Freshman Composition I Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Instructor Information

Course Information

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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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Course

ENGL-1301-034 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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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Concise Wadsworth Handbook packeged with the two semester InSite card and Aplia card. 3rd edition.  Boston: Cengage, 2011.

Carter, Judith, et al. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. Mason: 2010 with Insert

* 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.)

Supplies

\ A wide ruled spiral notebook - one subject for assignments and notes. Pen, black or blue ink, and something to take notes in (on).

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

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

\ 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 words and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work."
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\ Misdocumented Plagiarism:
\ 1. Using someone else's exact words that are quoted but not cited or cited but not quoted.
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\ 2. Using a citation at the end of a block of prose without clarifying which material is borrowed.
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\ Misdocumented plagiarism will receive a maximum 50 percent deduction for the first offense, and the student will be required to meet with the instructor.

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\ Undocumented Plagiarism:
\ 1. Using someone else's exact words that are neither quoted nor cited.
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\ 2. Paraphrasing someone else's words without citing them.
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\ 3. Using someone else's research without citing it.
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\ 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.

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\ Etiquette of the Classroom

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\ 1.  No talking while the instructor or other students are talking.  It is rude and annoying, and it results in class members (including yourself) not hearing the instructions for our assignments.

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\ 2.  Avoid coming in to class late.  Students who come in late make noise and disturb others. It is disrespectful and annoying and rude.  Besides, it makes you unprepared for what we are doing in class, resulting in frustration for you and the instructor. Two tardies will be counted as an absence for toward your grade.

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\ 3.  No leaving the classroom unless it is absolutely necessary.  It is distracting.  Go to the bathroom and get a drink of water before you come to class. Do not leave to answer a cell phone. If you do get up to answer, or answer in class, you will be counted absent for the day, and will be asked to leave.

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\ 4.  Turn off cell phones, pagers, beepers (including those on your watch).  Also, cell phones will not be allowed on desks.  Keep you cell phone in your pocket, backpack, or purse, and put it on silent or vibrate.  If you answer your cell phone in class, you will be asked to leave and not return for the day. Exceptions to this rule are emergencies. No music devices of any kind will be allowed during class time.

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\ 5.  No sleeping in class.  Your snoring may bother others.

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\ 6.  Bring all supplies to class.  (This includes pencils, pens, highlighters, books, etc.)  Borrowing supplies takes up time and is distracting.

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\ 7.  Do not take vacations during the semester.  You will be far behind in work, and most of it is not available for make-up.

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\ 8.  Class is not dismissed until the I dismisses it.  Do not pack up belongings, do not stand up, and do not leave until the instructor dismisses the class.

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\ 9.  Create an atmosphere of respect in the classroom.  People should feel comfortable in their classrooms.  There will be no arguing, snickering, belittling, harassment, or making fun of any other people in this classroom.  (By the way, the instructor can see you laughing or rolling your eyes, etc.)  Encourage each other.

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\ 10.  Smile.

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\ 11.  Participate in the class discussions.   You're getting a grade.

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\ 12.  Don’t cheat.

Grading Criteria

\ Tentative and Subject to Change

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\ 55% Essay Works (in-class and out-of-class writings)

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\ 10% Rough Drafts and Peer Reviews

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\ 10% Grammar

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\ 5% Homework Assignments

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\ 5% Attendance and Participation

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\ 15% Final in-class Essay

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\ The final grade is affected positively by class participation as well as the grades made on assignments.  These may be based on class rules given to students at the same time as the syllabus and thus become part of the syllabus. Each absence is treated as a percentage of your attendance grade.

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

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\ No late work will be accepted after one week unless there is a valid reason.  After the due date, there will be a penalty of  10 points per day subtracted from the grade given for the paper when graded. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, email your work to me through AC Online on or before its due date.

Attendance

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

Attendance is reflected in your grade. Each absence is treated as a percentage of your attendance and participation grade.

No late work will be accepted after one week. After the due date, there will be a penalty of  10 points per day subtracted from the grade that would have been given if the paper were not late. If you are absent the day an assignment is due, upload the paper to InSite if that is required for the assignment, or email your work to me through AC Online on or before its due date if it is not due on InSite.

If you are absent with cause, talk to me immediately.

Two tardies will count as an additional absence and be reflected in your grade.

 If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan, one that protects your investment in the course and gives you an opportunity to complete it. Remember that the deadline for drops this semester is April 19, 2012.

Calendar

Additional Information

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