Composition I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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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

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withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education.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.

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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.

 

 

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Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Amarillo College English Department. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. Hayden McNeil, 2013.*

Bullock, Richard, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises. 2^nd ed., W. W. Norton, 2014.

Ford, Jamie. Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Ballantine Books, 2009.

MLA Handbook. 8^th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2016.

*This book is available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

 

Supplies

 

 

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes

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

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

Quizzes: 10%

In-Class Assignments: 20% (The two lowest scores in this category will be dropped.)

Drafts of the Works Cited: 5%

Peer Review: 5%

Regular Essays: 18%

Researched Essays: 32%

Final Essay Exam: 10%
 

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90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

59% and lower = F

The policies for submitting late work are posted on the "Course Policies" page of the AC Connect course. For further information, please contact the instructor.

 

 

Attendance

In previous semesters, students who attend every class and submit every essay are almost always succesful in this course. Students who do not attend almost every class and who do not submit each essay are far less likely to pass. To increase your learning and your chances of earning credit, come to class, write the four required essays, and take the final exam.

Although points are not awarded or deducted for attendance, per se, this class involves a number of in-class assignments that may not be made up for any reason. To allow for a rare but unavoidable absence, the two lowest in-class activity grades will be dropped.

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 Connect 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 assignments, and peer review drafts are not accepted at all.

     AC Connect 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.

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      Students are required to schedule and attend a session with a tutor in the Writers’ Corner for each of the four essays. Students may attend more than one session if they wish.