Composition I Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Moore County Campus 161

Office Hours

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-1301-008 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.

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell.  The Concise Wadsworth Handbook with InSite (2 semester PIN).  4th edition.  Boston: Wadsworth Cengage, 2014.*

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 2013.

* Students need to purchase their textbooks new in the AC Bookstore to receive the InSite Brochure. (If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.)



 

 

Supplies

\ Jump/Flash/USB drive if you want to save your computer work in writing or computer labs

Student Performance

1. Understand basic rhetorical concepts: subject, audience, purpose, and appeals.

2. Apply rhetorical concepts in analyzing and evaluating text.

3. Use standard American English to write essays that are rhetorically effective: clear, organized, detailed, grammatically correct, and audience specific.

4. Use the library's online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing.

5. Write a third person, argumentative research paper following the MLA format for citing sources.

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

Amarillo College 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. 

 

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.

 

Grading Criteria

Rough Drafts = 10%                   Final Draft 1 (Introduction Essay = 10%                                          
Critiques = 15%                    Final Draft 2 (Rhetorical Analysis Essay)=15%           Final Exam =15%    
Grammar=5%                              Final Draft 3 (Reflection/Response Essay) = 10%                                                     
                                          Final Draft #4 (Researched Argument)=20%
 


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

 

 

Attendance

\ Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.  This course is fast paced.  Please contact me if you miss class.

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\ Late Work:

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\ Submissions to InSite will not be accepted late. If a situation arises that prevents students from complying with this policy, they must contact the instructor via email before the deadline of the assignment lapses.

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\ Make-up Work:

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\ If students are absent, they must contact the instructor via email before the next class in order to arrange for make-up work.

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\ If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in the course and gives you an opportunity to complete it. 

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Calendar

 

Class topics and Assignments

Grammar: Exercise Central

Module 1:  June 1-7

Introductions, syllabus, and Email assignment, Diagnostic essay, Discuss essay #1—Introduction Essay, rough draft due June 8

Grammar Quiz, Grammar Diagnostic test

Module 2: June 8-14

Peer Review, Editing,

“The Rhetorical Analysis Essay” in Rhetoric Handbook,  Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Kairos discussion, Rhetorical Analysis of Dream Act videos

Essay #1 Due Sunday, June 14 by 11:59 p.m.to Insite

 

Sentence Grammar:

Comma splices-identifying comma splices 963,233

Run-on sentences-correcting run-on sentences 628,701

Sentence fragments-correcting/eliminating sentence fragments 124, 699

Module 3: June 15-21

Assign essay #2—Rhetorical Analysis Essay, Find article for rhetorical analysis, fill out rhetorical analysis chart, Introduce topic ideas, work on rough draft of rhetorical analysis (bring to class on Monday, June 22)

 

 

Punctuation:

Commas-overview of commas94,591,592

Semicolons-overview of semicolons 397

Colons-overview of colons 97

Quotation Marks-punctuating in text quotations 689

Module 4: June 22-28

Peer Review , Editing,  Introduce researched  argument (Essay #4), Research in computer lab, Begin Reflection/Response Essay (Essay #3), Essay #2 Due Sunday, June 28 by 11:59 p.m. to Insite

 

Mechanics and Spelling:

Spelling-common misspellings 377,378

Italics/underlining-italics/underlining 106

Module 5:  June 29-July 5

Continue research for researched argument, work on rough draft (due in class on Monday, July 6)

Reflection/Response Essay (Essay #3) due July 5 by 11:59 to Insite

Word Choice:

Commonly confused words 723,934,380

Wordiness/conciseness-eliminating wordiness 589

Module 6:  July 6-12

Peer Review, Begin Editing

 

Writing with Sources:

Integrating Sources-integrating sources MLA style 847

All grammar assignments must be completed by the end of this week.

Module 7: July 13-19

Editing, Researched Argument (Essay #4 due July 15 to Insite by 11:59 PM)

Final Practice

 

JULY 20

Final Exam

 

****SUBJECT TO CHANGE****Please check the course calendar in Blackboard for any changes.

 

* All essay assignments will be submitted via InSite.

*All grammar assignments will be completed in Exercise Central online. These can be taken as many times as you’d like, but you must have them all finished by July 12. No exceptions!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

No additional information available

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM