Writing Intensive

Courses in the Writing Intensive Concentration (WIC) provide you with an opportunity to learn and apply strategies for writing in your academic and professional areas of interest. WIC-designated courses are offered every semester in a variety of academic disciplines.

What is a writing intensive course?

WIC sections cover the same material as non-writing intensive sections, but with a special emphasis on writing. You will write regularly and learn to communicate in a specific field of study. Writing assignments vary between sections and are tied to the learning objectives of each course.

Why take writing intensive courses?

Writing Intensive courses encourage higher-level thinking and can improve retention of course concepts. A number of four-year colleges require them, so the concentration is especially recommended for prospective transfer students who plan to earn a bachelor’s degree. Moreover, a growing body of research shows writing instruction to be more effective when it is discipline-specific. The work in a Writing Intensive course is more like the writing that professionals actually do, giving you direct exposure to specialized writing practices and facilitating your success in the post-college world. Finally, skilled written communicators are better equipped to succeed in digital contexts, where even simple correspondence requires coherent writing and clear communication.

Concentration Information

The Writing Intensive Concentration comprises a minimum of 12 credit hours. 

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Current Courses

You can search for Writing Intensive courses by selecting "Writing Intensive" from the "Special Course Type" drop-down menu in the online schedule.

Fall 2024 Writing Intensive Course Offerings:

  • PHL 205 World Religions (Sec. 0C1)
  • PHL 205 World Religions (Sec. 0C2)
  • EAS 100 Introduction to Earth Science (Sec. 003)
  • GEG 120 Cultural Geography (Sec. 0C1)
  • SPE 103 Effective Speech (Sec. 004)
  • SPE 103 Effective Speech (Sec. 012)
  • SOC 101 Introduction To Sociology (Sec. 0C1)
  • SOC 101 Introduciton to Sociology (Sec. 003)
  • SOC 103 Social Problems (Sec. 0C3)
  • HUM 210 World Mythologies (Sec. 0G4)
  • HUM 127 Introduction to Philosophy (Sec. 0C1)
  • HUM 127 Introduction to Philosophy (Sec. G50)
  • HUM 142 Women and Creativity (Sec. 001)
  • HUM 142 Women and Creativity (Sec. 002)
  • HUM 220 Asian Humanities (Sec. 001)
  • HUM 220 Asian Humanities (Sec. 050)
  • PSC 101 American Government (050)
  • HSV 110 Counseling and Interviewing (Sec. 0C1)
  • ECO 201 Principles of Macroeconomics (Sec. 0C1)
  • ECO 202 Principles of Microeconomics (Sec. 0C1)
  • PSY 234 Family Systems and the Addictive Process (050)

NOTE: Not all sections of the above courses are writing intensive. You must enroll in one of these WIC-designated sections to receive writing intensive credit. 

The following English courses are writing intensive by design and any section can be taken toward completion of the concentration:

  • EGL 111 Introduction to Business and Technical Writing
  • EGL 150 Introduction to Journalism 
  • EGL 201 Introduction to Creative Writing
  • EGL 202 Writing Fiction 
  • EGL 203 Writing Poetry 
  • EGL 204 Introduction to Screenwriting 
  • EGL 205 Introduction to Playwriting
  • EGL 206 Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
  • EGL 211 Writing Digital Content
  • EGL 212 Technical Writing Applications

Program Objectives

  1. Identify the demands of an audience in terms of writing conventions for academic and / or professional rhetorical situations.
  2. Use writing process techniques of planning, drafting, revising based on feedback and editing for presentation to compose academic or professional writing for a particular audience.
  3. Use research databases and online search techniques to identify and select sources to support writing in academic and professional rhetorical situations.
  4. Critically evaluate sources for bias and / or misrepresentation.
  5. Evaluate their own and others’ writing as part of the revision process and incorporate feedback from others in the writing process.
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Meet Your Faculty

Valeria Benson-Lira
Assistant Professor of Physical Science
B.A. Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores De Monterrey
M.A. Arizona State University
vbensonlira@oakton.edu
847.376.7258 
Office: 138, Lee Center, Des Plaines

Elena Ermolenko Fein
Professor, Economics
Diploma of Specialist (DS) Khabarovsk State Academy of Economics and Law (Russia)
M.A. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
eermolen@oakton.edu
847.376.7215
Office: 2452, Des Plaines

Mary Hope Griffin 
Lecturer
B.A. New York University
M.A. New York University
M.Div. Yale University
Ph.D. University of California, Los Angeles
mgriffin@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Robert Gynn
Chair, Music, Speech and Theater Department
Professor of Speech and Theater
B.A. DePauw University
M.A.T. Beloit College
M.S.C. Northwestern University
bgynn@oakton.edu
847-635-1843
Office 2612, Des Plaines

Anil Lal 
Lecturer
B.A. Hindu College
M.A. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
alal@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Richard Lyon
Lecturer
LCPC, CADC, CAMS-II
B.A. Wheaton College
M.A. Wheaton College Graduate School
rylon@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Rondell Merrill
Lecturer
B.A. Southern Utah University
M.A. Ball State University
ABD University of Illinois at Chicago
rmerrill@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Michelle Naffziger-Hirsch
Co-chair, Anthropology, College Studies, Education, Psychology, Sociology & Social Sciences (ACEPSS) 
Professor of Sociology
B.A. Northwestern University
M.A. Northwestern University
Ph.D. Northwestern University
mnaffzig@oakton.edu
847.376.7269
Office: 3604, Des Plaines

Clare Pearson 
Lecturer
B.A. University of Chicago
M.A. University of Chicago
cpearson@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Dennis Polkow 
Lecturer
B.A. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
dpolkow@oakton.edu
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines 

Ribhi I. Salhi
Lecturer
B.A. University of Jordan
M.A. Roosevelt University
M.A. Northern Illinois University
Ph.D. Walden University
rsalhi@oakton.edu
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Ahalya Satkunaratnam
Associate Professor of Humanities
B.A. Loyola University, Chicago
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
asatkunaratnam@oakton.edu 
847.635.1950
Office: 3616, Des Plaines

 

Sloan, Philip J.
Professor of English and Writing Intensive Coordinator
B.A. Michigan State University
M.A. Carleton University
M.A.T. Wayne State University
Ph.D. Kent State University
psloan@oakton.edu
847.376-7105
Office: 2739, Des Plaines

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Contact the Writing Intensive Coordinator with questions regarding our Writing Intensive Concentration.