Freshman Composition I Syllabus for 2011-2012
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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.

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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

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Administrative Drop Policy

N/A

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N/A

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Course

ENGL-1301-053 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

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ Faigley and Selzer's Good Reasons, Amarillo College Custom Edition. 2010

\ Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell.  The Concise Wadsworth Handbook with InSite (2 semester PIN).  3rd edition.  Boston:  Cengage, 2011.*

\ A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 2010.
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\ * Students need to purchase their textbooks new in the AC Bookstore to receive the InSite Brochure. (If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.)
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Supplies

Students must have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection for the hybrid course as much of the work is done online. 

USB drive.  We will work on some writing assignments in class; the

Student Performance

\ 1. Understand basic rhetorical concepts: subject, audience, purpose, and appeals.
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\ 2. Apply rhetorical concepts in analyzing and evaluating text.
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\ 3. Use standard American English to write essays that are rhetorically effective: clear, organized, detailed, grammatically correct, and audience specific.
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\ 4. Use the library's online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing.
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\ 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

English Department Plagiarism Policy (Revised November, 2006):
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 words 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 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.

Student professionalism:  Part of your overall grade is based on your professionalism in the classroom.  You are expected to attend class, come to class prepared to participate (have all reading and homework assignments complete before class), actively participate in class discussions without monopolizing all of the class time, respect the instructor and classmates, and actively participate in online and in class activities.

Student professionalism:  Part of your overall grade is based on your professionalism in the classroom.  You are expected to attend class, come to class prepared to participate (have all reading and homework assignments complete before class), actively participate in class discussions without monopolizing all of the class time, respect the instructor and classmates, and actively participate in online and in class activities.

*CELL PHONE USE IS NOT PERMITTED DURING CLASS.  Have your cell phone ringer and alerts set to silent BEFORE CLASS BEGINS.   Any use of a cell phone in class will negatively affect your student professionalism grade.  If you have a possible emergency need, talk to me before class.  

Grading Criteria

• 15%  In-class assignments, quizzes, homework
• 05%  Student professionalism
• 65%  Essays - rough and final drafts
• 15%  Final Exam - in-class essay

A = 90 - 100  B = 80-89  C = 70-79  D = 60 - 69  F = 59 and below 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.  More than two absences are considered excessive.  Students with excessive absences will find it difficult to pass the class.

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to check the the online course page  for assignments, lecture items, etc.  You should also check with one of your classmates for information on what you missed. 

Late Work:

Submissions to InSite will not be accepted late. If a situation arises that prevents students from complying with this policy, they must contact the instructor via email before the deadline of the assignment lapses.

In-class work, quizzes, and homework cannot be made up if you miss the class when the work is assigned/due.  However, I do drop the lowest two grades in the homework/in-class work/quiz grade category.

Major writing assignments will be accepted up to five days late; however, the assignment will lose 10 points for each day it is late.  Therefore, a paper that is five days late will only be worth a maximum of 50 points.

If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in the course and gives you an opportunity to complete it. 

Calendar

Additional Information

How to contact Instructor:

You must use the our course email to contact me.  I will also use the course email to send you information about class changes and assignments.  Therefore, you should check your course email on a regular basis.