In study of rhetoric, according to Augustine, learning rules is not necessary. Instead, imitation of eloquent models can be an effective way to improve rhetorical skills. I guess both of these strategies are valuable but both have been discouraged to some degree in today’s writing classes. By encouraging creativity, people often deny the value of learning rules & imitating models. But it seems to me both of these practices can prepare students to write better. They serve as preconditions for developing personal writing styles and realizing potentials and creativities. Even learning rules could be beneficial. To some writers, the writing process could be a combination of intuition and awareness of related rules.