Composition II Syllabus for 2016-2017
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Disability Statement

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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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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-1302-011 Composition II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ENGL 1301

Course Description

Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

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

 

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 & 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College.  2^nd ed., Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2017.

 

Gardner, Janet E., et al., editors. Literature: A Portable Anthology, 4^th ed., Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2017.

 

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

 

 

 

Supplies

A word processing program and a computer with reliable Internet access would be great.  Students may use the English Writing Lab in Ordway Hall, Room 101, at the Washington Street campus during regular hours of operation.

 

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 research processes.

2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.

3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.

4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.

5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA. CMS, MLA, etc.)

In addition to the course description, the skills taught in this course will be primarily achieved through the study of literature.  Also, in addition to the learning outcomes, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of literary genres and the basic vocabulary of literary analysis, as well as write a researched literary analysis that 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

 ELECTRONIC DEVICES: Because your using of electronic devices may cause disruption, 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  
60%  Paragraphs and essays (in-class and out) and research exercise 
20%  Final Exam: In-class writing

89.5-100 = A,   79.5-88.5= B,   69.5-78.5 = C,    59.5-68.5 = D,    Below 58.5 = F

LATE WORK:    Late work means "work is 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.

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

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 wish to withdrawal from this class, you must initiate the request in writing before the withdrawal deadline: May 2, 2017.

If a student wants to withdraw from this class, then the student must send the instructor an email through Blackboard or through his or her official AC email account.

    The email must include the following information:

    Full course name and number
    Your full name and ID number
    A specific reason for the withdrawal

    An example of such an email might look like this:

    I, Jane L. Doe (ID# ZX32T7B2), would like to withdraw from ENGL 1301.ZZZ because I was just promoted at work and must move to Botswana and cannot complete the semester in the class.

    The completed request must be received by the instructor on or before the last day to withdraw as determined by the Amarillo College calendar. The withdrawal approval will be processed within a few days of the instructor receiving the email, requesting the withdrawal from the class. The email from the student must include all required information mentioned above, or the withdrawal will not be processed until all the required information is received. 

Also, students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date (March 27, 2017) will be administratively dropped.

 

 

 

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