This year-long course trains students to write with clarity and coherence. Students will write rhetorical essays, both general and academic types, to practice using different modes of writing in combination and produce well-supported, persuasive arguments. The second semester focuses on engaging in intellectual conversations with writing as well as on practicing the steps of writing a research paper from scratch, that is, from deciding on a research topic, writing proposals and outlines, finding references, to writing drafts and revision. Students will write a short research paper (5-6 pages) citing at least 4 references.