Freshman Composition I Syllabus for 2011-2012
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Course

ENGL-1301-009 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Concise Wadsworth Handbook packeged with the two semester  InSite card. 3rd edition.  Boston: Cengage, 2011. You do not need Aplia card.

Carter, Judith, et al. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. Mason: 2011. 

* 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, pen, black or blue ink  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

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."

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.

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.

Clasroom Etiquette

Even though thisis an online class, there is classroom etiquette.

1. Treat others as you would want to be treated.

2.  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.

3.  Participate in the class discussions.   

4.  Don’t cheat.

Grading Criteria

Tentative and Subject to Change

40% Essays (in-class and out-of-class writings)

15% Tests (Major and minor)

25% Homework Assignments and Portfolio

5% Attendance and Participation

15% Final in-class Essay

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 daily login is treated as a percentage of your attendence grade.

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

No late work will be accepted after two days of the due date. After the due date, even if you are absent with cause, 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, or upload it to InSite if that is where it belongs.

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.For an on-line class, this includes signing into AC-Online, to our class, daily.

Attendance is refelected in your grade. Each absence is treated as a percentage of your attendence and participation grade.

No late work will be accepted after two days of the due date. After the due date, even if you are absent with cause, 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.  Upload late work 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 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 July 1, 2012.

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Additional Information

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