Composition I Syllabus for 2016-2017
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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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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-1301-011 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

REQUIRED TEXTBOOK:          

Amarillo College English Department.  A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 & 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. First Edition.  Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2013.  Print.

Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell.  The Concise Cengage Handbook. 5^th Edition. MA: Cengage Learning, 2017.  Do make sure that you purchase the bundle (book with code).

    

 

 

 

 

Supplies

A word- process program and a computer with reliable Internet access would be useful.  However, students may use the English Writing Lab in Ordway Hall, Room 101, on the Washington Street Campus during regular hours of operation.

The required textbooks for the course, Flash disk, highlighter, pen/pencil,  paper, and a notebook will be great to have.

 

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

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:  Because your using of electronic devices may cause disruptions, 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 and homework

60% Paragraphs, essays (in-class and out), and revisions, totaling at least 4500 words

20% Final in-class essay

89.5-100 = A;  79.5-88.5 = B;  69.5-78.5 = C;  59.5-68.5 = D;  Below 59.0 = F

LATE WORK:  Late work means "work 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.

Submit your writing assignments (after the first assignment) to Cengage through AC Blackboard.  I do not open or grade assignments that are submitted through e-mails.

Semester Exam: In-class essay

 

 

Attendance

Regular Scheduled Classes:

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 must stop attending, withdraw officially by the deadline; otherwise, I must record an F for the semester.  All students are required to scan their school ID when entering the classroom.

If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan, one that protects your investment in the course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Remember that the deadline for dropping this course is  June 21, 2017.

 

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Additional Information