BEGINNERS Fee: $150
The focus is on the basic elements of screenwriting: premise, dramatic structure, conflict, character, sequence, scene, dialogue, format. Students will view films and analyze them from the screenwriter’s perspective.
COM S10-01, NILES N, 6 Wed., 2/8, 7-9 pm, Brown - CRN 40599
BEGINNING WRITER’S WORKSHOP Fee: $114
(ONLINE) In-district seniors: $75
If you’ve dreamed of writing creatively, this course is a great place to start. Get a taste of the writing life, improve your writing skills, and discover new ways to stretch your creative muscles. This isn’t school as you know it. It’s an in-depth writing experience filled with challenging hands-on exercises, expert advice, and plenty of direct support and encouragement. Requirements: Adobe Flash Player and Adobe Reader (download for free from www.adobe.com/downloads).
COM B11-300, 1/18-3/9 - CRN 40834
COM B11-301, 2/15-4/6 - CRN 40835
COM B11-302, 3/21-5/11 - CRN 40836
COM B11-303, 4/18-6/8 - CRN 40837
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Contact Us
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
Phone: 847.635.1808
Fax: 847.635.1809
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Phone: 847.982.9888, option 3
Fax: 847.635.1448















