Raffi is a very good teacher, be sure to use him as a resource and schedule a one on one meeting if you're struggling. He mixes up the class structure between quarters, but for us there were no final essays due until finals week but we turn in rough drafts (graded on completion) throughout the quarter. Don't do what I did, which is BS the rough drafts and bump it all to finals week. I was up until 6am finishing my portfolio.

Raffi is a gift to humanity. Made me enjoy English as a stem major. Course is structured around three separate essays: review, conversation and research. Each essay has a greater word count than the last (1000-1500, 1500-2000 and 2000-2500).
Small group conferences occur in week 3, 6 and 10 in which you sign up for a specific timing and discuss your peer's essays with the professor.
Very kind and caring man, he allows anything within a resonable margin.
The textbooks are used as readings alongside other essays/excerpts he sets us to read (generally based around the specific type of essay we work on). Would recommend reading the textbook as it helps with writing.
All essays due mid-finals week alongside a whole-quarter reflection.
Overall a good class.

3 big writing assignments. Grades for the writing assignments are not given until the end of the quarter so it's difficult to predict what grade you will get. Attendance is taken. No final.