Writing the Personal Essay: Finding Your Story


ID : 2730   

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The personal essay, one of the oldest forms of
creative nonfiction, blends storytelling, reflection,
and analysis to give voice to lived experience. In
this course, we will explore the personal essay as
both art and self-expression. Through readings,
discussion, and writing exercises, we will study
elements such as narrative arc, scene-setting,
and reflection. We will draft our own essays,
discovering how this enduring form helps us find
our voices and tell our stories with clarity.

Lisa Stolley, professor of English at the University of Illinois
Chicago and Northwestern University, is a published fiction
author. Her short stories have appeared in numerous literary
journals, earning an Illinois Arts Council Award, a Pushcart
Prize nomination, and first prizes from the Washington Review
and Georgia State Review. Her nonfiction has been published
in Today’s Chicago Woman and the Chicago Reader. Stolley
teaches scientific writing at UIC’s School of Public Health and
is a legal writer for immigration attorneys.

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Class Details

6 Session(s)
Weekly - Sat

Location
NA - Online

Instructor
TBD Instructor 

 

Notice

Please read:  ONLINE: This course meets online through the Osher Online platform.

Fee: 

$75.00

Registration Closes On
Friday, March 13, 2026 @ 12:00 PM

Schedule Information

Date(s) Class Days Times Location Instructor(s)
4/18/2026 - 5/23/2026 Weekly - Sat 02:00 PM - 03:30 PM N/A - Online TBD Instructor 

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