EWRT 1A: Class 1

Adding the ClassI will only take 30 studentsIf you are on the waiting list, you can stay. I won’t

hand out add codes until the class settles, and then, only if there is room.

As we go over the syllabus, consider whether you will stay in the class. If you want out, please let me know, so I can offer your seat to another student.

If you are not on the waiting list, it is very unlikely you will get into the class unless we have a mass exodus after the syllabus!

The Green Sheet:What you will find here

Course RequirementsAssignments and

valuesParticipation

Required MaterialsBooksComputer Access

Class PoliciesPlagiarismConduct and

Courtesy

The Class WebsiteHow to sign up for

an accountHow to post your

homework.

Texts and Required Materials:

Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing 8th Edition

Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games.

Two large blue books for in-class essays.

A Gmail account that you will be willing to share via Wordpress, Kaizena, and Google Drive

Requirements: Active participation in class discussions and

regular attendance. You will earn real points for your participation in activities.

Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading.

Formal writing: Two in-class essay, two out of class essays, one speech.

Several testsA series of homework posts to the class websiteReading quizzes, and in-class assignments.

Grading

Class Policies

Writing Submissions1. Before you submit your essay, please save your file as your last name and the number

2, like this: Smith 2. That will help me keep your essays organized.2. Submit your essay through Kaizena, a Google Drive add-on, at

https://kaizena.com/palmoreessaysubmissiongmail. Or simply use the link on our class website home page. This system allows me to respond to your essay with both voice and written comments and to insert helpful links. 

3. Sign in to your Google Account and allow Kaizena access to your Google Drive.4. Click on the “Ask Dr. Kim Palmore for feedback” link.5. Choose your document from your Google Drive. You will be directed to a new page to

choose a delivery box from a drop down menu. 6. Add your essay to the appropriate EWRT 1A box (Essay #2 or #4). Then, click the

“Ask for feedback” button again.7. Once I have graded your paper, Kaizena will automatically share with you the link to

the Google document in the comments section — located on the top-right corner of the Google document.

8. Click on the highlighted sections of the paper to find both audio and written comments concerning your essay or links to materials that will help you improve your writing.

All out of class essays are to be submitted to me electronically before the due date.

Attendance:Success in this course depends on regular

attendance and active participation. Participation points will be part of our daily activities. If you are not in class, you cannot earn these points. You should save absences for emergencies, work conflicts, weddings, jury duty, or any other issues that might arise in your life.

It is your responsibility to talk to me your absences or other conflicts. Work done in class cannot be made up. Also, please arrive on time, as you will not be able to make up work completed before you arrive, including quizzes.

Exams: We will have five tests during the quarter. I extend

the opportunity to re-take or make-up one test late in the quarter.

Late Work I do not routinely accept late work. I will entertain

accepting late work on a case by case basis. Your reasons must be compelling as we have so little time to work through these essays in summer.

Conduct, Courtesy, and Electronic Devices:

In this class, we may engage in the discussion of topics that may stir passionate debates. Please speak freely and candidly; however, while your thoughts and ideas are important to me and to the dynamics of the class, you must also respect others and their opinions. Courtesy will allow each person to have the opportunity to express his or her ideas in a comfortable environment.

Courtesy includes but is not limited to politely listening to others when they contribute to class discussions or while they give presentations, not slamming the classroom door or walking in front of classmates giving presentations if you do arrive late, and maintaining a positive learning environment for your fellow classmates. To help maintain a positive learning environment, please focus on the work assigned, turn off all cell phones and IPods before class, and do not text-message in class. If your behavior becomes disruptive to the learning environment of the class, you may be asked to leave and/or be marked absent.

Academic Dishonesty:Plagiarism includes quoting or paraphrasing material without documentation and copying from other students or professionals. Intentional plagiarism is a grave offense; the resulting response will be distasteful. Depending upon the severity, instances of plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the paper or the course and possible administrative action. All assignments will be scanned and scrutinized for academic dishonesty. Please refer to your handbook for more information regarding plagiarism.

The Syllabus

SyllabusThe syllabus is a tentative schedule. It may be revised during the quarter.Use it to determine how to prepare for class.

Week and Days

What we will do in class

Homework due before the next class Project Title

Our class website is http://ewrt1ahungergames.wordpress.com. In order to do the homework, you must establish an account. To make your own FREE Word Press account, go to Wordpress.com. The system will walk you through the steps to signup for a username or to set up your own user-friendly Word Press blog. Alternatively, you can sign into our website through Facebook. If you prefer not to use your own name, you may use a pseudonym. Just make sure you sign in with YOUR Word Press username before you post on our class page so you get credit for your work. Please email me your username once you have established which account you shall use for the quarter.If you cannot establish your website and username, please come to my office hours as soon as possible, and I will help you with the process. Much of our work will take place online, so establishing this connection is mandatory. You may want to establish your new Gmail account

before you establish your Wordpress username

http://ewrt1ahungergames.wordpress.com/

Essay AssignmentsSome Reading AssignmentsThe Green SheetThe Syllabus (The Daily

Plan)

• Writing Tips

• Helpful Links

• Your Daily Homework Assignment (which is where you post your homework.)

Posting HomeworkOn the front page of the website, you will find

the homework post after each class. Below that post on the right, are the words

“Leave a comment.”Copy and paste your homework into the box. Click there and a comment box will open. Post

your homework in the comment box and click “Post Comment.”

HomeworkThere is writing homework

everyday in this class. This is both to help you think about your reading and to help you

produce ideas for your essays.

In order to earn an A on your homework, you must do the

following:• Complete all of the posts.

• Post them on time.• Be thoughtful in your responses.

This class is going to be so easy!Is this class too hard?

Is this classHistory 10?

Will I be the teacher’s favorite?

Questions?

Let’s get ready to write!

You are headed into the woods for several weeks. The possibility that you will encounter carnivores, giardiasis (from bad water), rough terrain, weather, insects, and poison ivy is very real. You are wearing jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. You have an empty daypack. From the lists on the next slides, choose which additional items you would take with you on your trip. Note in detail why you would choose these items.

Group 1 (Choose 2)Blanket (one wool

double)Sleeping Bag (one single,

nylon and down)Two extra pair of socks

(wool)A rain coat (yellow)Reflective heat jacketHiking boots (water

proof)

Group 2 (Choose 1)Waterproof matches (one

box of 20)An empty

container/bottle (One gallon-plastic)

Rope (25 feet)Tarp (8x10) Iodine Tablets (one jar of

20)

Group 3 (Choose 1)Bow & Arrows (6) Small Knife (6” blade)A large heavy sword (2.5

feet, 10 lbs.)A hammer (common

household type)A fishing line & hook (100

feet of line and 3 hooks)

Group 4 (Choose 1)A box of crackers (16 oz.)A package of beef jerky

(16 oz.)A bottle of water (one

gallon)A package of cheese (16

oz.)A bag of apples (10 small

apples)

After you finish choosing your items, get into groups of three or four and discuss your choices. Explain your reasons for choosing your supplies to the other people in your group. It will behoove you to argue vigorously so you all understand the benefits of each item. When you have all settled on your final lists, make a list for yourself of what each person in your group is taking with him or her.

Write an essay arguing for the supplies you have chosen to take with you into the wild. Present the issue to readers, and develop an argument for the purpose of confirming, challenging, or changing your readers’ views on which supplies are the most important for survival. Your final essay should be around 500 words. You don’t need outside sources for this essay.

Essay #1: The argument essay: an in-class writing exam

Introduction and Thesis

Focus your presentation of the issue: Your introduction should explain to the reader both the situation you face and why you have limited resources.

Thesis: Compose a thesis that makes your position unambiguous, appropriately qualified, and clearly arguable. (Your thesis will likely be near the end of your introduction).

Your working thesis might be similar to one of these: “To survive in the wilderness, I will take __________________,” or “For this trip, I plan to bring __________________________.”

Body Paragraphs

Paragraph one: topic sentence supporting your first item.Give reasons for your choice and support them with

examples, scenarios, or anecdotes. Paragraph two: topic sentence supporting your second

item. Give reasons for your choice and support them with

examples, scenarios, or anecdotes.Additional Paragraphs: Repeat using the same or similar

strategies

Counterargument: Write a counterargument that addresses why you wouldn’t

take the items the other people in your group think are very important. You should address specific tools others in your group chose to take. You may do this in each body paragraph as you argue for your choice, or you may do it as a separate paragraph after you finish arguing for your tools.

For example, you might start by writing, “while some people might prefer a sleeping bag, I found it to be a poor choice compared to the blanket.” Then you can explain why.

Conclusion:

If your adventure is over, describe how it ended and how you have recovered, suffered, or benefitted from it.

OR

If the adventure is ongoing, consider predicting your future in the wild. What are you chances of success?What do you see as your biggest challenge?How might you fail?

Homework Buy/Order: The Hunger Games

and The St Martin’s Guide to Writing.

Establish Gmail account Make your Word Press Website

username Post #1: Your essay outline with a

thesis Bring a hard copy of your outline,

a pen, and a blue book to class and be prepared to take in-class essay test #1.