1. EWRT 1A
Week 1 Class 1

2. Adding the Class
 I will only take 30 students
 As of now, I have 44 who are enrolled or on the waiting list.
 If you are on the waiting list, you can stay. I won’t hand out
add codes until Monday of next week, and then, only if there
is room.
 As we go over the syllabus, consider whether you will stay in
the class. If you want out, please let me know, so I can offer
your seat to another student.
 If you are not on the waiting list, it is very unlikely you will get
into the class unless we have a mass exodus after the
syllabus!

3. Requirements:
 Active participation in class discussions and regular
attendance.
 Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading.
 Four formal papers, one of which will be written in
class, one which will be delivered as a speech.
 A series of posts to the class
 Tests, quizzes, and in-class assignments.

4. Texts and Required Materials:
 Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R. Cooper, The St.
Martin’s Guide to Writing
 Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games.
 Class Reader.
 College-level dictionary
 A stapler, USB flash drive, loose-leaf paper or a
notebook for note-taking, and pens or pencils

5. CLASS POLICIES:
 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. If excessive absences become a
problem, you may be dropped from this course (see your handbook for more on De
Anza’s official attendance policy). Tardies and early departures may count as absences.
You will be allowed two absences during the semester though you are still responsible
for timely submission of all work due on any day you are absent. Because YOU WILL
LOSE 10 POINTS PER ABSENCE after two absences, you should save them for
emergencies, work conflicts, weddings, jury duty, or any other issues that might arise in
your life.

6. 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.

7. Website:
 Our class website is http://ewrt1ahungergames. 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 page. You may use either your
name or a pseudonym, if you prefer to remain anonymous.
 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 if it is significantly different from your real name.
 If you cannot establish your website and username, please come to
my office hours this week, and I will help you with the process. Much
of our work will take place online, so establishing this connection is
mandatory.

8. Syllabus
 The syllabus is a tentative schedule of agenda.
 It may be revised during the quarter.
 Use it to determine how to prepare for class.
For Example

9. Questions?

11.  You are headed into the woods for several weeks. The
possibility that you will encounter carnivores, giardiasis
(from bad water), rough terrain, weather, insects, and
poison ivy is very real. You are wearing jeans, a t-shirt,
and tennis shoes. You have an empty daypack. From
the list below, choose which additional items you would
take with you on your trip. Note in detail why you would
choose these items.

12.  After you finish choosing your items, get into groups of
three or four and discuss your choices. Explain your
reasons for choosing your supplies to the other people
in your group. When you have all settled on your final
lists, make a list for yourself of what each person in
your group is taking with him or her.

13. Essay #1: The argument essay: an in-class writing exam
Write an essay arguing for the supplies you have chosen to take with you into the wild.
Present the issue to readers, and develop an argument for the purpose of confirming,
challenging, or changing your readers’ views on which supplies are the most important
for survival.
Your final essay should be around 500 words. You don’t need outside sources for this
essay.
Ways to proceed:
Focus your presentation of the issue: Explain the situation to your reader. Your
introduction could be a scenario describing the setting you will face or a description of a
situation you or someone you know faced in the past.
A clear position: Compose a thesis that makes your position unambiguous, appropriately
qualified, and clearly arguable. (Your thesis will likely be near the end of your
introduction).
Plausible reasons and convincing support: To argue for a position, writers must give
reasons and support them with examples, scenarios, or anecdotes. Write body
paragraphs arguing for each item you want to take.
Anticipate opposing positions and objections: Consider the choices of your group mates
and write a counterargument that addresses why you wouldn’t take the items the other
people in your group think are very important. You must address each specific tool

14. Homework Week 1 Class 1
 Buy: Hunger Games and The St Martin’s Guide to
Writing.
 Make your Word Press Website
 Write your essay outline with a thesis
 Bring a hard copy of your outline, a pen, and paper to
class and be prepared to take in-class essay test #1.