Letter of Introduction

Dear Student,

Welcome to Baruch, and more specifically, to ENG 2100: Writing I, the first of two Pathways core classes in college composition. Good writing and good thinking go hand in hand. The writer Joan Didion famously said, "I don't know what I think until I write it down." Maybe you don't think of yourself as a writer, maybe you do. No matter what level you feel your writing is at, this class is designed to help you get stronger and have more confidence in yourself and your writing and thinking abilities.

This book is designed as a guide to ENG 2100 (or 2100T for English Language Learners). The sections in the book correspond roughly with our five major goals for the class, and the essays you'll find here were written, for the most part, by our own faculty and advanced doctoral students at the CUNY Graduate Center. The student essays are from your peers, and maybe yours will be next. Along with the rest of our faculty, I encourage you to submit your work for publication in one of our student-run magazines and literary journals at Baruch.

Even if you don't plan to go on to be a professional writer, you'll be writing for the rest of your life, both in professional and personal contexts. In fact, communication skills consistently are at the top of business leaders' lists of what's important in job candidates. Even more importantly, a democratic society depends on well-educated citizens who can think critically about news sources, who can engage ethically with others across differences, and who can express themselves well orally and in writing.

I couldn't be prouder to work with you and your peers on a daily basis. I hope you have a great experience in this class and an intellectually rich experience at Baruch.

Dr. Lisa Blankenship

English Department • Newman Vertical Campus

Lisa.Blankenship@baruch.cuny.edu