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. 

Learn More

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.

Writing-Intensive Sections for Spring 2025

  • Introduction to Earth Science (EAS 100-OC1) with Valeria Benson-Lira
  • Principles of Macroeconomics (ECO 201-OC1) with Elena Fein
  • Principles of Microeconomics (ECO 202-OC1) with Elena Fein
  • Introduction to Business and Technical Writing (EGL 111-OC2) with Philip Sloan
  • Introduction to Journalism (EGL 150-OC1) with Nicholas Obradovich
  • Introduction to Creative Writing (EGL 201-001) with Tina Fakhrid-Dean
  • Writing Poetry (EGL 203-OY1) with Danielle Aquiline
  • Writing Digital Content (EGL 211-OC1) with Scott Johnson
  • Technical Writing Applications (EGL 212-OC1) with Scott Johnson
  • Geography of Latin America and the Caribbean (GEG 206-0G1) with Valeria Benson-Lira
  • Introduction to Philosophy (HUM 127-050 and HUM 127-OC1) with Clare Pearson
  • Women and Creativity (HUM 142-001 and HUM 142-002) with Ahalya Satkunaratnam
  • Asian Humanities (HUM 220-050 and HUM 220-OG1) with Anil Lal
  • Counseling/Interviewing (HSV 110-OC1) with Richard Lyon
  • World Religions (PHL 205-OC1 and PHL 205-OC2) with Dennis Polkow
  • American Government (PSC 101-OC2) with Ribhi Salhi
  • Family Systems and the Addictive Process (PSY 234-050) with Richard Lyon
  • Introduction to Sociology (Honors) (SOC 101-OH1) with Michelle Naffziger-Hirsch
  • Social Problems (SOC 103-003) with Michelle Naffziger-Hirsch
  • Effective Speech (SPE 103-004 and SPE103-012) with Robert Gynn

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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
847-635-1843
Office 2612, Des Plaines

Anil Lal 
Lecturer
B.A. Hindu College
M.A. Virginia Polytechnic Institute
[email protected]
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Richard Lyon
Lecturer
LCPC, CADC, CAMS-II
B.A. Wheaton College
M.A. Wheaton College Graduate School
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
847.376.7269
Office: 3604, Des Plaines

Clare Pearson 
Lecturer
B.A. University of Chicago
M.A. University of Chicago
[email protected]
847.635.1950
Office: 2430, Des Plaines

Dennis Polkow 
Lecturer
B.A. DePaul University
M.A. DePaul University
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
847.635.1910
Office: B206, Skokie

Ahalya Satkunaratnam
Associate Professor of Humanities
B.A. Loyola University, Chicago
Ph.D. University of California, Riverside
[email protected] 
847.635.1950
Office: 3616, Des Plaines

Ji-Hyae Park
Professor of English and Writing Intensive Coordinator
B.A. State University of New York at Buffalo
Ph.D. University of Michigan at Ann Arbor

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