Integrated Reading & Writing Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

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-0303-007 Integrated Reading & Writing

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ENGL 0301 and RDNG 0321-minimum grade of C or acceptable TSI or Accuplacer reading and writing scores

Course Description

Integration of critical reading and academic writing skills. The course fulfills TSI requirements for reading and/or writing.

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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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Connect with Access Code and e-book McGraw-Hill, 2014

Supplies

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Student Performance

Course Description:

 

Development of college-level writing focusing on idea generation, drafting, organization, revision, and utilization of standard English.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon the successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Locate explicit textual information, draw complex inferences, and describe, analyze, and evaluate the information within and across multiple texts of varying lengths.

2. Comprehend and use vocabulary effectively in oral communication, reading, and writing.

3. Identify and analyze the audience, purpose, and message across a variety of texts.

4. Describe and apply insights gained from reading and writing a variety of texts.

5. Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate reading comprehension, clear focus, logical development of ideas, and use of appropriate language that advance the writer’s purpose.

6. Determine and use effective approaches and rhetorical strategies for given reading and writing situations.

7. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose, incorporating the ideas and words of other writers in student writing using established strategies.

8. Evaluate relevance and quality of ideas and information in recognizing, formulating, and developing a claim.

9. Develop and use effective reading and revision strategies to strengthen the writer’s ability to compose college-level writing assignments.

10. Recognize and apply the conventions of standard English in reading and writing.

Additional Learning Objectives:

Students will

• Analyze and write a variety of texts (500-750 words each) in different rhetorical modes focusing on the development of multi-paragraph texts and academic essays.
• Utilize basic computer technology including such things as composing a document in MLA style with a word processing program, communicating using email, and accessing course information on the college’s learning management system.

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

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: 11/18/14. 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 that gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Remember that the deadline for drops this semester is 11/18/14.  Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

LATE WORK:

All work is due on the date assigned. The class calendar is usually followed, but it is always subject to change.  Regular viewing of the class calendar on AC Connect is necessary so that a student will be aware of any class changes.  No assignment, daily work, or homework will be accepted late.  Keep up with the class calendar, which is located on AC Online.  You can always turn in work early.

Grading Criteria

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

Daily Work/Minor Assignments                                                                       15%
(Pre- & Post-test [in Connect], Attendance Grade,
Diagnostic Writing,
Daily In-class Work, & Home Work)

Learning Smart Achieve Modules (in Connect)                                            15%

ESSAYS:                                                                                              50%

 

Personal Essay                                                                                           

Analysis Essay                                                                                           

Argument Essay                                                                                         

Midterm Essay Exam                                                                                 

 

Final Exam                                                                                               20%

Essay Exam                                                                                        15%

Reading Test (in Connect)                                                                       5%

 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.

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.

Students are expected to sign in the attendance sheet in class every day, keep up with the class calendar, and do all assignments on time.  You need to email the instructor when an email is sent to you and requests information. Read your email at least twice a week.  Regular class involvement is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to sign the attendance sheet every class day and to complete all assignments.

A grade will be given for attendance. You are allowed two absences.  After these two absences, points will be taken away from you attendance/class participation grade.  Your grade will begin as 100 and be reduced with each absence after two.          

2 absences       no penalty, grade is 100
3 absences       grade reduced to 90
4 absences       grade reduced to 80
5 absences       grade reduced to 70
6 absences       grade reduced to 60
7 or more         grade reduced to 50

Calendar

Additional Information

Blackboard:

Blackboard is one program that we use in this class.  The class calendar is posted in Blackboard.  Assignments are posted under the content area.  The grade book and Email are available for you through Blackboard too.

TUTORING:

        Free tutoring is available through two sources: The Writers’ Corner and Smarthinking. The Writers’ Corner is in the library. It is suggested that you make an appointment at the Writers’ Corner, but you can also drop by for tutoring.

        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 Connect.

TUTORING POLICY:

This is the tutoring policy for regular essays 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.  I will return a copy of the paper to you.  You can take the paper and meet with a tutor the tutoring center, The Writers’ Corner.  After you meet with a tutor, the tutor will send me a form explaining what they 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 turn back in the original paper and the revised paper to me.  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.)