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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, 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 Lee A. Jacobus A World of Ideas 7th
Edition
v George RR Martin Game of Thrones
v College-level dictionary
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; 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 (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

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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. Do not underestimate the impact that participation has on your final grade. You must be in class to earn
participation points.
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 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.

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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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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 1-3), 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 the 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.