This document outlines the assignment requirements for an English writing course. It includes 5 essays of varying lengths that must be completed over the course of the quarter. Essay topics will explore characters from literature, philosophical texts, and include an in-class timed writing. Students will complete vocabulary tests, participate in class, submit reading responses online before each class, and write a final research paper integrating ideas from course texts and discussions. The course also involves workshops and quizzes, with grading based on rubrics for assignments, participation, and submitting work by deadlines.

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Assignment
Sheet
Essay #1: Response to Literature/Character Analysis: (three to five pages): 125 points
Please see the syllabus for due dates.
Prompt Introduction
Write a three to five page, thesis-driven character analysis essay. To analyze a character, you must find
out what makes him or her “tick” by looking at social, behavioral, physical, and mental or emotional
traits. You also must examine how the author presents those traits through actions, words, thoughts,
looks, and reactions. Write an essay answering one of the following questions about the character you
have chosen. Choose one of five prompts from the Essay 1 Assignment sheet.
Please submit an electronic copy in MLA format through Kaizena. Keep all supporting documents (rough
drafts and peer review sheets) until the end of the quarter.
Research Requirements
Works Cited Page
A Works Cited page names all of the sources that were used in an essay or research paper; it credits the
source or sources for the information you present, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize to support your
thesis. A Works Cited page also serves as a reference to the sources that were used so that a reader or
writer can quickly refer to the original text.
The Works Cited page for this research project must contain at least one primary text (A Game of
Thrones), and at least one secondary text. For example, your research may include definitions of terms, or
some investigation of the character’s name, class, gender, or position. If you choose to respond to Topic
#6, you will likely make some reference to Aristotle’s Poetics. You can also draw on your own
knowledge to discuss, explain, and analyze your character, but remember, you need textual support and a
citation for any information that is not common knowledge. Your finished text should be between three
and five pages, excluding the Works Cited page.
Essay #2: Write an in-class argumentative or expository essay on Lao-Tzu’s “Thoughts from the
Tao Te Ching” or Machiavelli’s “The Qualities of the Prince”: (two to three pages): 100 points
Please see the syllabus for due dates.
Prompt Introduction
u You will respond to one of several prompts provided.
u There will be prompts addressing each Lao-Tzu and Machiavelli.
u Your essay will be between 500 and 750 words. The number of pages will depend on your
handwriting!
u You will have two hours to write.
u You may use your textbook or copies of the essays (no other pages or papers will be allowed).
u Please bring a clean, large Blue Book: No Blue Book, no test.
u (Approx. 8x10). You can buy them at the bookstore.
u You may write with either a number 2 pencil (dark lead) or blue or black pen.
Essay
#3:
Argument/Expository
Essay
(two
to
three
pages):
100
Please see the syllabus for due dates.
Prompt Introduction
Write an argumentative or expository essay in response to any one of several prompts listed under essay
#3 concerning either Cicero or Thoreau.. Your essay should be formatted in MLA style and include a
works cited page: (two to three pages): 100 points

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Assignment
Sheet
Essay
#4:
Write an in-class argumentative or expository essay on Plato’s “Allegory of the
Cave” or Woolf’s “Shakespeare’s Sister”: (two to three pages): 100 points
Please see the syllabus for due dates.
Prompt Introduction
u You
will
respond
to
one
of
several
prompts
provided.
u There
will
be
prompts
addressing
each
Plato
and
Woolf.
u Your
essay
will
be
between
500
and
750
words.
The
number
of
pages
will
depend
on
your
handwriting!
u You
will
have
two
hours
to
write.
u You
may
use
your
textbook
or
copies
of
the
essays
(no
other
pages
or
papers
will
be
allowed).
u Please
bring
a
clean,
large
Blue
Book:
No
Blue
Book,
no
test.
u (Approx.
8x10).
You
can
buy
them
at
the
bookstore.
u You
may
write
with
either
a
number
2
pencil
(dark
lead)
or
blue
or
black
pen.
Essay #5: Research Paper (five to six pages): 200 points
Please see the syllabus for due dates.
Prompt Introduction
Over the course of the quarter, we have read the ideas of six philosophers and discussed many issues and
ideas raised by them. We have also applied their ideas about governments, rulers, and citizens; wisdom,
justice, and equality; and perspectives, privileges, and rights to our primary text, A Game of Thrones.
Because of the breadth of our inquiries, I offer you several ways to proceed with this final essay. Your
paper, however, must include the following:
¡ It must be 5-6 pages long (not including the works cited page).
¡ You must use at least four credible sources, and those sources must be listed on your Works
Cited page. At least two of these must be sources we did not cover in class.
¡ Your essay must adhere to MLA formatting rules.
¡ You must submit it electronically to Kaizena before our final meeting.
¡ Your essay must include an intersection between one or more of the philosophies we read
together and A Game of Thrones.
¡ You may choose a topic from the list below, or you may use one of your own. (Please see me
(or email me) about using your own essay topic before you begin.)
You may use your posts and earlier essays as fodder to help support your arguments, but your final essay
should be, of course, more sophisticated in its final presentation.
Vocabulary Tests (four x 25 points each) 100 points
We will have four vocabulary tests during the quarter. I will offer one opportunity late in the quarter to re-
take or make-up one vocabulary test.
Participation, Quizzes, Activities, Writing Workshops 125 points
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. To earn points, do the reading, come to class, be prepared
for the discussion or activity, and engage in both small and large group discussions.

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Assignment
Sheet
Website Posts (Homework) 150 points
There is writing homework due before each meeting. Your homework is designed both to help you think
about your reading and to help you produce ideas for your essays. All QHQ homework is to be posted on
the website by 6:00 pm the day before the next class convenes. Late homework will result in a point deduction.
Homework posted more than two days late won’t count. Do not underestimate the impact homework will have
on your grade.
In order to earn an A on your homework, you must do the following:
ü Complete all of the posts.
ü Post them on time.
ü Be thoughtful in your responses.
Figure your final grade this way: 150/31= 4.84 points per post minus 2.42 points for each late post (48
hours after the due time. There are no points awarded for posts more than 48 hours late). Then, multiply
the total times the average grade percentage for the quality of your work.
Ø Example
Ø Posts completed: 29 x 4.84 points = 140.36 points
Ø Late posts: 1 x 2.42 = 2.42
Ø Subtract the smaller from the larger: 140.36 – 2.42= 137.94
Ø Quality of posts: A- or 92% (Quality only exceeds 94% if you have positive comments from me.)
Ø Multiply the total times the quality: 137.94 x.92=126.90 or 127/150 points.