Composition I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Instructor

Luci Creery (Curriculum Vitae)

E-Mail

luci.creery@actx.edu

Phone

Office Location

Ordway Hall 103B

Office Hours

SPRING II OFFICE HOURS

Monday and Wednesday 10:30 - 12:30

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-1301-012 Composition I

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: 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

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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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 Services Center Room 119, Phone 371-5436) as soon as possible.

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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.

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Textbooks

Lunsford, Andrea. Easy Writer with Integrated Media access code. 5th edition. Boston: Bedford St Martin's, 2014.

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. Hayden McNeil, 2014.

Jordan-Lake, Joy. Blue Hole Back Home. Colorado Springs: David C. Cook, 2008.*

*This book is AC's Common Reader selection for 2014-4015. You can receive a free copy by asking for it in the AC Student Center.

If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.

Supplies

Other Supplies

lined notebook or looseleaf binder with paper
pen, pencil

jump/flash/USB drive

Student Performance

Course Description

Course Objectives

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will:

Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
Use Edited American English in academic essays.

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

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

Behavior

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.

Respect others: As the instructor, I am committed to treating students with respect and dignity. I expect the same treatment in return, and I expect you as students to treat each other with respect and dignity. Disrespect will not be tolerated.

Be courteous to students and instructor: Please turn off all electronic devices (like cell phones) before class.

Please do not text during class. If you are expecting an important call, please let me know ahead of time, set your phone to vibrate, and sit next to the door so you can take the call without disrupting class.
Please do not talk to classmates when the instructor is speaking.

Be prompt and attentive: Arrive before class begins, and stay until you are dismissed.

Plagiarism

Amarillo College English Department Plagiarism Policy, revised Spring 2013

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

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.

Grading Criteria

Grade Criteria

Final grades will be determined by successful completion of all assigned writing and reading projects. In order to pass this class, your final grade must at or above a 70 percent. 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

Your final grade for this course will be calculated according the following weights:

60% Writing Assignments: essays, paragraphs, responses, summaries, and precis
20% Lab and Daily Work: TLC questions*, quizzes, grammar exercises, rough drafts, peer responses
10% Attendance and Participation
10% Final Exam

*One component of this course is called The Library Connection (TLC). The purpose of TLC is to teach students to use library resources to find research to support their academic essays. A library instructor will provide lessons during TLC library days, and an assignment will follow the lesson. Attendance is very important during these days, as TLC instruction days cannot be made up.

Students are responsible to keep copies of all their work. When you turn in an assignment, be sure you have saved a copy and/or a hard copy. Save your work diligently and carefully.

If you are unsatisfied with the score you received on an essay or any assignment, please meet with me to discuss your grade.

Attendance

Attendance Policy

Student responsiblities:

Attend all classes. Since meet only twice a week, your attendance is important to your success in this class. We will do a number of in-class writing assignments, and longer essay assignments will be explained and clarified in class. Absences adversely affect grades.
You will receive a grade for attendance. You may miss up to two classes without affecting this attendance grade. After two classes, your attendance grade will drop 10% for each day missed.
Sign the attendance roll each day.
Inform your instructor of an anticipated absence before the date.
If you do miss class, get make-up work from a trusted classmate. It is your responsibility to get make-up work and notes if you miss class. Please do not ask me after your absence what you missed. Instead, ask a trusted classmate, and I will provide further clarification if needed. For assignment due dates, please refer to the calendar available through AC Online--not this syllabus.

Withdrawal

If you consider withdrawing, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and gives you an opportunity to complete it. Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies. Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

Students are responsible for official 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: November 18, 2014. 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.

Calendar

Course Outline

RH = Rhetoric Handbook
EW = Easy Writer
BHBH = Blue Hole Back Home
TLC = The Library Connection

Week	Topic	Reading	Writing	Grammar (Integrated Media Learning Curve exercises)
1	Introductions Course expectations Handbook scavenger hunt	Selected readings	Diagnostic	Sentence structure
2	Paragraphs Narrative writing Discuss course theme	Washington Post: “More People Express Uncertainty in the Chance to Achieve the American Dream.” New York Times Article: “A Chance to Live, and Then Describe, Her Own American Dream”	Informal: Paragraph responses Assign: Essay 1	Simple, compound, complex sentences; coordination and subordination
3	Narrative writing Expectations of academic writing	Selected readings RH: pg. 5-7 MLA Manuscript Preparation, RH: pg. 5 Words to Avoid in Academic Writing, Pg. 35-38 Basic Structure of an Essay	Informal: Paragraph response, introductory paragraph Due: Essay 1 outline and rough draft	Simple, compound, complex sentences coordination and subordination
4	TLC: Step 1 -- Searching the Internet	Begin Blue Hole Back Home (BHBH)	Due: Essay 1 final draft Lab: Summary	Fragments
5	Discuss BHBH TLC: Step 2 in library: Searching Opposing Viewpoints	BHBH RH: pgs. 18-19 paraphrasing	Lab: Rhetorical precis	Comma splices and run-ons
6	Reading and responding to literature—the novel TLC: Step 3 in Library: Opposing Viewpoints	BHBH	Lab: Rhetorical precis	Punctuation
7	TLC: Step 4 in library: Academic Search Complete	Finish BHBH Selected readings RH: 11-14 Writing a Response Paper	Assign: Essay 2	Capitalization
8	Rhetorical analysis: ethos, pathos, logos Paraphrasing and summarizing	Selected readings	Due: Essay 2 outline and rough draft	Pronouns Modifier problems
9	Rhetorical analysis TLC: Step 5 in library	Articles for analysis RH: pgs. 22-29 Rhetoric	Due: Essay 2 final draft Assign: Essay 3 Rhetorical appeals paragraph(s)	Verbs
10	Research for essay 4	Articles for research RH: pgs. 49-60 EW: 178-206	Due: Essay 3 rough draft	Subject-Verb Agreement
11	Research for essay 4 MLA citation EW: 208-254	Articles for research RH pgs. 12-16 Incorporating quoted material	Due: Essay 3 final draft Assign: Essay 4	Parallelism
12	Research for essay 4	Articles for research	Due: Essay 4 outline
13	Edit and revise essay 4	Selected readings	Due: Essay 4 draft 1	TBD
14	Portfolio reflection and catch-up TLC Step 6		Due: Essay 4 final draft	TBD
15	Review for final exam			Review
16			Final Exam

The outline above is subject to change at the instructor's discretion and based on students' needs.

Additional Information

Late Work

Late assignments will receive a 10% penalty per day they are late (including weekends). I will not accept late work more than three days after the due date. I understand that technical problems occur and life issues sometimes interfere with assignments, but I am counting on your commitment to this class despite life's setbacks. Work on assignments ahead of their due dates. Save work diligently and carefully. If a situation arises that interferes with your turning in work in a timely manner, please email or call me before the assignment due date.

Tutoring

Tutoring is mandatory for one essay. After that, tutoring is optional, but highly recommended.

You are always welcome to make an appointment with me, your instructor, to get help with your writing. However, if an appointment with me does not work for you, I encourage you to seek tutoring through one of Amarillo College's helpful and free services:

Writers' Corner: The Writers' Corner is in Ordway Hall, Room 102. You can make an appointment with a tutor or walk in. The Writers’ Corner is open Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You can call for an appointment at (806) 345-5580
Smarthinking: In addition, AC subscribes to Smarthinking, an online tutoring service you may use free for 10 hours each semester. This service is available nights and weekends. Access instructions are located in Blackboard.

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on: