Composition II Syllabus for 2017-2018
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

COVID-19 Protocols

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 course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are 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. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

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-DC017 Composition II

Prerequisites

<p>Prerequisite: ENGL 1301</p>

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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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.

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

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact your advisor, the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec, 1 lab)

Class Type

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Required Textbooks:

Amarillo College English Department. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 2nd ed., Hayden McNeil, 2016.*

Bullock, Richard, Michal Brody, and Francine Wineberg. The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises. 3rd ed., W. W. Norton, 2017

*These books are available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

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

Supplies

A word processing program and a computer with reliable internet access. Open Office, Word Online, Word Pad, and Note Pad are not acceptable word processing programs for this class.

 

Students may use the English Writing Lab in Ordway 101 on the Washington Street Campus during regular hours of operation.

Student Performance

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 January, 2009):
Plagiarism:
According to the Amarillo College Student Code of Conduct, plagiarism is the "appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another's words and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one's own written work."

Misdocumented Plagiarism:
1. The use of someone else's exact words that are quoted but not cited or cited but not quoted.

2. Using a citation at the end of a block of prose without clarifying which material is borrowed.

3. Missing or incomplete Works Cited entries

Misdocumented plagiarism will receive a maximum 50 percent deduction for the first offense, and the student will be required to meet with the instructor.

Undocumented Plagiarism:
1. The use of someone else's exact words that are neither quoted nor cited.

2. Paraphrasing someone else's words without citing them.

3. The use of someone else's research without citing it.

Undocumented plagiarism will receive a minimum penalty of 50 percent for the first time and 100 percent off for all subsequent infractions. The student will be required to meet with the instructor and the English Department Chair.

Grading Criteria

Discussions	5	6	30	3%
Quizzes	3	10	30	3%
Minor Assignments, Reflection Papers	20	7	140	14%
Annotated Bibliographies	35	2	70	7%
Peer Reviews	15	2	30	3%
Out-of-Class Essays, Major Revision Project	200	3	600	60%
In-Class Essay--Final Exam	100	1	100	10%

 

 

Attendance

Online students attend this class by logging in to AC Online (Blackboard) and participating in the learning activities. They are not expected to come to campus. Be aware, however, that each assignment has a due date, and successful students keep current with their classwork.  The last day to withdraw from this course is April 21, 2017.

 

Calendar

Additional Information

Policies Concerning Late Work:

All assignments must be submitted according to the deadline schedule posted in the calendar section of our AC Online class. Late essays are penalized 10 percent per day that they are late. Essays more than three days late will not be accepted. Late minor assignments, contributions to the discussions, extra credit, annotated bibliographies, and peer review drafts are not accepted at all.

AC Online quizzes may be taken more than once before the due date. Only the last score will count for credit. If the quiz is not completed before the due date, it does not earn credit.

The final exam must be completed on the day or days indicated on the course calendar.

 

Discussion Scoring:

 Be sure to contribute to the discussion in a timely manner. If you make a relevant and satisfactory comment before the due date of each lesson, you will earn two points. If you post a second contribution that responds to another student's posting, you will earn up to three more points. Postings that merely state "I agree" or "I disagree" without supporting reasons and those that do not add thoughtful material to the discussion do not earn points. To earn all the points possible, be sure to show evidence of original critical thinking instead of paraphrasing an idea that someone else has already posted. Also, late contributions to the discussions will be read, but they do not earn points. You may contribute to the discussions as often as you wish, but you can earn no more than five points per unit for the discussion.

Link to the Web page Required for this Course:

AC Connect: https://acconnect.actx.edu

Accessibility Statement: This course’s online content has been checked for accessibility; however, if you encounter any difficulty using the information in this class, please contact Bryant Manning, bmanning@actx.edu

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