Composition I Syllabus for 2020-2021
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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-1301-015 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The Little Seagull Handbook with exercises.   Third Edition. Bullock, Brody, Weinberg.

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 & 1302. Fourth. Hayden McNeil, 2019. 

Supplies

A USB flash drive to save work in the computer lab. A folder to keep your papers, worksheets and daily writing. This folder and all the contents are needed for your final exam essay.

Student Performance

Final grades will be determined by exams, daily work, and successful completion of all assigned writing, research, and reading projects. In order to pass this class, students must turn in all of their assignments. 

GRADE BREAKDOWN:

Daily work, homework, lab & participation         25%

Attendance                                                    10%

Personal essay                                              10%

Rhetorical analysis                                         10%

Research proposal                                    10%

Research paper                                           20%

Final Exam                                                      15%

All work is due on the date assigned. The class calendar is usually followed, but it is always subject to change.  I will adjust the schedule according to class needs and announce this in class and through email.  Work must be started on the start date according to the calendar. Because each assignment has a specific learning objective, I would rather you do the work properly even if it means starting over, rather than simply turning something in to meet a due date. 

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

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 and to become familiar with the contents and provisions of the college’s policies, rules, and regulations concerning student conduct.

Additionally, AC takes seriously its responsibilities as a Title IX campus.  Please see this link for additional information: https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ix

The class 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 dialogue and attitude. Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class.

COVID-19 Requirements: Because we are meeting in the classroom, everyone in the room is required by Board of Regents policy to wear a protective mask that completely covers the wearer's mouth and extends over the bridge of the nose. Failure to wear a mask can result in being removed from the classroom for that day for the protection of everyone on campus.  Additionally, we will track attendance each day so that if an infection occurs on campus, the college can contact everyone who has been with that person that day. If wearing a mask is too uncomfortable or causes a problem for a student, that student will have the option of participating on-line through live broadcast through Blackboard Collaborate. Additionally, these sessions will be recorded and made available for anyone missing the class session. Before leaving class, students will assist by wiping down their work desk tops.

If a student tests positive for COVID-19, that student will be quarantined according to CDC guidelines, and others in the class will be contacted. Because of the dangers involved, the administration will decide if the course will continue in the classroom or move online.

Learning outcomes

Grading Criteria

Grades will be based on the following system:

A         90-100= high achievement
B          80-89= above average achievement
C          70-79= satisfactory achievement
D         60-69= unsatisfactory achievement
F          0-59= unacceptable

Attendance

Students are expected to attend all class sessions.  We focus on the process of writing and revision, which means that if you miss one or more sessions, your ability to understand writing at the college level will be bumpy at best or grinding to a halt later on. Think of this the way you think of a job. No job has an optional attendance policy. Because of the collaborative nature of this course and the fact that success in this course depends on continuous practice and constant direction from the instructor and work with each other, missing even one class can interfere with your grade. Absences start on the first scheduled day on which the class meets.

Regular attendance is  is the strongest indicator of earning an A or a B for the course.   Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class and to complete all assignments.

Students are expected to arrive promptly and sign in the attendance sheet in class every day, keep up with the class calendar, and start all assignments on time. If work obligations or family emergencies prevent you from arriving on time, come as soon as you can before the end of the class period, 11:45 a.m.

A grade will be given for attendance. You are allowed one absence, after which, points will be taken away from your attendance/class participation grade. Because we are a once-a-week class, if you are sick or have a family or work emergency you will be expected to continue your work regardless of the reason.  Contacting other students in this class is your best bet for the quickest response, simply because I have five other courses that I am responsible for with my time.  Your grade will begin as 100 and be reduced by the percentage of absences, down to a low grade of 70. Students with frequent absences will be encouraged to drop the course and re-enroll at a later semester when he or she is able to attend on a regular basis. Because  writing involves a variety of skills, this course is considered the foundation for later success in your college career. We not only learn to express our thoughts in a professional manner, but to also think critically and analytically, which is developed through regular practice, not simply by reviewing a study guide.       

 

It is the responsibility of the student to officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before the withdrawal deadline listed on the online course calendar. Students may withdraw via WebAdvisor, by meeting with their academic advisor, by meeting with Advising Department staff, or at any of the Assistance Center counters. Withdrawal requests will not be accepted by telephone.

If during the semester you consider dropping this class, please check with the instructor first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and that gives you an opportunity to complete it.   Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class. Withdrawing from the class may delay your enrollment in your major courses. Thus, the best course of action is to attend regularly, and complete this course.

Calendar

Additional Information

Computers are available in the English Writing Labs (Ordway 101 and 104) for individual student use for word processing and Internet work. Students who use the lab are required to sign in for each visit. Students will do some writing on computers as a part of this class.  Students will need a USB (jump or flash) drive if they want to save their work in the labs.  This class also uses MS Word, and AC Connect/Blackboard.

Blackboard:

Blackboard is one program that we use in this class.  The syllabus and class calendar are posted in Blackboard.  Assignments are posted under the content area.  The grade book and email are available for you through Blackboard, too.

TUTORING:

        Free tutoring is available through two sources: The Writers’ Corner and Smarthinking. The Writers’ Corner is on the first floor of Ordway Hall in room 102. It is suggested that you make an appointment at the Writers’ Corner, but you can also drop by for tutoring.  You can call for an appointment at (806) 345-5580

        In addition, AC subscribes to Smarthinking, an on-line tutoring service you may use free for 10 hours each semester. This service is available nights and weekends. Access instructions are located in AC Online.

TUTORING POLICY:

This is the tutoring policy for regular essays for this class. When you turn in a first draft of a paper and you fall below expectations for a B or an A grade, you still have a chance to make a one of those two grades.  I will return a copy of the paper to you with comments aimed at improving your understanding of how to write at the college level. Additionally, you can take the paper and meet with a tutor the tutoring center, The Writers’ Corner.  After you meet with a tutor, the tutor will send me a form explaining what they talked to you about. We will also do peer reviews, meaning students will pair up and read each other’s papers. You will need to help each other with grammar and spelling, and to make certain that your paper uses suitable grammar and diction to appeal to your target audience, other college students.  Typically, we will have at least one week to go from the first draft to the final draft. For the final draft, which will be graded, if you do not earn an A or a B, you can revise again to receive full credit. Don’t put this off until the end of the semester, because the work will pile up and will detract from the later assignments.

Taking all of your essay assignments to the Writers Corner is advised because that typically will elevate your work to a college-level (which means suitable for not only Amarillo College, but also upper division work if you transfer to a four-year university, and for professional work within your field of study if you are in an associates degree program or job certification program.