Basic Grammar and Writing II Syllabus for 2015-2016
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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.

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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

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Course

ENGL-0302-054 Basic Grammar and Writing II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0301 and ENGL 0301-minimum grade of C or acceptable Accuplacer reading and writing test scores or equivalent on a state-approved alternative test

Course Description

A review of skills taught in ENGL 0301. Practice in writing compound and complex sentences; mastering subject-verb agreement and pronoun usage; using all punctuation marks; and overcoming major spelling problems. Emphasis on paragraph skills taught in ENGL 0301 and short essays in standard American English.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

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.

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell.  The Concise Cengage Handbook.  Fifth Edition.  Boston:  Cengage Learning, 2015.

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302: A custom publication for Amarillo College. First Edition, 2013.





 

Supplies

1. USB Flash Drive – YOU MUST HAVE THIS THE 2^nd DAY OF CLASS

2. 1 bound journal that will be turned in to the instructor for grading
3. One

   Student Performance

    

   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.

    

   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 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

   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. 

   You can find a digital edition of the Student Rights and Responsibilities at: http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=13&navoid=491 

   The class environment is based upon a simple principle: the instructor commits to treat you with respect, and you commit to treat each other and the instructor with respect. Everyone is equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialogue and attitude. Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class.

   Grading Criteria

   Please refer to the grading criteria for 1301.  

   Attendance

   Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.  More than two absences are considered excessive.  Students with excessive absences will find it difficult to pass the class. Although you do not get a grade for attendance, you will receive a 0 for any work you miss.

   Late Work:   I do not accept late work.

   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. Please also keep in mind that the last date to withdraw from the course is April 21, 2016.  

    

   Calendar

   Week 1 1/19, 1/21	Introductions, Syllabus, Purpose of Freshman Composition, Plagiarism, Signing into ACConnect, Utilizing the Writers Corner, The Writing Process, Reading to Write, Intro to In-text Citation, Words and Phrases to Avoid, MLA Manuscript Preparation 101	Diagnostic Essay Journal 1  In-class Exercises	Handbook, 3-7, READ IT Cengage, 3-9
   Week 2 1/26, 1/28	Understanding the Rhetorical Situation:  Author, Audience, Text, Context, The Writing Process, Brainstorming, Developing a Thesis Sentence	Essay 1 Assigned 1/28 Journals 2 and 3 In-Class Exercises Diagnostic Essay Due1/26	Handbook, 11-23, READ IT Cengage, 9-33
   Week 3 2/2, 2/4	In-text Citations Redux, Introductions and Conclusions, Outlining, Drafting and Revising	Essay 1 Peer Review 2/4 Journals 4 and 5 In-Class Exercises	Cengage, 34-61
   Week 4 2/9, 2/11	Rhetorical Analysis,  Ethos, Logos, Pathos, Rhetorical Precis	Final Draft Essay 1 Due 2/11 Journal  6  In-Class Exercises Library Lecture 1  –  2/9 Rhetorical Precis Assigned 2/9	Handbook, 22 READ IT Handbook, 24-27, READ IT
   Week 5 2/16, 2/18	Rhetorical Analysis,  Ethos, Logos, Pathos, Kairos	Essay 2 Assigned 2/16 Library Lecture 2 – 2/18 Journal 7 Rhetorical Precis Due 2/18	Handbook, 28-29, READ IT and write page 28 down in your journal under Journal 7 for credit.
   Week 6 2/23, 2/25	Focus on Writing Paragraphs	Journals 8 and 9 In-Class Exercises	Cengage, 137-154
   Week 7 3/1, 3/3	Ethos, Pathos, Logos, and Kairos: Understanding the difference between analyzing them and using them as tools.	Essay 2 Peer Review Journals 10 and 11 In-Class Exercises	Handbook, 50-59, READ IT
   Week 8 3/8, 3/10	Critical Thinking, and Using Evidence Effectively	Essay 2 Peer Review  Journals 12 and 13 In-Class Exercises	Cengage, 64-75
   Week 9 3/15, 3/17 SPRING BREAK	SPRING BREAK	SPRING BREAK	SPRING BREAK
   Week 10 3/22, 3/24	Formulating Good Research Questions Revisit In-text Citations, Paraphrasing and Plagiarism	Final Draft Essay 2 due 3/22 Essay 3 Assigned Journals 14 and 15 In-Class Exercises	Handbook, 12-20, READ IT AGAIN!
   Week 11 3/29, 3/31	Research Methods, Narrowing Topics	Journal 16 Library Lecture 3 3/29 In-Class Exercises	Cengage, 335-340
   Week 12 4/5, 4/7	Paraphrasing, Parenthetical Citations, Focused Research	Journals 17 and 18 In-Class Exercises	Handbook, 12-20, YES REVIEW IT AGAIN! Cengage, 389-405 (If you have not opened your text book this semester, please stop and read this chapter. It is one of the most important things you need to know to succeed in college.)
   Week 13 4/12, 4/14	Works Cited Page	Journals 19 and 20 In-Class Exercises	Cengage, 405-447
   Week 14 4/19, 4/21	Common Problems in Research: Ethics and Plagiarism	Journals 21 and 22 4/19 Works Cited Due 4/21 Peer Review	Cengage, 405-447
   Week 15 4/26, 4/28	Final Journal and Grammar Practice	Journal 23 and 24 In-Class Exercises Essay 3 DUE 4/26
   Week 16 5/3, 5/5	Final Practice, Writing Under Pressure	Final Practice	Cengage, 101-108
   Week 17 5/9 – 5/13 Finals	Final Exam

   Additional Information

   Please note that all dates on the Syllabus are subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

   Calendar Dates of Note:

   Classes Begin – January 19, 2016

   Spring Break – March 14-20, 2016

   Easter Holiday – March 25-27, 2016

   Last Date to Withdraw – April 21, 2016

   Finals – May 9-13, 2016

   Computers:

   Computers are available in the English Writing Labs (Ordway 101 and 104) for individual student use for word processing and Internet work. Students who use the lab are required to sign in for each visit. Students will do some writing on computers as a part of this class.  Students will need a USB drive if they want to save their work in the labs.  This class also uses MS Word, AC Connect/Blackboard.

   Blackboard:

   Gradebook and Email are available through Blackboard.

   Tutoring:

   Free tutoring is available through two sources: The Writers’ Corner and Smarthinking. The Writers’ Corner is on the first floor of Ordway Hall in room 102. It is suggested that you make an appointment at the Writers’ Corner, but you can also drop by for tutoring.  You can call for an appointment at (806) 345-5580

   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 Online.

   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 in 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 may then resubmit 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 revised paper within one week in order to have the grade altered.) 

   Syllabus Created on:

   11/30/-1 12:00 AM

   Last Edited on:

   11/30/-1 12:00 AM