This course is premised on the belief that our writing ability comes, for the most part, from our reading experience. As the authors of The Writer’s Response (the required text of this class) put it, “it is nearly impossible to write well without reading well.” We will pay as much attention to the writing skills demonstrated in the readings as their “contents.” The task of writing in this class is not only to come up with ideas or subject matters to write about, but also to enhance your writing skills and your overall ability in written English to express those ideas or contents in a more satisfactory and sophisticated way. With the emphasis on reading and writing capabilities in mind, the teacher will run the classes as workshops for intensive training in reading and writing. Students will be asked to practice their writings virtually in every meeting and will also be encouraged to explore the more refined and creative use of language in their own writings.