This document provides information about the first class of an English writing course. It discusses that the class is limited to 30 students. As they review the syllabus, students should consider whether they want to stay in the class and let the professor know if they want to leave so someone on the waiting list can take their spot. The document outlines what students will find on the class website, including assignments, policies, and where to post homework. It provides details about the required texts, assignments including essays and tests, grading, policies on attendance, conduct, and plagiarism. It includes the course syllabus and homework which is to create a WordPress account, post an essay outline, and bring materials to the first class for an in

1. EWRT 1A: Class 1

2. Adding the Class
 I will only take 30 students
 If 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!

3. The Green Sheet:
What you will find here
 Course Requirements
 Assignments and
values
 Participation
 Required Materials
 Books
 Computer Access
 Class Policies
 Plagiarism
 Conduct and Courtesy
 The Class Website
 How to sign up for an
account
 How to post your
homework.

4. 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.
 A large blue book for in-class
essay #1.
 A Gmail account that you will be
willing to share via Wordpress,
Kaizena, and Google Drive

5. 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: One in-class essay, Three out of class
essays.
 Several tests
 A series of homework posts to the class website
 Reading quizzes, and in-class assignments.

6. Grading

7. Class Policies

8. Writing Submissions
1. 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, #3, 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.

9. 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.

10.  Tests: We will have five vocabulary tests during the
quarter. There are no make-ups. One day, near the end
of the quarter, I will offer every student the opportunity to
take or re-take one test.
 Late Work: I do not accept late work. I do, however,
extend an opportunity to revise one essay for a better
grade. If you miss an essay due date, you may submit
that essay when the revisions are due. This does
disqualify you from revising another essay. Revised
essays receive no feedback.

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. The Syllabus

14. Syllabus
 The 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

15. 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/

16.  Essay Assignments
 Some Reading Assignments
 The Green Sheet
 The Syllabus (The Daily Plan)
• Writing Tips
• Helpful Links
• Your Daily Homework Assignment
(which is where you post your
homework.)

17. Posting Homework
 On 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.”

18. Homework
There 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.

19. Is this class
too hard?
Is this class
History 10?
Will I be the
teacher’s
favorite?

21. 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.

22.  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 jacket
 Hiking 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)

23.  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)

24.  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.

25. 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

26. 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 __________________________.”

27. 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

28. 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.

29. 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?

30. 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.