This document provides an overview of the goals, requirements, policies, and grading for an English 1A course. The course aims to develop students' abilities to analyze texts, write essays with varying purposes and strategies, and practice writing as a process. Requirements include 5 papers, weekly posts to a class blog, and tests/quizzes. Students will be assessed on their writing process, analysis of diverse texts, argument development, and MLA citation. Grades are based on a 1000-point scale across assignments like essays, tests, and participation. Course policies address submission formats, attendance, conduct, and late work.

1. 1
EWRT 1A: Green Sheet
Kim Palmore, PhD Cell Phone: 408-674-3005
Email: Palmorekim@fhda.edu Office: F1-11
Goals: English 1A is a transfer level course in reading and composition that prepares students to analyze college texts and
to write college papers. In particular, you should learn to
1. Read and analyze a wide variety of types of writing.
2. Examine texts that are rhetorically and culturally diverse.
3. Generate ideas and topics for essays.
4. Formulate and support theses.
5. Integrate and organize ideas.
6. Develop a personal style and voice appropriate to purpose and audience.
7. Practice writing as a multi-step process.
8. Compose essays with varying purposes, audiences, and rhetorical strategies.
Requirements:
1. Active participation in class discussions and regular attendance.
2. Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading.
3. Five formal papers, one of which will be written in class.
4. One meeting with the instructor.
5. A series of posts to the class website = journal/ blog.
6. Multiple tests, quizzes, or in-class assignments.
Texts and Required Materials:
v Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing 8th
Edition
v Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games.
v A stapler, loose-leaf paper or a notebook for note-taking, and pens or pencils
Please bring the St Martin’s Guide (SMG) to every class meeting; bring The Hunger Games on the days we will discuss it.
Bring your laptop and draft copies on the days we write in class. Finally, please staple homework and drafts as needed prior
to submitting these items in class.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be assessed on their ability to
1) Practice writing as a multi-step process including planning and revising with attention to varying purposes,
audiences, and rhetorical strategies.
2) Read and analyze rhetorically and culturally diverse narrative and expository texts from a variety of
perspectives.
3) Write cogent, well-developed arguments that clearly articulate a thesis supported by textual evidence.
4) Document sources (print, electronic, and other) in MLA style; and
GRADING:
Grades for this course will be based on a 1000-point scale divided as follows:
Assignment My Score Point
Value
Assignment My
Score
Point
Value
Essay #1 (in-class) 2-3 pages 50 Website Posts 150
Essay #2 (out of class) 3-5 pages 125 Tests 5x25 125
Essay #3 (in-class) 3-5 pages 125 Participation/Quizzes/Activities/
writing workshops
150
Essay # 4 (out of class) 4-6 pages 175
Essay #5 Speech (3 pages) 5-6
minutes
100 Total 1000 points

2. 2
I will assign traditional + and - grades
Grade Points Required Grade Points Required
A 900-1000 D 600-699
B 800-899 F 599 and below
C 700-799
CLASS POLICIES:
Essay Submission:
All out of class essays are to be submitted to me electronically before the class period in which they are due. They
must be submitted as an attachment in Microsoft word. No other saved forms are acceptable. If you do not have Microsoft
word software available, leave yourself time to save and send your work from a library computer. Essays must also be in
MLA format. I will read and return essays in the order they are received, with comments both in the text and in the margins.
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.
Attendance:
Attendance is a significant part of this course, and 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.
It is your responsibility to talk to me your absences or other conflicts. Work done in class cannot be made up. If you must
be absent, please arrange with a classmate to get assignments and notes. Also, please arrive on time, as you will not be able
to make up work completed before you arrive, including quizzes.
Conduct, Courtesy, and Electronic Devices:
In this class, we will regularly 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.
Participation:
Participation includes doing all work asked of you inside and outside of class, maintaining a positive learning environment
for your classmates, and contributing to class discussion. Participation points are accrued based on your in class
participation.
Website:
Our class website is http://palmoreewrt1a.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 and click on the large, orange button that says, “Get
started here.” The system will walk you through a series of steps that will allow you to set up your own user-friendly Word
Press blog. If you don't want a blog, you can signup for just a username. You can also register through Facebook. Make
sure you sign in with YOUR Word Press username before you post on our class page so you get credit for your work.
If you prefer not to use your own name, you may use a pseudonym. Please email me your username if it is significantly
different from your real name.
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.

3. 3
Workshops:
In this class, we will have workshops in conjunction with each take-home essay assignment. Please be prepared by bringing the
appropriate number of copies of your rough draft (see course outline) on workshop days. All drafts for out-of-class essays must be
typed and printed though using recycled paper is acceptable. If you come to class without the proper number of copies required for
that day’s lesson, I will excuse you from class to either make copies or work on your essay. You will not receive participation points
for the workshop.
Quizzes:
I may decide to include pop quizzes from time to time to ensure you are completing all readings in a timely fashion. There
are no make up opportunities for quizzes.
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 essay #2 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.
Appointments:
You can schedule an office visit with me by using the appointment finder on the class website. Alternatively, you can just
drop by to see if I have a vacancy. Or, you can email me if you need to make an appointment outside of my formal office
hours.
Adding and Dropping:
Adding and dropping this class is the responsibility of the student. Please observe all deadlines regarding the same should
you wish to add or drop this class.
Educational Use of Student Papers:
Occasionally, I retain copies of written work to share with this class or future sections of the course; selections of student
work used in these ways will be anonymous. However, if you absolutely object to the use of your work in these ways,
please let me know now, so that I can respect your preference.