Personal Essay I

WRITING X 422.1

Learn to write essays, opinion pieces, and mini-memoirs about your life in this introductory course.

View Course Options
READ MORE ABOUT THIS COURSE
Online
Live Online
Starting at $720.00
As few as 10 weeks
3.0
View Course Options

What you can learn.

  • Learn to be a compelling first-person narrator
  • Work on theme, character development, voice, and pacing for your life stories
  • Complete at least one personal essay of at least 600 words

About this course:

"Personal Essay" is a broad term that encompasses essays, opinion pieces and mini-memoirs—but which always details the writer's journey through a specific experience. This workshop teaches aspiring personal essayists how to be a compelling first-person narrator and employ craft elements such as theme, character development, voice, pacing, scene-setting and exposition to tell their stories. The goal is to complete at least one personal essay (600-2,500 words) and develop material for future essays.

Winter 2025 Schedule

Date & Time
Details
Format
 
-
Tuesday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Available
See Details
Instructor: Nate Dern
401001
Fee:
$720.00
Live Onlineformat icon
Location: Remote Classroom
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

Refund Deadline
No refunds after January 28, 2025
Course Requirements

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC SYLLABUS FOR THIS COURSE.

Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Tue Jan 14, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Jan 21, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Jan 28, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Feb 4, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Feb 11, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Feb 18, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Feb 25, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Mar 4, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Mar 11, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Tue Mar 18, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
-
This section has no set meeting times.
Available
See Details
Instructor: Victoria Zackheim
401002
Fee:
$720.00
Onlineformat icon
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

Refund Deadline
No refunds after January 22, 2025
Course Requirements

Internet access required to retrieve course materials.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PUBLIC SYLLABUS FOR THIS COURSE.

Spring 2025 Schedule

Date & Time
Details
Format
 
-
Wednesday 7:00PM - 10:00PM PT
Future Offering (Opens February 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
402191
Fee:
$720.00
Live Onlineformat icon
Location: Remote Classroom
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from February 03, 2025 to April 13, 2025
Course Requirements

Internet access required to retrieve course materials.

Schedule
Type
Date
Time
Location
Online
Wed Apr 2, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Apr 9, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Apr 16, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Apr 23, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Apr 30, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed May 7, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed May 14, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed May 21, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed May 28, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
Online
Wed Jun 4, 2025
7:00PM PT - 10:00PM PT
Remote Classroom
-
This section has no set meeting times.
Future Offering (Opens February 03, 2025 12:00:00 AM)
See Details
Instructor: Erik Fuhrer
402190
Fee:
$720.00
Onlineformat icon
Updating...
See Details
Notes

Enrollment limited to 15 students; early enrollment advised. Visitors not permitted. Internet access required.

Refund Deadline
Refunds only available from February 03, 2025 to April 13, 2025
Course Requirements

Internet access required to retrieve course materials.

Contact Us

Speak to a student advisor. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm.
phone-icon 310-825-9415
phone-icon writers@uclaextension.edu
Ready to start
your future?
By signing up, you agree to UCLA Extension’s Privacy Policy.

vector icon of building

Corporate Education

Learn how we can help your organization meet its professional development goals and corporate training needs.

Learn More

vector icon of building

Donate to UCLA Extension

Support our many efforts to reach communities in need.

Innovation Programs

Student Scholarships

Lifelong Learning

See More