Composition I Syllabus for 2015-2016
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Ordway Hall Room 203A

Office Hours

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

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-1301-002 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. 

 

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.

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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:          

Amarillo College English Department.  A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 & 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. First Edition.  Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2013.  Print.

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell.  The Concise Cengage Handbook. 5th Edition. MA: Cengage Learning, 2017.  Do make sure that you purchase the bundle.

    

 

 

 

 

Supplies

A word- process program and a computer with reliable Internet access would be useful.  However, students may use the English Writing Lab in Ordway Hall, Room 101, on the Washington Street Campus during regular hours of operation.

The requi

Student Performance

After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:

  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.

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

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:  Because your using of electronic devices may cause disruptions, please be respectful of others in the classroom.

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE: Should you choose to communicate with me through e-mails, please use standard American English.  Like all academic work, you should examine your e-mails since your credibility as a writer, who is enrolled in a composition course, is reflected in the grammar, spelling, and sentence structure of the e-mail.

Grading Criteria

20% Quizzes and homework

60% Paragraphs, essays (in-class and out), and revisions, totaling at least 4500 words

20% Final in-class essay

89.5-100 = A;  79.5-88.5 = B;  69.5-78.5 = C;  59.5-68.5 = D;  Below 59.0 = F

LATE WORK:  Late work means "work turned in after the due date."  Work turned in late will receive point deduction: 1 day late - 15%, 3 days late - 30%, one week late - 50%, and anything turned in after one week will not be graded and will receive a zero.

Submit your work (after the first assignment) to Cengage through AC Blackboard. I do not open or grade assignments that are submitted through e-mails.

Semester Exam: In-class essay

 

 

Attendance

Regular Scheduled Classes:

Regular attendance is required and is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments. Three or more absences in a class will be considered excessive and could contribute to a failing grade. It is imperative that you communicate with me when an emergency arises.   If you must stop attending, withdraw officially by the deadline; otherwise, I must record an F for the semester.  All students are required to scan their school ID when entering the classroom.

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.  Remember that the deadline for dropping this course is  June 21, 2017.

 

Calendar

English 1301-Da Costa                       RH = A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 & 1302

Summer 2017                       CCH = The Concise Cengage Handbook

Tentative Course Schedule

Note:  All announcements will take place at the beginning of class.  It is imperative that you get to class on time.  Please read all assigned selections before class, and be prepared for class discussions.

Week 1:                      

  • Syllabus
  • “English Department Plagiarism Policy,” “Misdocumented Plagiarism,” “Undocumented Plagiarism”
  • Writing 1
  • Notes: Grammar outline
  • CCH: Review, practice, recognize, and check  Sound Sentences
  • RH: “ Basic Structure of an essay, MLA style, “What I Can I Put in My Three-Part Essay,” “How Purpose Determines the Structure of an Essay”
  • CCH: Read Ch. 1, 2, and 19
  • Notes/Handouts
  • RH: “Words and Phrases to Avoid in College –Level Academic Writing”
  • RH: “Identifying Rhetorical Appeals in Written and Visual Arguments”
  • Quiz: Sound Sentences
  • Cengage Registration
  • Census reporting
  • Writers’ Corner

Week 2:

  • CCH: Types of Sentences
  • CCH: Recognize/Practice varied sentences
  • Notes/Handouts
  • CCH:  Read Ch. 3, 4, 5, and 6
  • Practice varied sentences
  • RH: “What is Rhetorical Analysis?”
  • Writing Summary/Response
  • Research paper topic
  • Field and research --- Library—June 1, 2017
  • Notes/Handouts
  • Quiz: Varied Sentences

Week 3:

  • Handout & CCH—Notes and Practice: “Using Clauses to Build Sentences”
  • Writing: Summary/Response – due
  • CCH: Read Ch. 7, 13, 41, 42, and 46
  • Research paper discussion
  • Research paper process (See research paper handout for due dates.)
  • Quiz: Clauses

Week 4:

  • Handouts & CCH – Notes and Practice: Using Phrases to Improve Sentences
  • Continue research paper process
  • CCH: Read Ch. 43, 44, and 45
  • RH; “Finding Evidence for an Argument Essay”
  • RH: “How to Find and Document Sources Using MLA Style,” “Incorporating Quotations,” “MLA Parenthetical Citations
  • RH: “Sample Works Cited Page for English 1301”
  • Opportunities for Guided Research
  • Quiz: Using Phrases to Improve Sentences

Week 5:

  • Drafts and Peer Review
  • Review MLA format for research paper

Last day to drop class: June 21, 2017

  • Research Paper (including all other items—See assignment handout) due on June 22, 2017

Week 6:          

  • Sentence Structure Review
  • Exam preparation
  • Final Exam -Writing Lab – Room 101: June 28, 2017

                                                                                                                                                                

Additional Information

No additional information available

Syllabus Created on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM

Last Edited on:

11/30/-1 12:00 AM