This document provides information about an English 2 transfer level course. The course applies critical thinking skills to reading and writing, with a focus on argument and issues. Key goals include analyzing values and assumptions, gaining competence as a critical thinker, recognizing alternative perspectives, and practicing writing as a recursive process. Requirements include participation, completing assignments, five formal papers including some written in class, website posts, and tests/quizzes. The grading system and policies around attendance, conduct, late work, and adding/dropping the course are also outlined.

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EWRT 2: Green Sheet
Kim Palmore, PhD Cell Phone: 408-674-3005
Email: Palmorekim@fhda.edu Office: F1-11
Course Description:
English 2 is a transfer level course that applies critical thinking skills to reading and writing, with particular attention to argument and
issue-oriented literature.
Course Goals:
1. Analyze and confront personal as well as cultural values and assumptions.
2. Gain competence as critical thinker within established discourse.
3. Recognize and evaluate alternative points of view and meanings.
4. Summarize, synthesize, analyze, and interpret ideas and texts, including literary texts.
5. Formulate arguments.
6. Debate issues.
7. Apply principles of argumentation and logic.
8. Practice writing as a recursive process of discovery, planning, drafting, revising.
9. Compose approximately 6,000 words of writing to be evaluated.
10. Weigh credibility of information sources and integrate outside sources into papers appropriately and responsibly.
Requirements:
1. Participation in class discussions and regular attendance.
2. Completion of assignments and reading.
3. Five formal papers, two of which will be written in class.
4. A series of posts to the class website.
5. Multiple tests, quizzes, or in-class assignments.
Texts and Required Materials:
v Lee A. Jacobus A World of Ideas 7th
Edition
v George RR Martin Game of Thrones
Website:
Our class website is http://ewrt2palmore.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.
Please bring your books to class. Bring your laptop and draft copies on the days we write in class.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will be assessed on their ability to
1) Demonstrate academic (analytical, argumentative) writing based on reading of complex texts.
2) Apply critical thinking skills to writing and complex readings.
3) Demonstrate analysis, comparison, synthesis, and documentation of independent research.
4) Write cogent, well-developed arguments that clearly articulate a thesis supported by textual evidence;
5) Select, evaluate, interpret, and synthesize sources in the service of an argument;
6) Document sources (print, electronic, and other) in MLA style.

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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 (3-5 pages) 125 Homework: Website Posts 150
Essay #2 (2-3 pages) 100 Tests 4x25 100
Essay #3 (2-3 pages) 100 Participation/Quizzes/Activities 125
Essay #4 (2-3 pages) 100
Essay #5 (5-6 pages) 200
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
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.
1. Kaizena allows me to respond to your essay with both voice and written comments and to insert helpful links.
2. Create your account. Go to Kaizena.com or simply use the link on our class website home page. Click “Sign up.”
Choose “Student.” Enter your group code (you can find this on the right side of the website or in the slideshow
directions for how to use Kaizena.
3. Files are added to Conversations in Kaizena. To add a file to a conversation, click the "Add File" button.
4. Next, choose to add a file from Google Drive or to upload a file from your computer. Use the box that pops up to
find your file. When you find your file, click it; next, click "Select" (for a Google Docs file) or open (for an
uploaded file). The file will be added to your conversation.
5. If you experience formatting errors when you upload a Word file, try saving the file as a PDF, and uploading it
again.
6. Once I have graded your paper, you can access it by going to the “conversations” link in Kaizena.
7. 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.
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.

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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, , 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. Do not underestimate the impact that participation has on your final grade. You must be in class to earn
participation points.
Workshops:
In this class, we may have workshops in conjunction with 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.
Homework:
Your 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.
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 four vocabulary tests during the quarter. I will offer one opportunity late in the quarter to re-take or make-up
one vocabulary 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 (essays 1 or 3), you may submit that essay when the revisions are due on the last day of the term. Submitting a late
essay disqualifies you from revising another essay. If you miss an in-class essay, you may take it late, but it will count as
your revision.
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.