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.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

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-1301-004 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.

 

 

Occupational License Disclaimer

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302, 2^nd Edition, Hayden-McNeil Publishing

AND

The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises, 3nd Edition

Michal Brody, Richard Bullock, Francine Weinberg ;

Norton Publishing

Supplies

None.

Student Performance

Student Performance:

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 are expected to complete all work in order to pass the class.

 

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must initiate the request with their instructor before the withdrawal deadline. AC has a policy for withdrawing from a class. (See this withdrawal policy near the end of this document.)

 

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

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

TIME COMMITMENT STATEMENT

    For each hour a student attends class, a student is expected to spend an additional two hours to prepare for the course. For example, a three-hour course offered in an eight-week format would require six hours of class per week and an additional 12 hours outside of class per week for the student to prepare the course. A three-hour course in a four-week format would require 12 hours of class per week and an additional 24 hours outside of class per week for the student to prepare for the course. Online students should expect a time commitment that equals the time commitment of a face-to-face class by combining the hours spent in class and the hours spent outside of class for preparation.

   Due to misconceptions/misunderstandings it becomes necessary to clarify certain issues related to taking this web-based class. The instructor wants to ensure that each student understands the requirements and expectations of taking this class online.

    The only difference between taking a course live or via the web is the actual class attendance and in the online class, students must read or write what would be discussed or written in class. A web-based course is not a one-on-one, independent study tutorial. It is not possible to take each participant’s individual schedule into account when arranging course requirements and time parameters. This includes other class schedules, work schedules, vacations, etc....

   Specific exam, discussion, and writing assignment due dates and times are outlined in the Course Calendar section of this syllabus. These dates and times are not flexible. No late submissions are accepted. Please review the calendar to verify that you are able to fulfill all course requirements. Adherence to course requirements and deadlines must be enforced, if the course is to be effective and beneficial to all participants. For this reason, few accommodations will be made for those students unable or unwilling to fulfill these requirements. Those accommodations would be for events such as sickness or a death in the immediate family. If a student is not able to follow this mandate, it could affect his or her grade.

    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. 

    The classroom and online environment is based upon a simple principle: the instructor commits to treat you with respect, and you commit to treat each other and the instructor with respect. Everyone is equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialog, attitude, and classroom. Disrespectful behavior towards the instructor or another student will not be tolerated. Disruptive behavior can range from major to minor infractions.

Grading Criteria

ENGL 1301 Grade Breakdown:

Grading Breakdown Criteria:

The maximum possible percentages for each assignment are as follows:

Email Assignment                                                               7%

Literacy Narrative                                                               10%

Research Topic Proposal Paragraph                                   8%

Library Subscription Dbase Article Analysis                     10%

Peer Edit Draft                                                                    5%

Peer Edit of another person’s paper                                    5%

Researched Argument Essay                                               15%

Final Timed Essay Exam                                                    10%

6 Grammar Assignments (2 pts. each)                               12%

6 Discussion and Response Assignments (3 pts. ach)        18 %

Total for the course                                                 100 %

 GRADING SCALE:

(90-100%)                  90-100 = A

(80-89%)                    80-89 = B

(70-79%)                    70-79 = C

(60-69%)                    60-69 = D

(0-59%)                      59 and below = F

The final exam is the only timed assignment.

The time on returning work might be 7-10 class days for major assignments. Minor work should be returned in 2-5 class days.

Attendance

ENGL 1301.004 is a 6-week course that meets from 5/22/17 to 6/29/17.  

 

This is a fast-paced course, and  students should be aware that each week’s work load may be more twice that of a regular 16 week course.  The 16-week course has been compressed into a 6-week time frame. The course is designed to meet state, college, and department student outcomes and objectives. This course will use Modern Language Association (MLA) 8 documentation format.

Students are expected to sign into Blackboard and to do the work assigned according to the calendar due dates published in Blackboard/AC Online. Late work is usually not accepted without unusual circumstances. Class work and homework cannot be made up. Students still need to check their email and the course in Blackboard several times a week to make sure they keep up with announcements and any possible changes for the semester.

If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Look at the withdrawal policy at the end of this syllabus. Remember that the deadline for drops for this course this semester is 6/21/17.

Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

Calendar

Additional Information

Course Content and Work

This course uses Blackboard, a word processing program, and email for course content and for submitting work. Students must submit work and communicate through these programs in order to pass this course. Some work is completed and submitted outside of the class meeting times.

Amarillo College New Course Withdrawal Procedure, effective Summer 2017

Before students can withdraw from any class, they will be required to meet and talk with each instructor to discuss their options for completion of the course. If completion of the course is not an option, faculty approval is still required. Students and instructor need to meet and complete an AC Academic Withdrawal Request form and both instructor and student must sign the form.  This is the beginning of the withdrawal process.

As a recipient of financial aid funds, there are a few things to be aware of:

1. Dropping all courses before you reach the 60% point of the semester could result in you having to pay back some of your financial aid funds.

2. Students who receive federal financial aid funds are required to maintain a 67% pace of completion, or complete at least 67% of all the courses that you attempt. Withdrawing from a course will result in a non- completion and will affect your Pace of Completion.

Please contact our office at 806-371-5313 if you have any additional questions regarding withdrawing from this course.