Composition I Syllabus for 2013-2014
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

I am on ET, one hour later than you are. Please contact me via my AC email (jaherr@actx.edu) and be aware that I check my email at least twice daily Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 AM CT and 8:00 PM  CT.  Please know that I do not respond to emails or Remind messages after 8:00 PM CT Monday-Friday, and  after 8:00 AM on Saturdays. There will be occasions when I am working online that I will check and respond during the daytime hours, but please know that if you don not hear from me within 24 hours, I may not have received your email, so please resend. I do not respond to emails or Remind messages on Sunday, so please plan accordingly. Since all weekly assignments are due on Sunday, please be mindful that I am not available to answer questions on Sundays, so please don't wait until the last minute to complete your assignments.

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-1301-040 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

Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating and critical analysis.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

\ Amarillo College English Department Plagiarism Policy, revised Spring 2013

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\ The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

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\ Plagiarism is defined as the following:  the use of someone else’s exact words that are neither quoted nor cited; paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them; or using someone else’s research without citing it.

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\ Student plagiarism in the Amarillo College English Department is internally tracked.  To clarify, records will be kept in the Department of those students who have plagiarized.  At the beginning of each new semester, the names of students who plagiarized the previous semester will be sent to all English Department faculty. 

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\ Plagiarism may receive a penalty of a zero.  A subsequent infraction will be deemed a reason for expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

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\ Note: Self-plagiarism will be discussed with the class by each instructor and infractions for such are left up to the individual instructor’s discretion.

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\ In addition to the learning outcomes listed, students will be expected to use the library’s online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing. Also, all students will write a third person, argumentative research paper following the MLA format for citing sources.

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Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

 
 
Carter, Judith L., et al. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 3rd ed. 2013.

 The Concise Wadsworth Handbook with InSite (4th edition)

Supplies

You  need to keep a notebook, the only real requirements for each class meeting include:

paper

pen

previously taken notes

textbook(s) when requested

3 ring binder

3 different highlighters

Student Performance

\  ENGL 1301 Composition 1

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\ Intensive study of and practice in writing processes. from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both

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\ individually and collaboratively.  Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style.

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\ Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.

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\ 1.  Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.

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\ 2.   Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.

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\ 3.  Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.

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\ 4.  Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.

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\ 5.  Use Edited American English in academic essays.

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\ In addition to the learning outcomes listed, students will be expected to use the library's online databases and other computer

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\ resources for research and word processing.  Also, all students will write a third person, argumentative research paper that

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\ follows the MLA format for citing sources and utilizes peer review.

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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

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\ ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PLAGIARISM POLICY (Revised Spring 2013)
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\ The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.
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\ Plagiarism is defined as the following:  the use of someone else's exact words that are neither quoted nor cited;
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\ paraphrasing someone else's words without citing them; or using someone else's research without citing it.
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\ Student plagiarism in the Amarillo College English Department is internally tracked.  To clarify, records will be kept in the
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\ Department of those students who have plagiarized.  At the beginning of each new semester, the names of students who
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\ plagiarized the previous semester will be sent to all English Department faculty.
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\ Cell phones must be turned off and out of sight- not hidden in your purse, behind your hat, books, backpack or purse!
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\ Plagiarism may receive a penalty of a zero.  A subsequent infraction will be deemed a reason for expulsion from the class.
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\ At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs.
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\ Note:  Self-plagiarism will be discussed with the class by each instructor and infractions for such are left up to the
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Grading Criteria

 

Final exam will be an in-class essay in a supervised two-hour block.  This counts 25% of the semester grade.

Essay scores must equal 60% of more of the class's final grade.

Homework/rough draft count 100 points each;  process essays count 200 points;

 

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

Work must be made up within one week of absence.  Pre-announced assignments (outside of class essays, etc.) are due on the day announced. Major essays/projects accepted 1 week late with a 30 point deduction on all assigned grades.

 

Attendance

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments. It is very important that you attend each class session. This is not an online course but a hybrid which means we will be focusing on writing workshop, peer editing, the writing process and class discussion. If you are not present, you will miss vital information. We meet once weekly from 7:00- 8:15 PM.

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 November 20,2012

 

Calendar

  

Weeks #1- (8/26)  Purchase "A Rhetoric Handbook for 1301-1302" 2nd ed., only in the AC Book Store before 9/9. Purchase Wadsworth Handbook with Insite card by 9/9

 Lecture:Introduction of logos, ethos, pathos in persuasive writing and informational texts. Class discussion of the writing process: prewriting, thesis statements, mode of development, revising, editing, publishing. 

Assignment for 9/9

Reading: Rhetoric Handbook: 5-7, 20

  • Reading: Rhetoric Handbook: 40

Week 2  9/2    NO CLASS- LABOR DAY

Week 3   9/9

Lecture:

  • Personal writing narrative writing with a purpose draft due 9/16.
  • Mentor Text: "The Most Important Day" by Helen Keller
  • Final Draft due 9/23

Weeks #4 (9/16)

Peer edit- bring typed rough draft to class tonight for peer editing  Final copy due to Insite on 9/23

Assignment: Final copy of personal narrative

 "What is Rhetorical Analysis?" -

Reading: Rhetoric Handbook: 24-27, 28-29

Week 5  9/23

Final Draft of personal narrative due to Insite

Lecture: Rhetorical Analysis of Speech- Logos, Ethos, Pathos

Source: www.AmericanRhetoric.com 

  • Reading: The Rhetorical Analysis Essay-44-46, 52-59
  • Assignment: Rhetorical Analysis of Speech
  • Choose one of the following speeches to analyze: General Patton's to Troops, Queen Elizabeth's to Troops, St. Crispin's to Troops, Lyndon Johnson to American public 
  • Class Discussion of Logos, Ethos, Pathos- analysis of techniques used in each speech

Week 6(10/7)  Review sentence style in teacher packet.  Identify and emulate simple, compound, complex, compound-complex sentences, as well as cumulative/periodic stylistic techniques.  

Week #7 (10/14) NO CLASS Tonight

Assignment: Rough Draft of Rhetorical Analysis of written speech- due 10/21

Week 8 10/21

Activity: Peer edit Rhetorical Analysis of Speech- bring a typed copy to class tonight

Assignment: Final Copy of Rhetorical Analysis of Speech due to Insite 10/28

Reading:

Rhetoric Handbook:  citations, paraphrasing, inserting quotations for research essay (pp.14-18)  Review five phrases for identification and emulation from teacher packet. Begin research for argumentative essay using library databases

Week 9 10/28

Begin research for argumentative essay, which is due 11/18.  Students will use on-line site entitled "Opposing Viewpoints" from which to draw their sources.  Essays must include an interior rebuttal paragraph, using "The Basic Structure of a Essay" on pp. 42-3 in the Handbook. Library research time- Tascosa Library

Mentor Text: "Praise the Humble Dung Bettle"  by Sharon Begley

"The English Only Movement-Can America Proscribe Language with a Clear Conscience??  Jake Jamieson

Week #10 (11/4) 

Draft #1 for peer review/teacher analysis.  General Rubric for 1301.  In the Handbook, discussion of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos from pages 34-36.  Teacher packet on stylistic techniques.

Week #11 (11/11)

Draft #2 for peer review/teacher analysis.  General Rubric for 1301.  Further analysis of Ethos, pp. 58-61 in Handbook.  Packet on coherence, avoidance of weak passive, and parallelism.

General Rubric for 1301.  Expansion of understanding Pathos and Ethos on pp. 62-64 of the Handbook.  Use "Checklist for final copies" in the Handbook.

Week #12 11/18

Final Draft of Argumentative Essay with documented research following the MLA Format including works cited page due.

Reading: Rhetoric Handbook 60

Week #13 11/25  NO CLASS TONIGHT

Assignment: Journal response to "The Case Short Words" by Richard Lederer.   Journal Response to "Unforgettable Miss Bessie" by Carl T. Rowan study of style, and appeals. Due 12/2

Week #14 12/2  Review for exam

Week #15 (12/9) Final in class essay exam

 

 

 

Additional Information

\ All scheduled essays and/or exams are required.  No "extra credit" or "dropped grades" will be available.

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM