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• \ Analyze and write essays (500-750 words) utilizing different rhetorical modes
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• \ Evaluate written expression by reviewing the rhetorical elements of situation, audience, purpose, and point of view
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• \ Understand that writing is a process that includes planning, organizing, composing, revising, and editing
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• \ Compose complete and grammatically correct sentences
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• \ Generate an appropriate thesis statement and develop major supporting points in a reasonable and logical manner
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• \ Apply standard American English syntax, usage, and mechanics in editing and writing essays.
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• \ Utilize basic computer technology including such things as composing a document in MLA style with a word processor, communicating using email, and learning about the college’s learning management system.
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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

\ CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT:

\ All rules and regulations set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” section in 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. (There is also a link to the Student Rights and Responsibilities document in the online syllabus.)

\ 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 respect. Everyone is equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialogue, attitude, and classroom. Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class or in the writing lab.  This includes derogatory remarks about gender, race, ethnicity, or religious or philosophical beliefs.    

\ ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

\ Any device which makes noise can be disruptive to class, so turn them off before class starts 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 the instructor before class, set your phone to vibrate, and sit near the exit. Audio recorders may not be used in class as they inhibit some students from asking questions or making comments in class. You will have to rely on note-taking to record class lectures and discussions unless arrangements have been made with the disAbilities Services office and the instructor.  (Some class notes will be available in AC Connect under "Course Content.")  Laptops are also not permitted unless arrangements have been made with the disAbilities Services office and the instructor.

\ IN-CLASS USE OF CELLPHONES, MP3 PLAYERS, ETC.  WITHOUT THE INSTRUCTOR'S PRIOR APPROVAL WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON YOUR GRADE. 

\ E-MAIL ETIQUETTE: 

\ E-mails sent to your instructors must be addressed and signed.  E-mails, like all academic work, should be carefully scrutinized by their senders, as the senders’ professionalism is reflected in the grammar, spelling and structure of the e-mail.  E-mails should never look like text messages that contain slang words or heavily abbreviated terms.  E-mails that do not meet the aforementioned criteria will not be answered.

Grading Criteria

\ GRADING CRITERA/GRADE SCALE AND PROGRESSING TO THE NEXT CLASS: 

\ Final grades will be 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: 

\ A student who does not earn a "C" or above in English 0302 must re-enroll in the course.  To receive credit for English 0302, students must have a 70 average or above, according to the following scale:

\    50% of your grade = written assignments (4 essays and a midterm essay exam)

\    15 % of you grade = mastering 15 grammar topics

\    10% of your grade = diagnostic tests: pre and post

\    10% of your grade = 10 discussions

\    15% of your grade = final written exam, argumentative essay 

\           

\ MIDTERM GRADE NOTICIFICATION

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

\  

\ COMPUTERS:

\ Computers are available in the English Writing Labs (Ordway 101 and 104) for individual student use for word processing and Internet work. Students who use the lab are required to sign in for each visit. Students will do some writing on computers as a part of this class.  Students will need a USB (jump or flash) drive if they want to save their work.  This class also uses AC Online and MyWritingLab programs. Some of your grade is based on assignments turned in and or done with these program

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.

\ It is the student’s responsibility to provide documentation of an excused absence and make arrangements for making up any work missed during that absence. 

\ If you miss a class, YOU ARE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY WORK ASSIGNED IN CLASS OR DUE THAT DAY.  You can email or upload (check assignment sheet, assignment instructions in course content, etc. for information) your homework, papers, etc. AND check the course calendar, course content, and email for any new assignments.  

\ If you know in advance that you must miss a class, please notify the instructor in advance AND turn in early any work that is due on the day you must miss.

\  

\ LATE WORK:

\ All work is due on the date assigned.  Again, you can turn work in early if you know you must miss a class, or you can turn in using Blackboard if you must miss class unexpectedly.  

\ Homework and/or In-Class assignments:

\ No homework or in-class Under will be accepted late FOR A GRADE; HOWEVER, even if you miss the due date, you are still responsible for completing the assignment and turning it in.

\ Major Writing Assignments:

\ No outlines that are part of the major writing assignment are accepted late.  

\ No rough drafts are accepted late for a grade.

\ Final drafts, with the exception of the last major writing assignment, are accepted up to five days late; however, the paper loses 10pts for each day.  Therefore, by the fifth day, the most the final draft is 50% of the total points possible for the final draft.  The 10pt  late penalty begins immediately after the due time for the paper has passed.  For example, it a paper is due on a certain date by 10:00am, a paper turned in at 10:01am is late, and the 10pt late penalty applies.   

\  

\ WITHDRAWING FROM A CLASS:

\ It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before the withdrawal deadline: 11/20/13. Students may withdraw via WebAdvisor, by meeting with their academic advisor, by meeting with Advising Department staff or at any of the Assistance Center counters. Withdrawal requests will not be accepted by telephone.

\ The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time in fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. There are certain exceptions to this policy and petitions for exceptions should be directed to the Registrar.

\ If during the semester you consider dropping this class, please check with the instructor first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Remember that the deadline for drops this semester is 11/20/13.  Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

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Calendar

Additional Information

LAB:

This class meets in the Writing Lab, Ordway 104, on Thursdays and in  the classroom, Ordway 205, on Thursdays. We will meet in Ordway 205 for the first day of class.

COMPUTERS:

Computers are available in the English Writing Labs (Ordway 101 and 104) for individual student use for word processing and Internet work. Students who use the lab are required to sign in on the computer for each visit. Students will do some writing on computers as a part of this class.  Students will need a USB (jump or flash) drive if they want to save their work.  This class also uses AC Connect.  You will need to know your AC Connect user name and password before our first meeting in the Writing Lab.

AC Connect:

AC Connect is a program that is used in this class.  The class calendar will be posted on AC Connect under "Course Content."  Some assignments will be posted under "Course Content." Quizzes may sometimes be taken on AC Connect.  The grade book is on AC Connect under "My Grades."  You will need to use the email feature on AC Connect to email the instructor.  

TUTORING:

Free tutoring is available through three sources: The Writers’ Corner, Lynn Library Room 016 (basement), and Smarthinking. The Writers’ Corner is on the first floor of Ordway Hall in room 102. It is suggested that you make an appointment at the Writers’ Corner, but you can also drop by for tutoring.  The Writers’ Corner is open Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and some evening hours (varies per semester).  You can call for an appointment at (806) 345-5580. The library tutors have irregular hours (including some evening hours), so see this semester’s posted hours.

In addition, AC subscribes to Smarthinking, an on-line tutoring service you may use free for 10 hours each semester. This service is available nights and weekends. Access instructions are located in AC Online. 

TUTORING POLICY:

This is the tutoring policy for this class. When you turn in a paper and you receive a grade below 70, you still have a chance to make a passing grade.  The instructor will return a copy of the paper to you.  You can take the paper and meet with a tutor in The Writers’ Corner (WC).  After you meet with a tutor, the tutor will send the instructor a form explaining what he or she talked to you about. You will have one week after the paper was originally returned to you to rewrite the paper with the advice you received from the tutor.  You will return the original paper and the revised paper to the instructor.  The revised paper will then be graded. (You must see a tutor in the Writers’ Corner, rewrite the paper, and turn in both the original and rewritten paper in one week from when it was given to you to have the original grade removed. If your schedule does not allow meeting a WC tutor during its posted hours, talk to the instructor about other options.)

INSTRUCTOR FEED BACK AND GRADING TIMELINE:

Feedback is a response to an inquiry.  An example of feedback is when a student sends a question to an instructor, and the instructor answers the question for the student.  You can reach me (your instructor) in three ways: in person, by phone, or by email.  You can visit with me after or before class, during my office hours, or by appointment. You can leave a message for me on my voice mail.  It will be at least 24 hours for me to respond to you when I receive your voice mail.  I usually answer voice mail Monday through Thursday and sometimes on Friday. I look at my email several times a day; however, please be aware that I do not always check my email on the weekends.  During the business week (Monday – Thursday), it might take as long as 24 hours to answer email during the week, and if I check email on the weekend, it might take up to 48 hours to answer.  Email is the fastest way to receive a response from me.  You may use my regular work email or email me through AC Connect. I do not use Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace for my classes.

Remember that when you have questions, you need to contact me well before an assignment is due.  For example, 11:00 p.m. may be too late to hear from me when a project is due at midnight or the next morning.  You might not get an answer to your communication until the next day.

The grading response time is usually three to seven days for me to grade and return a paper or exam to you.  Homework and classwork are usually graded by the next class meeting.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PLAGIARISM POLICY (Revised Spring Semester 2013):

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

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. 

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 nee semester, the names of students who plagiarized the precious semester will be sent to all English Department faculty.

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.

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.