BEAVER W.Va. (WVDN) – A new nonfiction writing course is being offered by author Belinda Anderson through River Community and Technical College. “Writing Effective Essays” begins Oct. 20.
“A lot of folks think of essays strictly as school projects, but it’s a much broader writing form,” Anderson said. “If you write a reflection of a personal experience that readers can relate to, that’s an essay. If you share your perspective through a blog, that is in essence an essay. A speech can be an essay.
“Essays can be humorous or dramatic. They have the power to touch and persuade readers.”
Anderson gave as an example the dramatic impact of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, quoting this excerpt: “I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight …”
Anderson added, “Essays can inject humor into challenging situations.” Here’s the beginning of an essay by author Bailey White about the process of replacing a beloved vehicle: “It really makes you feel your age when you get a letter from your insurance agent telling you that the car you bought, slightly used, the year you got out of college, is now an antique.”
This class is designed both for beginners and more experienced writers. “Essay writing is an act of discovery, both for you and your readers,” Anderson said.
“Writing Effective Essays” will meet for three weeks for an hour at 10 a.m. Fridays.
The convenient audio-only class can be accessed by cell phone, landline telephone or an internet conference call connection – high-speed internet is not required. The conference calls will provide time for questions and participant sharing, with group e-mail follow-up as needed.
Anderson, the author of four books, was named a Master Artist by the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. Her essays also have been included in several anthologies, and she has been a guest blogger on writing-related web sites.
Tuition for the class is $95. The registration deadline is Oct. 5. Participants will be emailed the conference call number and access codes after registering for the class.
Visit www.newriver.edu/community for information on upcoming classes or register for the course or contact Gloria Kincaid (304-793-6101, gkincaid@newriver.edu).
Learn more about Anderson and her work online at http://www.BelindaAnderson.com.
New River CTC’s Workforce Education Division provides community education classes and employable educational opportunities including noncredit courses, workforce development programs and customized training.
For information on programs offered at New River CTC, visit www.newriver.edu, email admissions@newriver.edu or call 866-349-3739.
New River Community and Technical College serves nine counties in southeast and south-central West Virginia: Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer, Monroe, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Summers and Webster. The College offers classes online, in Beaver at the Raleigh County Campus, in Ghent at the Advanced Technology Center, in Hinton at Summers County ARH Hospital, in Lewisburg at the Greenbrier Valley Campus, in Marlinton at One Room University, in Princeton at the Mercer County Campus and in Summersville at the Nicholas County Campus.
