As a teacher of English, I am often asked to proofread English-language materials of communicative nature, such as messages, letters, or notices. In recent years, however, with the implementation of the country's policy of reform and openning to the outside world,  many people can now realize their dreams to further their studies abroad and to work in multi-national corporations or joint ventures. Hence, these materials take the form of writings for the purpose of academic and job applications. In tertiary education, undergraduate students are required to write their graduation thesis abstracts in English; graduate students often have to write up and publish their research in English. Students' need and their growing enthusiasm for English writing motivated me to offer an English writing course in 2001 to graduate and undergraduate students alike  at Zhejiang University, HangZhou, and the course has since then been very well received, Meanwhile, this teaching experience and my long cherished personal interest in English writing -- both theoretical and pedagogical -- emboldened me to start compiling this " Practical English Writing" coursebook.