My goal as a teacher is to help students learn to think for themselves and prepare to face a diverse world filled with communities and people whose views and values differ markedly from their own. I believe there is no better preparation for citizenship than a writing classroom dedicated to teaching students how to acquire knowledge, take responsibility for their arguments, and articulate ideas they find meaningful. The critical thinking, writing, and research skills students acquire under these circumstances not only prepare them for employment in the world, but also furnish them with the means to both imagine and construct the world anew.