EWRT 1A: Class 1

Welcome!

Adding the Class �  If you are on the waiting list, you can stay. I won’t

hand out add codes until the class settles, 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!

The Syllabus

�  Course Requirements � Assignments and

values

� Participation

�  Required Materials � Books

� Computer Access

�  Class Policies � Plagiarism

� Conduct and Courtesy

�  The Class Website � How to sign up for

an account

� How to post your homework.

Texts and Required Materials: �  Rise B. Axelrod and Charles R.

Cooper, The St. Martin’s Guide to Writing 8th Edition

�  Suzanne Collins. The Hunger Games.

�  Two large blue books for in-class essays.

�  An email account that you will be willing to share via Wordpress and Turnitin

Requirements: �  Active participation in class discussions and

regular attendance. You will earn real points for your participation in activities

�  Keeping up-to-date on the assignments and reading

�  Formal writing: Two in-class essays, two out-of-class essays, one oral presentation

�  Several tests

�  Regular blog posts to the class website

�  Reading quizzes and in-class assignments

Grading System

Class Policies

Writing Submissions

�  In class essays are hand written in a Blue Book

�  Out of class essays (2 and 4) are due by the start of class on the day they are due

�  Out of class essays are submitted through Turnitin.com

�  All blog entries are posted to the course site

Attendance:

v 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, work conflicts, weddings, jury duty, or any other issues that might arise in your life.

v It is your responsibility to talk to me about your absences or other conflicts. Work done in class cannot be made up. Also, please arrive on time, as you will not be able to make up work completed before you arrive, including quizzes.

v Exams: �  We will have five tests during the quarter. The dates of

these exams are in the schedule.

v Late Work �  Work done in class cannot be made up. �  Out of class essays must be submitted by the start of

class on the date they are due (6:30 p.m.) to receive full credit.

�  Out of class essays submitted after the deadline but before the next class meeting will deducted one letter grade (10%).

�  No essays will be accepted more than one class period after the due date.

�  Blog entries must be posted by the start of class on the date they are due to earn credit.

v In this class, we may 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.

Classroom Courtesy

Courtesy Continued �  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 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.

�  Plagiarism includes quoting or paraphrasing material without documentation and copying from other students or professionals.

�  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.

Academic Dishonesty

The Syllabus

Syllabus and Schedule

�  The syllabus and schedule are important guides.

�  They are subject to revision during the quarter.

�  Use the schedule to determine how to prepare for class.

�  If changes are made to the schedule, they will be announced in class.

Our class website is http://rayewrt1a.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.

http://rayewrt1a.wordpress.com/

�  Essay Assignments

�  Some Reading Assignments

�  The Syllabus and Schedule

•  Writing Tips

•  Helpful Links

•  Homework

Turnitin.com If you do not have a Turnitin account:

�  1. Go to Turnitin.com.

�  2. Click on the "Create Account” link to the upper right, and choose to create a new "Student" account.

�  3. Follow the profile creation wizard.

�  4. Within the wizard, you will be asked for the Class ID (9221228) and class enrollment password (identity).

�  5. You will add your account information (first and last name, email, password, secret question).

When you finish and exit the wizard, you can later log into your account by entering the e-mail address and the password you created in the appropriate fields of the Turnitin login page.

Posting Homework �  On the front page of the website, you will find the

homework post after each class.

�  Below that post on the right, are the words “Leave a comment.”

�  Copy and paste your homework into the box.

�  Click there and a comment box will open. Post your homework in the comment box and click “Post Comment.”

Homework

There is writing homework everyday in this class. This is both to help you think about your reading and to help you

produce ideas for your essays.

In order to earn an A on your homework, you must do the

following: •  Complete all of the posts.

•  Post them on time.

•  Be thoughtful in your responses.

This class is going to be so easy! Is this class too hard?

Is this class History 10?

Will I be the teacher’s favorite?

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 lists on the next slides, choose which additional items you would take with you on your trip. Note in detail why you would choose these items.

Into the Wild…

�  Group 1 (Choose 2)

�  Blanket (one wool double)

�  Sleeping Bag (one single, nylon and down)

�  Two extra pair of socks (wool)

�  A rain coat (yellow)

�  Reflective heat jacket

�  Hiking boots (water proof)

�  Group 2 (Choose 1)

�  Waterproof matches (one box of 20)

�  An empty container/bottle (One gallon-plastic)

�  Rope (25 feet)

�  Tarp (8x10)

�  Iodine Tablets (one jar of 20)

�  Group 3 (Choose 1)

�  Bow & Arrows (6)

�  Small Knife (6” blade)

�  A large heavy sword (2.5 feet, 10 lbs.)

�  A hammer (common household type)

�  A fishing line & hook (100 feet of line and 3 hooks)

�  Group 4 (Choose 1)

�  A box of crackers (16 oz.)

�  A package of beef jerky (16 oz.)

�  A bottle of water (one gallon)

�  A package of cheese (16 oz.)

�  A bag of apples (10 small apples)

�  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. It will behoove you to argue vigorously so you all understand the benefits of each item. 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.

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.

Essay #1: The argument essay: an in-class writing exam

Introduction and Thesis

�  Focus your presentation of the issue: Your introduction should explain to the reader both the situation you face and why you have limited resources.

�  Thesis: Compose a thesis that makes your position unambiguous, appropriately qualified, and clearly arguable. (Your thesis will likely be near the end of your introduction).

�  Your working thesis might be similar to one of these: �  “To survive in the wilderness, I will take __________________,” or �  “For this trip, I plan to bring __________________________.”

Body Paragraphs

�  Paragraph one: topic sentence supporting your first item. �  Give reasons for your choice and support them with examples,

scenarios, or anecdotes. 

�  Paragraph two: topic sentence supporting your second item. �  Give reasons for your choice and support them with

examples, scenarios, or anecdotes.

�  Additional Paragraphs: Repeat using the same or similar strategies

Counterargument:

�  Write a counterargument that addresses why you wouldn’t take the items the other people in your group think are very important. You should address specific tools others in your group chose to take. You may do this in each body paragraph as you argue for your choice, or you may do it as a separate paragraph after you finish arguing for your tools.

�  For example, you might start by writing, “while some people might prefer a sleeping bag, I found it to be a poor choice compared to the blanket.” Then you can explain why.

Conclusion:  

�  If your adventure is over, describe how it ended and how you have recovered, suffered, or benefitted from it.

OR

�  If the adventure is ongoing, consider predicting your future in the wild. �  What are you chances of success? �  What do you see as your biggest challenge? �  How might you fail?

 

Homework �  Buy/Order: The Hunger Games

and The St Martin’s Guide to Writing.

�  Make your Word Press Website username

�  Create Turnitin.com username and sign into class.

�  Post #1: Your essay outline with a thesis

�  Bring a hard copy of your outline, a pen, and a blue book to class and be prepared to take in-class essay test #1.