Creative Writing Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information

Office Location

WARE 210E

Office Hours

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

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If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

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

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

  • consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
  • consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
  • consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
  • consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
    • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time fall 2007 and later may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

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-2307-001 Creative Writing

Prerequisites

Course Description

Practical experience in the techniques of imaginative writing. May include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting or drama.

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.

 

 

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

No textbook is required for this course.

Supplies

Computer with Internet Access

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

 
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.

Late Work: All late work will suffer a 10% point reduction for every day late. 

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 AC Online, 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 a possible extension.

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. If a problem does occur, allow me to handle it first. 

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.  

 

 

Grading Criteria

8 submissions 400 pts
Participation 600 pts

89.5%-100%=A, 79.5%-89%=B, 69.5%-79%=C, 59.5%-69%=D, Below 59=F

*I grade participation based on the quantity and quality of your comments. I expect you to comment on at least five submissions each week an assignment is due, which means by the end of the semester you will have posted 40+ peer comments. I also want you to follow up on other students’ comments and feel free to pose questions to the writer, other students, and me. Finally, a quality post is one that seeks to improve a submission rather than merely praise or trash it. Be respectful but be honest.

So how long should a response to a submission be? Write whatever you are able to write. I do not expect a treatise. Sometimes all we are able to offer is “I do not understand this poem because…” or “The literal situation is confusing. Here are some questions I had….” On works for which you have strong feelings, you might spend more time making specific comments. And definitely use my method of providing feedback as a touchstone for developing your approach. At a bare minimum, however, even if you cannot make sense of the poem, or for any other reason, you should produce more than five sentences of commentary.

See instructor for specific makeup policy.

 

Attendance

This is an online course and participation is required in order to pass the course.

Calendar

The calendar is maintained in Blackboard.

Additional Information

Syllabus Created on:

08/20/16 11:13 AM

Last Edited on:

08/20/16 11:15 AM