Writing - Spring

Which Term? When registering online, you need to know which term your class is in. Here is how to tell: Fall 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, Fall CRN numbers begin with 6, (e.g., CRN 62081). 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 course titles with asterisk (*) may be taken for college credit. Contact Program Coordinator Maureen Douglas at 847-635-1848 or douglas@oakton.edu for more information.

Fiction Writing

Non-Fiction Writing

Writing Techniques, Tips and Tools

Fiction Writing

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. No class 2/17.
COM E69-01, GLBRK S, 6 Thu, 2/3, 7-9 pm, Chwedyk     -  CRN 40321
COM E69-02, ETHS, 6 Thu, 4/14, 7-9 pm, Chwedyk        -  CRN 40322


WRITING THE MYSTERY CRIME SHORT STORY:
FROM IDEA TO PRODUCTION                                    Fee: $89
Learn the techniques and tips you need to successfully write and publish your own mystery. Mysteries are hot items on today’s bestseller lists!
COM C13-01, ETHS, 4 Tue, 2/1, 7-9:15 pm, Doherty    -    CRN 40311
COM C13-02, NILES N, 4 Mon., 5/23, 7-9:15 pm, Doherty   -    CRN 40312


BREAKING INTO SITCOM WRITING                Fee: $109
(ONLINE)                                       In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40665
COM S39-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40666
COM S39-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40667
COM S39-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40668

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Non-Fiction Writing

*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 hardware and software.Class is designed for students with college-level writing ability.
ELH A01-C01, OC/DP, 14 Mon/Wed.,1/31, 11 am-12:15 pm, $273 - CRN 41128
ELH A01-C02, online, 1/31-5/13, $323 - CRN 41129
ELH A01-C03, OC/DP, 12 Tue., 2/15, 6-9:30 pm, $273 - CRN 41130
ELH A01-C04, OC/SK, 12 Sat., 2/19, 9 am-12:50 pm, $273 - CRN 41131

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, ETHS, 8 Thu, 4/14, 7:30-9:30 pm, Miripol - CRN 40316


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, GLBRK S, 6 Thu, 4/14, 7-9 pm, Fleming    - CRN 40313


BECOMING A GRANT WRITING                                Fee: $109
CONSULTANT (ONLINE)                     In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40565
BUB A59-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40566
BUB A59-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40567
BUB A59-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40568


WRITING EFFECTIVE GRANT                              Fee: $109
PROPOSALS (ONLINE)                In-district Seniors: $70
Learn to prepare grant proposals that get solid results for your favorite organization or charity. More than $200 billion is available for worthy causes each year, yet most people don’t know how to prepare the application that will deliver needed funding. 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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40561
BUB A58-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40562
BUB A58-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40563
BUB A58-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40564


LIFE STORIES: CREATING A MEMOIR              Fee: $44
Start documenting the stories of your family. Give your descendants the opportunity to know you as a person. Perhaps you can create a bridge across a generation or two. Learn tips, secrets, and motivational techniques to keep you on track in documenting the noteworthy events of your life.
COM C08-01, GLPD, 2 Tue., 3/8, 6:30-8:30 pm, Gulisano   -  CRN 40448


WRITE AND PUBLISH YOUR                                          Fee: $109
NON-FICTION BOOK (ONLINE)            In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40625
COM B35-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40626
COM B35-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40627
COM B35-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40628


TECHNICAL WRITING                      Fee: $109
(ONLINE)                   In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40652
COM S11-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40654
COM S11-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40655
COM S11-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40656


*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, 2/14-5/13        -  CRN 41134


TRAVEL WRITING                        Fee: $109
(ONLINE)               In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11       -  CRN 40643
COM E97-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40644
COM E97-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40645
COM E97-303, 4/20-6/10       -  CRN 40646

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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 Mon., 4/4, 7-9 pm, Brown   - CRN 40319


WRITING DOCUMENTARY FILMS                Fee: $45
This class will cover all the fundamentals of documentary film preparation and production, including writing, structure, camera,
conflict, POV, and more.
COM M04-01, OC/DP, 2 Tue., 4/5, 7-9 pm, Gustafson  - CRN 40317


KEYS TO EFFECTIVE EDITING                          Fee: $109
(ONLINE)                                      In-district Seniors: $70
Ask any published writer and you will hear that a good editor isn’t just helpful, but essential. 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, 1/19-3/11     -  CRN 40621
COM B17-301, 2/16-4/8       -  CRN 40622
COM B17-302, 3/16-5/6       -  CRN 40623
COM B17-303, 4/20-6/10     -  CRN 40624


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., 4/19, 7-9 pm, Gustafson   -  CRN 40318


GRANT WRITING                    Fee: $80
Learn the fundamentals of researching and writing grant proposals to foundations, corporations, and the government. No class 4/7.
COM E14-01, ETHS, 6 Thu, 3/17 , 6-8 pm, Fischer         - CRN 41329


INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET WRITING          Fee: $109
MARKETS (ONLINE)                      In-district Seniors: $70
While some traditional markets for writers have vanished, others have appeared on the horizon – many on the Internet. We’ll 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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40613
COM B05-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40614
COM B05-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40615
COM B05-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40616


CRAFT OF MAGAZINE WRITING             Fee: $109
(ONLINE)                              In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40638
COM E95-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40639
COM E95-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40640
COM E95-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40642


SELL YOUR MANUSCRIPT                  Fee: $25
Topics include preparing a book synopsis or proposal; locating markets; the roles of editors and agents; negotiating payments, and more.
COM S26-01, ETHS, 1 Thu, 3/24, 7-9 pm, Fleming     -  CRN 40315


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. No class 2/21.
COM S10-01, NILES N, 6 Mon., 1/24, 7-9 pm, Brown        -  CRN 40320


BEGINNING WRITER’S WORKSHOP                  Fee: $109
(ONLINE)                                          In-district Seniors: $70
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, 1/19-3/11      -  CRN 40617
COM B11-301, 2/16-4/8        -  CRN 40618
COM B11-302, 3/16-5/6        -  CRN 40619
COM B11-303, 4/20-6/10      -  CRN 40620

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