An introductory study of Catholic fiction, with the purpose of understanding Catholic literature and cultivating skills in scholarly research, textual analysis, and academic writing and documentation. Such skills are fostered by closely reading and analyzing works of short fiction and the novel by accomplished prose stylists. Students focus on the distinctive conventions of fiction in order to interpret these works critically, while interacting thoughtfully with Catholic themes presented therein; there is a particular focus on analyzing and making use of narrative strategies and rhetorical tools. Students continue to develop their academic prose, with attention to improving foundational grammar, diction, phrasing, organization, and argument-building in the thesis-driven essay.