To make freedom work in the writing classroom, the instructor must be highly structured, possessing a clear sense of direction that includes a precise idea of the skills to be covered. Freedom refers to the view of writing as a liberal art, a liberating force with the capacity to open new channels of thought and lead students to discover themselves and the world outside. A truly liberating course would also supply students with the tools of grammar and the mechanics to handle any writing challenge. Such a course convinces wary students that writing is a positive progression from thought to word. The devices used in the early stages of such a course include free writing, journal writing, and narrative writing. In the first stages of a "free" course, students discover the power of language through narrative writing. Then they may test their thinking with exercises in logic or situational ethics. At this point, students will be ready for grammar and structure lessons to enhance their communication. Publishing writings in a "newspaper" helps students recognize that the end goal of all writing is communication--to audiences other than the teacher. The only real problem with such a course is timing: the tension between a desire to let students progress at their own pace, and the need to finish the course by the end of the semester. (HTH)