Most of us have been reading, writing and thinking for quite a while. We often forget, however, that these three skills can always be improved. This year, I want you to consider the following statements and corresponding questions:

"I know how to read."

Perhaps you can decipher words from a page, but do you claim to understand everything behind them?

"I know how to write."

While you may have earned your English teacher's praise last year, can you honestly say that your written communication is perfect?

"I know how to think."

Is thinking something you can ever really master? What is thinking? What conditions influence the manner in which we process information?

While the average sophomore might think that an English course is about reading books and writing essays, I want you think deeper than this. Reading, writing and thinking are not mutually exclusive: in order to be good at one, you have to be good at all. To help you tackle these challenging questions, we will regularly use the Socratic method of inquiry to frame classroom and online discussions. While you might not be familiar or initially comfortable with these forms of communication, you'll catch on quickly.