Composition I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Instructor Information

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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Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

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-1301-050 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 Dept., eds. A Rhetorical Handbook for English 1301 and 1302 2nd ed. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil, 2016. (Available in AC bookstore)

Supplies

Writing Utensil

Composition Journal

Thumb Drive

Access to Microsoft Word and the internet. 

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

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.

 

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.

Grading Criteria

ESSAYS: 80% ( Research Argument Essay, Rhetorical Analysis Essay, ePortfolio Professional Writing Project, Journal Project

PARTICIPATION: 10% (Quizzes, Peer Reviews, In-class assignments, Attendance, Class participation)

FINAL EXAM: 10% (In-class essay)

Grading Schema

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

For every class period, you will swipe your card at the black box in our classroom. If you want to be marked present, please keep your ID card on you at all times while on campus. Consequently, a strong attendance record is critical if you want to earn a good grade in this class. Absences are only excused with official documentation (ex. Doctor’s notes, emails from AC administrators, etc…). After four absences, I will start to dock points from your overall grade. Excellent attendance and turning assignments in on time virtually guarantees you success in this class.

Excused vs. Unexcused Absences

Excused:      Excused absences require official documentation of illness or emergency or planned school events.  Unexcused:   Unexcused absences are those resulting from anything other than the aforementioned (e.g. routine and pre-scheduled medical appointments, fatigue, alarm clock mishap, early vacation departure, late vacation return, late night...). 

Calendar

Additional Information

CLASS MEETING TIME AND LOCATION

8 Week Course: 3/20  – 5/11

M, T, W, Th: 7:30 a.m. -8:45 a.m.  Ordway Hall 211

COURSE POLICIES

LATE WORK: Avoid if possible. I dock 10% for each day late. Essays turned in after four days late receive an automatic F. I do, however, give makeup quizzes/tests for 100% of the grade if you have an excused absence. 

E-MAIL ETIQUETTE:  E-mails sent to your instructors must be addressed and signed. E-mails, like all academic work, should be carefully scrutinized by their senders, as the senders’ professionalism is reflected in the grammar, spelling and structure of the e-mail.  E-mails should never look like text messages that contain slang words or heavily abbreviated terms.  E-mails that do not meet the aforementioned criteria will not be answered.

E-MAIL: Check it at least twice daily, especially before class. This is the only way I can communicate with you if there are important announcements or changes that need to be made. Email me at bmanning@actx.edu or through your Blackboard Course. 

PEER REVIEW: We will workshop each of our major essays, and since this will be a collaborative activity, your presence in class is required. As a result, all unexcused absences on peer workshop days yield a zero for this grade. 

TALKING IN CLASS & CELL PHONES: Disrupting class with chatter that doesn’t pertain to the class discussion will be greeted with a 1.) a warning and then 2.) immediate dismissal from the class and a marked unexcused absence. The same applies to cell phone usage. Your phones can be in your pocket, but they must not be brought out unless there’s an emergency. We need to cover a lot of material this semester, so the class must stay on topic and minimize needless interruptions.

GRADES/EXTRA CREDIT: Grades are updated throughout the semester, so it is imperative you check your progress on a weekly basis. I will not be assigning extra credit opportunities on an individual basis; I will, however, give the class an Extra Credit assignment at the end of the semester. If, for instance, you need a “C” in the class, you need to take responsibility to meet that goal in Week 1 on, and not Week 7. The best way to do this is to attend every class and consult me earlier rather than later about any grade concerns. Unless there has been an error on my part, you are not to email me during Finals Week requesting grade changes.

TUTORING

Amarillo College provides tutoring through the The Writers’ Corner and Smarthinking. The Writers’ Corner is on the first floor of Ordway Hall in room 102. 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. 

CONTACTS

I highly recommend that you write down the names, phone numbers, and email addresses of three classmates. Call or write them if you need help with something to do with this class if you are unable to contact me. 

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 806-371-5191.  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 www.actx.edu/arc