Composition I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information
Instructor
Tim Sougstad (Curriculum Vitae)Office Hours
By appointment. Please email me to set up an appointment.
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-1301-025 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):
\ \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 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.
\ \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.
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
Hybrid
Syllabus Information
Textbooks
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Amarillo College English Department. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. Plymouth: Hayden McNeil, 2013. Print.*
\ \Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Concise Wadsworth Handbook. 4th ed. Boston: Cengage, 2013. Print. Enhanced InSite package. **
\
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*This book available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.
** Students need to purchase their textbooks new in the AC Bookstore to receive the Enhanced InSite Brochure. This brochure contains a PIN that is essential for the course. (If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at [806] 371-5307.)
\ \If you must buy this book online or from a friend, be sure to buy the two-semester Enhanced InSite PIN in addition to the book. Here is a link: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/search/9781285074399
\ \Supplies
A computer with reliable access to the Internet and a word processing program, such as Word or Works. Open Office, Notepad, and Wordpad are not acceptable word processing programs for this course because their formatting features do not work with other
Student Performance
ENGL 1301 Composition I
\ \\ \
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.
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1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
\ \2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
\ \3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
\ \4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
\ \5. 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. All essays will be peer reviewed.
\Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesLog 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
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 new semester, the names of students who plagiarized the previous 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.
\ \Late Work: All late work will suffer a 10% point reduction for every day late; after the third day, it will not be accepted nor graded.
\ \Obviously, I make exceptions for serious family and medical emergencies. But you must contact me ASAP should a situation come up. Moreover, in the event of mass technical difficulties with Insite or Blackboard, I will extend deadlines. The main thing is communication. If you know you are going to be gone or if something comes up, contact me about turning your work in early.
\ \Discussion Protocol: In your communication with other students and me, you must maintain a civil, nonthreatening tone of voice; refrain from insults, slurs, insensitive comments, and slang; and always conduct yourself in a manner appropriate to the academic environment and consistent with the general guidelines outlined in the AC Student Code of Conduct. We will have occasion to discuss contemporary moral, ethical, and/or political issues that may be divisive. Please be fair and restrained in how you engage others in the class.
\ \Also, all of your communication should be edited and correctly formatted to the best of your ability. Do not use the sort of abbreviated vernacular that is useful for text messaging. Use a spellchecker. Address your audience, and sign off. In other words, I want you to adhere to the normal rules of polite but serious-minded conversation.
\ \Cell phones: When in class, I will set my phone to "Do Not Disturb," meaning it will not ring, send me text alerts, or vibrate. I expect you to silence and deanimate your phone, too. If irregular circumstances (family illness, etc) require an occasional exception, please see me to discuss this policy. During class, phones are to be in pockets or bags.
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Grading Criteria
|
TASK |
VALUE |
COURSE GRADES** |
|
|
Daily Assignments |
10% |
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|
Essay 1 |
10% |
||
|
Essay 2 |
10% |
||
|
Essay 3 |
15% |
A |
89.5% and above |
|
Essay 4* |
25% |
B |
79.5% and above |
|
Essay 4 Proposal* |
5% |
C |
69.5% and above |
|
Essay 4 Bibliography* |
5% |
D |
59.5%and above |
|
Peer Reviews |
10% |
F |
Below 59.5% |
|
Final Exam |
10% |
|
|
|
* The proposal and working bibliography are required for the Essay 4 itself to earn a grade. ** Writers not completing all four essays and the final exam are subject to a failing grade regardless of points earned. |
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Attendance
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.
Simply put, I expect you at all class meetings. Further you will need to be online every day or working ahead to do well.
Calendar
|
Date |
Topics |
Reading |
Major Assignments Due |
|
23-Jan |
Welcome, Class Orientation, Computer programs used for this class, in-class writing sample |
|
Expect unannounced quizzes and/or writing assignments during every class. The lowest two scores will be dropped; there will be no make-ups. |
|
30-Jan |
Conciseness and Essay Construction, Conventions of College Writing |
Wadsworth: 181-86; 11-82. Rhetoric: 35-40, 3-10. |
Assignment of Essay 1 |
|
Thursday 5-Feb |
Peer review draft of Essay 1 due by 11:59 PM tonight. Draft needs to be uploaded to InSite by 11:59 PM tonight. If late, you will be unable to get or give peer reviews (or peer review points). Also make sure you have a copy of your draft on a flash drive or in the cloud when you come to class. |
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|
6-Feb |
Peer review and mini-conferences |
Rhetoric 6-10 |
In-class peer review of Essay 1 |
|
13-Feb |
Evaluation and rhetorical analysis.
Using and documenting sources. |
Rhetoric. 44-46, 50-59. Wadsworth 313-15. 399-408. 415-22. 428-29.
Online Reading assignments in Blackboard. |
Final Draft Essay 1 due by 11:59 PM today.
Essay 2 assigned.
|
|
20-Feb |
Hands on work with logos, ethos, pathos. |
Online Reading assignment in Blackboard. |
|
|
Thursday 26-Feb |
Peer review draft of Essay 2 due by 11:59PM tonight. Draft needs to be uploaded to InSite by 11:59 PM today. If late, you will be unable to get or give peer reviews (or peer review points). Also make sure you have a copy of your draft on a flash drive or in the cloud when you come to class. |
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|
27-Feb |
Peer review and mini-conferences.
|
|
In-class peer review of Essay 2 |
|
6-Mar |
Introduction to Library Databases |
|
Final Draft of Essay 2 due by 11:59 PM tonight. Essay 3 assigned. |
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Thursday 19-March |
Peer review draft of Essay 3 due by 11:59PM tonight. Draft needs to be uploaded to InSite by 11:59 PM today. If late, you will be unable to get or give peer reviews (or peer review points). Also make sure you have a copy of your draft on a flash drive or in the cloud when you come to class. |
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|
20-Mar |
Peer review and mini-conferences |
|
In-class peer review of Essay 3 |
|
|
27-Mar |
Reliable resources, research methods.
MLA Documentation |
Wadsworth 345-98. 408-09.
Review 399-408.
SKIM 428-55 |
Final Draft of Essay 3 due by 11:59 PM tonight.
Essay 4 assigned. |
|
|
Wednesday 1-Apr |
REQUIRED proposal for Essay 4 topic due in InSite by 6:00 PM tonight. No essays will be accepted without this proposal. |
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|
Research Workshop, mini-conferences |
|
|
|
|
10-Apr |
In-class workshop |
|
Bibliography for Essay 3 due by 11:59PM tonight. |
|
|
Thursday April 16 |
Peer review draft of Essay 4 due by 11:59PM tonight. Draft needs to be uploaded to InSite by 11:59 PM today. If late, you will be unable to get or give peer reviews (or peer review points). Also make sure you have a copy of your draft on a flash drive or in the cloud when you come to class. |
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|
17-Apr |
Peer review and mini-conferences |
|
In-class peer review of Essay 4 |
|
|
24-Apr |
Writing under pressure |
Wadsworth 126-32 |
Final Draft of Essay 4 due by 11:59 PM tonight. |
|
|
1-May |
Wrapping things up, practice for Final Exam |
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8-May |
Final Exam 9-11 AM
|
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15-May |
No class meeting |
No class meeting |
No class meeting |
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Additional Information
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Syllabus Created on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM
Last Edited on:
11/30/-1 12:00 AM