This document outlines the syllabus for an English composition course titled EWRT 1B: Spring 2013. It provides information about the course goals, requirements, texts, grading scale, policies, and logistics. Specifically, the course goals are to develop skills in understanding literature and conveying that understanding through essays. Requirements include participation, assignments, essays, blog posts, tests, and quizzes. The grading scale divides assignments into points that total to 1000 for the course. Various policies address essay submissions, academic dishonesty, attendance, conduct, late work, appointments, adding/dropping the course, and potential educational use of student papers.

1. 1
EWRT 1B: Spring 2013
EWRT-001B Reading, Writing, and Research
Kim Palmore, PhD Class Time: 8:30 AM- 10:45AM MW
Email: Palmorekim@fhda.edu 7:30 AM- 9:45 AM T/TH
Office: F1-IL Office Hours: MW 7:30 - 8:20 AM
Cell Phone: 408-674-3005 TTh 9:45 - 10:45 AM
Goals: Through reading, discussion of, and writing about literature, you should develop a greater ability to
understand what you read and to convey that understanding in a variety of clear, unified, coherent, well-
developed and effective essays.
Requirements:
1. Active participation in class discussions and regular attendance.
2. Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading.
3. Five formal papers, two of which will be written in class.
4. A series of posts to the class website = journal/ blog.
5. Tests, quizzes, and in-class assignments.
Texts and Required Materials:
PRIMARY TEXTS
Available on the Website
v Chesnutt, Charles “The Passing of Grandison”
v Far, Sui Sin, “Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian”
v Hughes, Langston, “Passing,” (the poem), “Passing,” (short story), and “Who’s Passing for Who.”
v Morrison, Toni, “Recitatif”
Available at the Bookstore or online
v Feinberg, Leslie, Stone Butch Blues
v Hwang, David Henry, M Butterfly
SECONDARY TEXTS
Available on the Website
v Assorted Journal Articles
Please bring the appropriate text to every class meeting; this means that you should print the short stories from the website
or be able to access an electronic copy. Bring your laptop or draft copies on the days we write in class.
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) 75 Website Posts 150
Essay #2 (4-6 pages) 150 Four Terms Exams 3x25 1x50 125
Essay #3 (4-6 pages) 150 Participation, Quizzes 75
Essay #4 (5-7 pages) 200
Essay #5 (in-class 2-3 pages) 75
Total 1000 points
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

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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://palmoreenglish.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, sign up for just a user name, or sign in with your Facebook account. 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.

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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.
Exams:
We will have several terms tests during the quarter. I will offer one opportunity late in the quarter to re-take or make-up one
of the first three terms tests.
Late Work:
I do not accept late work. I do, however, extend an opportunity to revise either essay #2 or #3 for a better grade. If you miss
an essay due date, you may submit that essay when the revisions are due on the last day of the term. 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.