Freshman Composition I Syllabus for 2011-2012
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

Any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements should contact disAbility Services (Student Service Center room 119, phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

Student Withdrawal Procedures

N/A

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

ENGL-1301-067 Freshman Composition I

Prerequisites

RDNG 0331 and ENGL 0302-minimum grade of C or scores on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading and writing skills

Course Description

Principles of effective writing, emphasizing organization of materials to produce a unified essay which supports convincingly a thesis statement. Review of conventional elements of writing and introduction to rhetorical analysis.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Carter, Judith L., et al. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 4^th ed. Mason: Cengage, 2010. Print.*

Faigley, Lester, and Jack Selzer. Good Reasons. Custom ed. New York: Pearson Longman, 2011. Print.*

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Concise Wadsworth Handbook. 3rd ed. Boston: Cengage, 2011. Print. Enhanced InSite package. **

*These books are available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

** Students need to purchase their textbooks new in the AC Bookstore to receive the Enhanced InSite Brochure. This brochure contains a PIN that is essential for the course. (If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at [806] 371-5307.)

Supplies

A jump/flash/USB drive for saving work would be extremely helpful. While I encourage you to keep a notebook, the only absolute requirements for each class meeting are:

Lined notebook or composition book

Pen

Student Performance

1.  Understand basic rhetorical concepts: subject, audience, purpose, and appeals.

2.  Apply rhetorical concepts in analyzing and evaluating text.

3.  Use standard American English to write essays that are rhetorically effective: clear, organized, detailed, grammatically correct, and audience specific.

4.  Use the library's online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing.

5.  Write a third person, argumentative research paper following the MLA format for citing sources.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

As the instructor, I am committed to treating students with respect and dignity. I expect the same in return, and I expect you as students to treat each other with respect and dignity. Disrespect will not be tolerated.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PLAGIARISM POLICY (Revised January, 2009):

Plagiarism:

According to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism is the "appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work."

Misdocumented Plagiarism:

1.  Using someone else's exact words that are quoted but not cited or cited but not quoted.

2.  Using a citation at the end of a block of prose without clarifying which material is borrowed.

3.   Missing or incomplete works cited entries.

Misdocumented plagiarism will receive a maximum 50 percent deduction for the first offense, and 100 percent off for all subsequent infractions. The student will be required to meet with the instructor.

Undocumented Plagiarism:

1.  Using someone else's exact words that are neither quoted nor cited.

2.  Paraphrasing someone else's words without citing them.

3.  Using someone else's research without citing it.

Undocumented plagiarism will receive a minimum penalty of 50 percent for the first time and 100 percent off for all subsequent infractions. The student will be required to meet with the instructor and the English Department Chair.

Grading Criteria

15% Essay One- Personal

15% Essay Two- Rhetorical Analysis

30% Researched Argument

10% Journal Entries

10% Daily work, quizzes, class participation, rough drafts, and peer review

15% Final Exam/Semester Test (in-class essay)

90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, Below 60 = F

Late work Policy: Late work will NOT be accepted. If you cannot attend class on the day an essay is due, plan to turn the essay in early or make arrangements for someone to submit your paper. I always accept work turned in early.

Work must be made up within one day of absence. Students should make up work missed due to a school trip before the trip occurs. If this is not possible, they should make up the assignment the day they return. Pre-announced assignments (outside of class essays, etc.) are due on the day announced. There is no late work accepted.

All scheduled essays/exams are required.  No "extra credit" or "dropped grades" are available.  In the rare instance that I offer an extra exam, that offer is granted to all students, regardless of their current average.

Reading:

Reading assignments will include Where Am I Wearing?by Kelsey Timmermanand 1984 by George Orwell, and Macbeth by William Shakespeare as well as many of the readings from your book(s).  These will occur throughout the semester with most reading completed outside of class.

Writing:

Personal Essay, Rhetorical Analysis, Researched Argument, various journaling assignments. Specific dates will follow based on difficulties with the school schedule.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.

When you must miss for a school trip or some other reason, you should come to the very next tutorial session if an assignment took place during the class period that you missed.  Any outside of class work is due the very next day.

Calendar

Additional Information

\N