Composition I Syllabus for 2020-2021
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:

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-1301-005 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Amarillo College English Dept., eds. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301, 1302 and 2311, 4th ed., Hayden-McNeil, 2019.

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

Supplies

A computer with reliable access to the internet and a word processing program, such as Word or Google Docs.  Notepad and Wordpad are not acceptable word processing programs for this course because their formatting features do not work with other programs used in the course.

Students must be able to save documents as Word-compatible files (e.g. .doc or .docx)

Student Performance

ENGL 1301

Composition I Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective 117 rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.

 

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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.

MS. MCCOY’S EXPECTATIONs:

In addition, I would like you to consider the following items.  I am assuming that you probably have as many or more computer skills than I do; however, if this is your first online course, there are some questions you need to consider before beginning this or any online course:

• Are you self-motivated?  Can you get assignments finished and submitted on time? 
• Do you understand what you read?  Can you follow written directions? 
• Do you have the use of a computer--one that fits YOUR schedule and the COURSE schedule? Furthermore, are you proficient at navigating the world of computers, including software and digital environments?
• Is your internet service reliable? 

If the answer is no to any of these questions, you may wish to rethink your decision to take an online course.  A face-to-face class may be right one for you.  If, on the other hand, you believe an online course is for you, here a few tips: 

• Be prepared to spend as much or more time as you would in a face-to-face class.  Students should be very disciplined and responsible in online classes—students are expected to participate as if they are in a classroom, but in an online environment. Students are expected to read the assigned text and be prepared to contribute to the class discussion in the online format as well as turn work in on time. 
• Make the most of your time and try not to fall behind—it’s difficult to catch up on readings.  Moreover, no assignments shall be accepted late, so you must keep up, yourself, with the schedule and turn work in on time.
• If you have a problem, let me know as soon as you can.  DO NOT wait or just do nothing. Furthermore, the excuse “my computer crashed” or “my internet went down” is like the old excuse “the dog ate my homework”.  The dog MAY have eaten your homework, and your computer may have crashed, but these excuses will not be accepted.
• Do not wait until the last minute to complete a quiz or submit material.  Things can and do go wrong!
• One more thing and this is so especially important.  You simply must save your documents in a Microsoft Word compatible format (such as .doc, .docx, or .rtf).  This is especially something to be cautious of if you have an Apple computer because much of Apple's software is not compatible with what we use on the PCs.  Again, I simply cannot grade work that I cannot open.  If I receive a document that is not compatible, you will receive a zero on that assignment.

MY POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:  Be sure that you understand the department’s policy and definition of plagiarism which is listed above. 

It is also important to understand your instructor’s policies and thoughts on plagiarism.  In keeping with the department’s policy on plagiarism, in my class anyone who is dishonest in any way (including but not limited to plagiarism and the following examples), will receive a zero for that assignment, with no opportunity to make up the zero. You WILL receive a grade of F in the course for more than one violation.  It does not matter if the offense is a major writing assignment or something as simple as a discussion. 

Please remember that you are also guilty of cheating on an assignment by letting someone else complete part or all your work by

• using unauthorized electronic devices for in-class assignments or tests
• using someone else’s electronic files
• letting someone else use your electronic files**

 

 ** It is your responsibility to protect your electronically saved files. If someone else turns in an assignment as if it were that student’s work but it is work that you completed, I will have to assume that you allowed it to happen, and both of you will suffer the same consequences. Therefore, make sure your saved files are kept in a place where others cannot copy them. DON’T SHARE STORAGE DEVICES!!!

It is also unacceptable if you use work that you have turned in for another instructor if you do not get my permission first.  ALWAYS ASK! 

 PLAGIARISM:  Read the following explanations carefully and be sure that you understand them.

1. Word-for-word plagiarism:  The student quotes his or her source without using quotation marks.  Even if the student cites the source, he or she is still plagiarizing because proper quotation procedures were not used.  A general rule of thumb is that if you borrow MORE THAN TWO WORDS IN A ROW, you must use quotation marks!

 2. Paraphrased plagiarism:  The student uses a source and except for changing a few words or phrases essentially quotes the original.  Even if the source is properly cited, the writing is still plagiarized because the student has used the author’s style, vocabulary, and content and claimed it as his or her own.

 3. Improper citations:  If a student uses someone’s information other than his or her own, the source of the material must be properly cited.  Failure to do so is plagiarism.

 4. Improper use of ideas:  Ideas are as equally protected as words.  If the student uses someone’s ideas, but expresses them in his or her words, the student plagiarizes if he or she does not cite the source of the idea.

 5. Internet use:  Copying and pasting from the Internet is plagiarism.  Purchasing papers from a paper mill is plagiarism.

 6. Student sharing:  While students are certainly free to work together and study together, an assignment that calls for individual work must reflect the student’s personal effort.  If a student borrows or copies another student’s work, that is plagiarism.  If a student has another student write a paper, that is plagiarism.  If two students collaborate on an individual assignment and turn in the same work, that is plagiarism.

 Plagiarism is a serious academic offense.  It involves legal issues about improper use of materials that do not belong to the student.  Plagiarism is also unethical.  A student must do his or her own work; otherwise, the learning process is compromised.  Plagiarism is unfair to fellow students who take the time and make the effort to do their own work.  Essentially, plagiarism is cheating and will not be tolerated.

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

I will always show you the respect you deserve as a student. I, in return, expect respectful behavior from you. It can be difficult in online classes to accurately measure the tone of someone else's words.  Please be intentional about being courteous both to me as your instructor and other students. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria

"This I Believe" Essay (10%)

Rhetorical Analysis (10%)

Research Argument Essay  (15%)

Final Essay (20%)

Capstone Project (15%)

Journals (10%) DUE Weekly on Sunday 

Discussions (10%) DUE Weekly on Sunday

Quizzes (10%)  DUE Weekly on Sunday

Late work will NOT be accepted.  Plan accordingly.  Be sure to work out the details of submitting via Blackboard well before the due date for an assignment.

Attendance

Regular attendance is vital to success in the course. Online attendance is even more important to success in an online class.  Please try to log in every day.

Calendar

Additional Information

Please note that this course may contain adult subject matter.