This course returns the study and practice of excellent writing to its traditional roots. Excellent writing starts with organized thinking and analysis which is developed into a clear relatable argument and then presented with concise rhetoric and style that captures interest and persuades the reader. This traditional approach to effective communication—analysis, argument, rhetoric—has been replaced today by opinion without analysis, contention without understanding, and dissuasive incivility. This course discards the contemporary playbook (and textbook) to focus on teaching writing from classical works that are valuable and engaging for faith-oriented students who want to pursue writing excellence with traditional topics, methods, and academic standards. The course refines all three phases (analysis, argument, rhetoric) of excellent writing: Students read, research, analyze, and discuss written works which draw upon classic works of great writing. Then they develop a thesis and outline a strategy for explaining and defending their thesis with relatable arguments. Then they write their essay persuasively with their own unique individual voice, and polish their writing for conciseness, powerful word choice, and engaging style. While all of these course traits are distinctive, what especially sets this course apart from others elsewhere is that the instruction is deliberate rather than incidental. Students do not just read, discuss, and write—they receive direct instruction at each step to continually improve and refine their writing process. In this engaging rhetoric and style course, students are actively taught to confidently write analytically, clearly, concisely, and convincingly with eloquence, passion, and politesse.