Composition I Syllabus for 2019-2020
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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:

The Tutoring for Success policy applies to any student whose grade or performance in the course falls below a departmentally determined minimum threshold. In either of those cases, the instructor will direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. Under this policy, the instructor will follow specific departmental guidelines governing the use, duration, and grade component of the tutoring need.

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-1301-021 Composition I

Prerequisites

Corequisite: INRW 0303 Prerequisite: 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 ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

STUDENT PRINTING PROCEDURES

For students to put money on their account, they must go to this website https://acprinthub.actx.edu/myprintcenter/ and either use PayPal account or their credit/debit card to add money, or they can go to the Student Services building to add money with credit/debit or with cash. Neither Writers’ Corner or the Writing Lab can add money to the account.

However, if the students need help adding money to their account, we can help them do that here in the lab. All students are responsible for adding money to their own account. But students need to have money on their own account in order to print anywhere on campus.

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:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

We will be using the handbooks listed below:

The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises with Access Card, 2nd ed. Bullock, Brody and Weinberg. If you already have the 2017 version of The Little Seagull with Exercises, you may use it.

AC Custom Rhetoric. 4th edition. If you already have the 3rd edition of the AC Rhetoric Handbook for 1301 and 1302, you may use it. 

Supplies

A Jump/Flash/USB is vital for saving your essays so that you can work on them both at home and in the computer labs. Always save your work on a flash drive, by emailing it to yourself, or by submitting a draft to Blackboard. Only the last drive submitted to Blackboard will be graded. 

Paper (paper with jagged or ripped edges from being torn from a spiral will not be accepted for in-class work), pens or sharpened pencils (there may not be a pencil sharpener in the classroom), and multicolored highlighters are recommended.

Bring a paper copy of your current essay or research paper to class on the assigned dates, and to every tutoring session or teacher conference. Since you will be working with another person, accessing the paper on a laptop or on your phone is not appropriate for these situations.

Student Performance

ENGL 1301 Composition 1

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, communication, and critical analysis.

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 following the MLA format for citing sources.

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

Title IX: In the college experience, students will encounter diverse views and new subject matter which expand their knowledge and perspective. In this college English class, we might read and discuss some literary works with subject matter that could include (but not be limited to) death, violence, sexuality, examples of racism/discrimination, potentially offensive language, and political or religious viewpoints different from your own. If this is a concern for you, please meet with me.

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

Plagiarism is defined as the following: the use of someone else's exact words that are neither quoted or 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 will receive a penalty of a zero, and the student's name will be added to the plagiarism watch list in the English Department. 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.

Class Conduct: Be on time. Be courteous and respectful to your instructor and fellow students. Take care of personal business (going to the restroom, making phone calls, etc.) before class.

Cell Phones, Pagers, and Other Electronic Devices: Cell phones are distracting, and the concept of multi-tasking is a myth. Please do not turn on a cell phone or other electronic device in class unless it is related to class activities.

Grading Criteria

Rhetorical Analysis  15%

Research Paper 40%

Reflective Essay 15%

Short Assignments and Quizzes 20%

Final Exam 10%

All grades will be kept in Blackboard. You can check your grades by clicking the My Grades link in your AC Connect Course Menu. All grades will be rounded up according to the guidelines below.

Late work: Late work will not be accepted. All assignments with the exception of the Final Exam are open from the first day of class. You may work ahead on assignments. 

89.5-100 A

79.5-less than 89.5 B

69.5-less than 79.5 C

59.5-less than 69.5 D

0-less than 59.5 F

Submitting Papers: Since many alternative writing programs are not compatible with Blackboard, Word is required (.docx). As a safeguard to you, all assignments will be saved in Word (.docx) and turned in through Blackboard (if the instructor cannot see the assignment, the instructor cannot grade the assignment). You will need access to a computer outside of class for writing essays and completing online work. Computers with Word are available on campus in the Writing Lab in Ordway 101 and in the Ware student building.

If you have trouble turning in the assignment from your home computer, get assistance from AC's Information Technology (IT) Services, 806-371-5409. Alternatively, you can get assistance submitting the paper to Blackboard from a flash drive or computer in the Writer's Corner, the Writing Lab, or the Tutoring Center in the Ware student building.

Attendance

You are enrolled in a hybrid course which combines in-person lectures, peer interaction, and online instruction as part of the learning process.The unique learning opportunities available in the on-campus portion of the class cannot be duplicated by other media. Attendance in the on-campus portion of the course is critical for students who would like to pass this course.

Attendance:

Class attendance will be verified with pop quizzes and in-class assignments. Grades will be recorded for these activities. These quizzes and assignments cannot be made up outside of class.

Hybrid Assignments:

The instructions for all assignments are posted in Blackboard. All assignments will be turned in through Blackboard.

Missed Assignments:

If you anticipate being absent, you may work ahead. You may submit any open assignment before it is due. Late work will not be accepted.

Email:

Email is an important component of an online class. If you did not receive an email from your instructor the first day of class, you will need to check your junk email. You will need to set up your email, and possibly your security software, to receive emails from your AC courses.

Calendar

Additional Information

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 the Human Resources, use "Exchange." All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email."