Basic Grammar and Writing 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-0301-005 Basic Grammar and Writing I

Prerequisites

Acceptable Accuplacer writing test scores or equivalent on state-approved alternative tests

Course Description

Practice in formulating simple and compound sentences, simple tense formation, basic subject-verb agreement, punctuation and basic spelling rules. Practice in writing clear, logically developed paragraphs using standard American English.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\N

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

\ The Dolphin Writer Book 2: Composing Paragraphs & Crafting. Houghton Mifflin, 2008. Pearson. 

Supplies

\  

\

\ SUPPLIES NEEDED:

\

\ Jump/Flash/USB drive if you want to save your computer work in a writing or computer lab.

\

\   

Student Performance

\  

\

\ STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

\

\ Students will be able to:

\

\
• \ Analyze and write paragraphs (200-300 words) utilizing different rhetorical modes
\
• \ Evaluate written expression by reviewing the rhetorical elements of situation, audience, purpose, and point of view
\
• \ Understand that writing is a process that includes planning, organizing, composing, revising and editing
\
• \ Compose complete and grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs
\
• \ Generate an appropriate topic sentence and develop support sentences in a reasonable and logical manner
\
• \ Apply standard American English syntax, usage, and mechanics in editing and writing paragraphs.
\
• \ Utilize basic computer technology including such things as composing a document in MLA style on a word processor, communicating using email, and learning about the college’s learning management system.
\

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student 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

\ CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT:

\

\ All rules and regulations set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” section I the current edition of the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities publication will be followed in this course. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a copy of the handbook from the Dean of Student Services Office and to become familiar with the contents and provisions of the college’s policies, rules and regulations concerning student conduct.

\

\  

\

\ The classroom environment for this class is based upon a simple principle:  the instructor commits to treat you with respect, and you commit to treat each other and the instructor with courtesy and respect.  Everyone is equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialogue, attitude and classroom.  Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class.

\

\   

Grading Criteria

\ GRADING:

\

\ Final grades are determined by quizzes, exercises, and successful completion of all assigned writing and reading projects.  In order to pass this class, students must turn in all of their work and score an average of 70 or better for the course. Grades will be based on the following system:

\

\  

\

\             A                      90-100= high achievement

\

\             B                     80-89 = above average achievement

\

\             C                     70-79 = satisfactory achievement

\

\             D                     60-69 = unsatisfactory achievement

\

\             F                      0-59 = unacceptable

\

\  

\

\ PROGRESSING TO THE NEXT CLASS:

\

\ Students who do not make a C (70) or better for English 0301 must re-enroll in the course and receive credit for it before enrolling in English 0302.  Students must have a 70 or above according to the following scale:

\

\  

\

\ 70% of your grade= exams, rough drafts, and revisions of essays

\

\ 10% of your grade= homework, daily work, class participation

\

\ 20% of your grade = final exam

\

\  

\

\ FINAL EXAM

\

\ The final exam consists of a written exam that is given the week before finals week and a part that is given during final exam week.

\

\  

\

\ MIDTERM GRADES:

\

\ At midterm, instructors will send a grade notice to students whose grades are under 70. This form will let students know at midterm they are not passing and why. This gives students a chance to talk to instructors and seek help to improve their grades.

Attendance

\ ATTENDANCE:

\

\ Students are expected to attend all classes. Because of the collaborative nature of this course and the fact that success in this course depends on continuous practice and constant direction from the instructor, missing even one class can interfere with your grade.  Absences start on the first scheduled day on which the class meets.

\

\  

\

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

\

\   

Calendar

Additional Information

\ COMPUTERS:

\

\ Computers are available in the student library for individual use for word processing and internet use. Students must sign in for each visit. Students will need to do essays on a computer as part of this class, and must use a USB drive if they wish to save their work.

\

\  

\

\ TUTORING:

\

\ Free tutoring is available with AC’s subscription to Smartthinking, an online tutoring service you may use for free for 10 hours each semester. This service is available nights and weekends. Access instructions are located in AC Online.

\

\  

\

\ INSTRUCTOR FEEDBACK:

\

\ You can reach me in three ways: in person before or after class, by phone, or by email. You can leave a clear, short message on my voice mail. It may be at least 24 hours before I respond to you. I check email every day and will respond as quickly as I can to any of your questions there.  Use the email address listed at the top of this syllabus. I do not use Facebook, Twitter or MySpace with my students.

\

\  

\

\ If you have questions, you will need to contact me long before the assignment is due.  If you call me at 11:00 pmthe night before the assignment is due, I will not be answering you at that late hour. Use common sense and courtesy when calling and call within normal office hours when possible.

\

\  

\

\ I grade your papers as soon as I possibly can. Grading essays is very time-consuming as I make every effort to correct your mistakes and write you personal improvement notes. It may take a week to return all of your essays. Homework and class work is usually graded by the next class meeting.

\

\  

\

\ ENGLISH DEPT. PLAGIARISM POLICY (Revised Jan. 2009):

\

\ Plagiarism:

\

\             According to the AC 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:

\

\
• \ Using someone else’s exact words that are quoted but not cited or cited, but not quoted.
\
• \ Using a citation at the end of a block of prose without clarifying which material is borrowed.
\
• \ Missing or incomplete works-cited entries
\
• \ Undocumented Plagiarism:
\
• \ Using someone else’s exact words that are neither quoted nor cited.
\
• \ Paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them.
\
• \ Using some 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.

\

\  

\

\ CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT:

\

\ All rules and regulations set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” section I the current edition of the Student’s Rights and Responsibilities publication will be followed in this course. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain a copy of the handbook from the Dean of Student Services Office and to become familiar with the contents and provisions of the college’s policies, rules and regulations concerning student conduct.

\

\  

\

\ The classroom environment for this class is based upon a simple principle:  the instructor commits to treat you with respect, and you commit to treat each other and the instructor with courtesy and respect.  Everyone is equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialogue, attitude and classroom.  Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class.

\

\  

\

\ ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

\

\ Any devices which make noises are disruptive to class, so turn them off when entering class and leave them off. This includes iPods, MP3 players, and cell phones. Do not answer the phone OR text during class. If an unusual family situation requires you to be available, tell me before class, and sit next to the door with your cell phone on vibrate.  Audio recordings may not be used in class without my permission or unless arrangements have been made with the disabilities Services office and me. The same conditions apply to laptop computers.

\

\  

\

\ 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 (StudentServicesCenter, Room 125, Phone 806-371-5436) as soon as possible