Composition II Syllabus for 2014-2015
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Course

ENGL-1302-006 Composition II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ENGL 1301

Course Description

Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

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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In addition to the course description, the skills taught in this course will be primarily achieved through the study of literature. Also, in addition to the learning outcomes, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of literary genres and the basic vocabulary of literary analysis, as well as write a researched literary analysis paper that utilizes peer review.

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

Carter, Judith, et al., ed. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. *

Mason: Cengage, 2010. Print. *

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. The Concise Wadsworth Handbook. 3rd ed. InSite package. Boston:

Wadsworth, 2008. Print. **

*These books are available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

** Students need to purchase their textbooks new in the AC Bookstore to receive the 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 one-semester Enhanced InSite PIN in addition to the book. Here is a link: http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/9781285074610.

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Optional Textbooks:

You may choose either to buy one of the following books or to use links found in the online course to find some of the required readings.

Kirszner,  Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. Compact ed. Boston: Cengage,

2007. Print.

Kirszner,  Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. LIT. Student ed. Boston: Cengage, 2012. Print.

 

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Supplies

A word processing program and a computer with reliable internet access. Open Office, Word Online, Word Pad, and Note Pad are not acceptable word processing programs for this class.

In addition, students must take the Unit 3 quizzes and the fina

Student Performance

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

\ English Department Plagiarism Policy (Revised January, 2009):
\ Plagiarism:
\ According to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism is the "appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's words and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work."
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\ Misdocumented Plagiarism:
\ 1. The use of someone else's exact words that are quoted but not cited or cited but not quoted.
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\ 2. Using a citation at the end of a block of prose without clarifying which material is borrowed.
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\ 3. Missing or incomplete Works Cited entries
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\ Misdocumented plagiarism will receive a maximum 50 percent deduction for the first offense, and the student will be required to meet with the instructor.
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\ Undocumented Plagiarism:
\ 1. The use of someone else's exact words that are neither quoted nor cited.
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\ 2. Paraphrasing someone else's words without citing them.
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\ 3. The use of someone else's research without citing it.
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\ Undocumented plagiarism will receive a minimum penalty of 50 percent for the first time and 100 percent off for all subsequent infractions. The student will be required to meet with the instructor and the English Department Chair.

Grading Criteria

Discussions	5	6	30	3%
Quizzes	3	10	30	3%
Minor Assignments, Reflection Papers	20	7	140	14%
Annotated Bibliographies	35	2	70	7%
Peer Reviews	15	2	30	3%
Out-of-Class Essays, Major Revision Project	200	3	600	60%
In-Class Essay--Final Exam	100	1	100	10%

 

 

Attendance

Online students attend this class by logging in to AC Online and participating in the learning activities. They are not expected to come to campus unless they do not want to use Respondus Monitor for the Unit 3 quizzes and the final exam. Be aware, however, that each assignment has a due date, and successful students keep current with their classwork.  The last day to withdraw from this course is August 5, 2015.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

Policies Concerning Late Work:

     All assignments must be submitted according to the deadline schedule posted in the calendar section of our AC Online class. Late essays are penalized 10 percent per day that they are late. Essays more than three days late will not be accepted. Late minor assignments, contributions to the discussions, extra credit (if assigned), annotated bibliographies, and peer review drafts are not accepted at all.

     AC Online quizzes may be taken more than once before the due date. Only the last score will count for credit. If the quiz is not completed before the due date, it does not earn credit.

     The final exam must be completed on the day or days indicated on the course calendar.

 

Discussion Scoring:

     Be sure to contribute to the discussion in a timely manner. If you make a relevant and satisfactory comment before the due date of each lesson, you will earn two points. If you post a second contribution that responds to another student's posting, you will earn up to three more points. Postings that merely state "I agree" or "I disagree" without supporting reasons and those that do not add thoughtful material to the discussion do not earn points. To earn all the points possible, be sure to show evidence of original critical thinking instead of paraphrasing an idea that someone else has already posted. Also, late contributions to the discussions will be read, but they do not earn points. You may contribute to the discussions as often as you wish, but you can earn no more than five points per unit for the discussion.

 

Links to the Web pages Required for this Course:

AC Connect:

https://acconnect.actx.edu/CookieAuth.dll?GetLogon?curl=Z2FfacultyZ2FPagesZ2Fdefault.aspx&reason=0&formdir=3

 

InSite:

http://insite2.wadsworth.com/login_page.asp

 

Coming to Campus OR Using LockDown Browser and a Webcam (Respondus Monitor) for Two Online Quizzes and the Final Exam:

This course requires EITHER coming to the English Writing Lab in Byrd 410 OR the use of LockDown Browser and a webcam (known as Respondus Monitor) for two low-stakes quizzes and for the final exam. The webcam can be built into your computer or can be the type that plugs in with a USB cable. 

 

The following information is for students who choose to take the exams using Respondus Monitor instead of coming to campus.

First, be sure you have Internet Explorer installed on your computer. Even though you won’t be using this browser during the  Unit 3 quizzes or final exam, LockDown Browser won’t work unless Internet Explorer is installed. If Internet Explorer is not currently installed on your computer, you may use this link to find information about downloading and installing it:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/internet-explorer.aspx

 

Download and install LockDown Browser:

1. Click on the “Student Tools” at the top right corner of your screen in Blackboard. (The link is immediately under your name.)
2. On the next screen, look on the left side for the box labeled “Assignments and Discussion Boards.” Right click the link in this box labeled “Respondus Lockdown Browser.” Open the link.
3. Watch the “Before You Install” video.
4. Read the Respondus License Agreement.
5. Click the “Install Now” button.
6. Follow the instructions on the next screen.

Note: Don't download a copy of LockDown Browser from elsewhere on the Internet; those versions won't work at our institution.

To take an online test, start LockDown Browser and navigate to the exam. (You won't be able to access the exam with a standard web browser.) For additional details on using LockDown Browser, review this Student Quick Start Guide (PDF).

Finally, when taking an online exam, follow these guidelines:
• Ensure you're in a location where you won't be interrupted.
• Turn off all mobile devices, phones, etc.
• Clear your desk of all external materials — books, papers, other computers, or devices.
• Remain at your desk or workstation for the duration of the test.
• A webcam and a microphone are required. Make sure they are plugged in or enabled before starting LockDown Browser.
• LockDown Browser will prevent you from accessing other websites or applications; you will be unable to exit the test until all questions are completed and submitted
• You will be recorded during the test to ensure you're using only permitted resources