This course focuses on developing the student's ability to write at an advanced level about topics of broad cultural importance. Students will demonstrate assurance and skill in producing written communications on par with published prose. This class goes beyond the mechanics of proper English composition and explores concepts such as originality, honesty of both fact and presentation, clarity, sincerity of emotion, economy of expression, and naturalness of style. This course can be taught from many perspectives. It strives to instill Alexander Pope's thought that "true ease in writing comes from art, not chance". Writing is emphasized in response to Thoreau, Mencken, Didion, and Dillard, among others.