Basic Grammar and Writing II Syllabus for 2016-2017
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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withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education.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-0302-052 Basic Grammar and Writing II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: RDNG 0301 and BASW 0302-minimum grade of C or acceptable TSI scores.
Corequisite: ENGL 0301  

Course Description

Development of college-level writing focusing on idea generation, drafting, organization, revision and utilization of writing conventions and Standard English.

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

ENGL 0303.056 and Co-requisite Course ENGL 1301.056 MUST be taken at the same time.  These are paired courses that meet back to back on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on both days.   

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​Required Textbooks

The Little Seagull Handbook with exercises by Richard Bullock, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg.  Publisher: Norton.

If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.

 

Supplies

Other Supplies

• paper
• pen, pencil
• jump/flash/USB drive for saving work

**YOU MUST KNOW YOUR ACConnect USER NAME AND PASSWORD.  WE WILL BE USING COMPUTERS, AND YOU MUST KNOW THIS INFORMATION TO LOG IN.  **

Student Performance

 

Additional Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

 

 1. Compose a variety of texts that demonstrate clear focus, the logical development of ideas, and the use of appropriate language that advances the writer’s purpose.

2. Determine and use effective approaches and rhetorical strategies for given writing situations.

3. Generate ideas and gather information relevant to the topic and purpose, incorporating the ideas and words of other writers in student writing using established strategies.

4. Evaluate relevance and quality of ideas and information to formulate and develop a claim.

5. Develop and use effective revision strategies to strengthen the writer’s ability to compose college-level writing assignments.

6. Edit writing to conform to the conventions of standard English.

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

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. It is the student's responsibility to obtain a copy of the handbook from the Dean of Student Services Office and to become familiar with the contents and provisions of the college’s policies, rules, and regulations concerning student conduct.

Plagiarism

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

ENGL 0302.052 has a Co-requisite Course ENGL 1301.052.  You MUST be registered in both courses. ENGL 0302-052 meets the first 8 weeks of the semester, and ENGL 1301-052 meets the second 8 weeks of the semester. 

Grade Breakdown:

Major Writing Assignments – 60%

In-class work, homework, daily work, quizzes – 20%

Class Professionalism (includes class participation, attendance, bringing require materials to class, etc.) – 5%

Final Exam – 15% – Note:  YOU MUST BE PRESENT FOR FINAL EXAM IN ORDER TO PASS THIS CLASS.  THE FINAL EXAM WILL BE GIVEN ON THE LAST DAY OF CLASS, 03/10/17.

 

Grades will be based on the following system:

A         90-100= high achievement
B         80-89= above average achievement
C         70-79= satisfactory achievement
D          60-69= unsatisfactory achievement
F            0-59= unacceptable

 

 

Attendance

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to attend all classes. Because of the collaborative nature of this course and the fact that success in this course depends on continuous practice and constant direction from the instructor, missing even one class can interfere with your grade. Absences start on the first scheduled day on which the class meets.

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.

Students are expected to swipe in using the scanner located in the classroom; therefore, you must bring your student ID with you to class every day.  You are also expected to keep up with the class calendar, and do all assignments on time.  You need to email the instructor when an email is sent to you and requests information. Read your email frequently throughout the week.  Regular class involvement is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to sign the attendance sheet every class day and to complete all assignments.

A grade will be given for attendance. You are allowed two absences.  After these two absences, points will be taken away from you attendance/class participation grade. 

If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to check BlackBoard for new assignments, as well as to turn in any assignments due on the day you miss.  Being absent from class does not excuse you from due dates or from new assignments.  

WITHDRAWING FROM A CLASS:

It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before the withdrawal deadline: 02/28/17. Students must have the instructor’s permission to withdraw from the class.  If you want to withdraw, you must contact the instructor via email before the deadline given below.  Withdrawal requests will not be accepted by telephone.

 

The Texas Education Code stipulates that students attending Texas institutions of higher education for the first time in 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. There are certain exceptions to this policy and petitions for exceptions should be directed to the Registrar.

 

If during the semester you consider dropping this class, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Remember that the deadline for drops this semester is 02/28/17.  Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must initiate the request with their instructor before the withdrawal deadline.

 

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

Calendar

Additional Information

LATE WORK:

All work is due on the date assigned. The class calendar is usually followed, but it is always subject to change.  Regular viewing of the class calendar on Blackboard is necessary so that a student will be aware of any class changes.  No assignment, daily work, or homework will be accepted late.  Keep up with the class calendar, which is located on AC Online.  You can always turn in work early. 

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 (jump or flash) drive if they want to save their work.  This class also uses Microsoft Word, Blackboard, and Connect programs. Some of your grade is based on assignments turned in and/or done with these programs.

 

 

Blackboard

Blackboard is a program that we use in this class.  The class calendar is posted there.  The assignments are posted under the content tab there.  Quizzes are sometime taken with the program.  The gradebook and Email are available there too.

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.  The Writers’ Corner is open Monday – Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  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. 

TUTORING POLICY:

This is the tutoring policy 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 the tutoring center, 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 two class days after the paper was originally returned to you to rewrite the paper with the advice you received from the tutor.  You will turn back in 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 rewritten paper in one week from when it was given to you to have the original grade removed.)

FEED BACK AND GRADING TIMELINE

Feedback is a response to an inquiry.  An example of feedback is when a student sends a question to an instructor, and the instructor answers the question back.  You can reach me in three ways: in person, by phone, or by email.  You can visit with me after or before class, during my office hours, or by appointment. You can leave a message for me on my voice mail.  It will be at least 24 hours for me to respond to you back when I receive your voice mail.  I usually answer voice mail Monday through Thursday and sometimes on Friday. I look at my email several times a day.  I often also look at email on the weekends.  It might take as long as 24 hours to answer you during the week and 48 hours to answer you on the weekend.  Email is the fastest way to receive a response back from me.  You may use my regular work email or email me through AC Online (Blackboard). I do not use any other media or network for my classes.

 

Remember that when you have questions that you need to contact me well before an assignment is due.  For example, 11 p.m. may be too late to hear from me when a project is due at midnight or the next morning.  You might not get an answer to your communication until the next day.

 

The grading response time is usually 3-7 days for me to return a graded essay or exam to you.  Home work and class work is usually graded in 3-7 days.