Composition I Syllabus for 2019-2020
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

By appointment.

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-1301-007 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

Between Shades of Gray 

Supplies

Student Performance

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.

Departmental expectations:

6. Write a third person, argumentative research paper following the MLA format for citing sources.

7. Use the library's online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing.

 

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

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 All sophomore literature classes will include at least one writing assignment designed to connect the literature being studied to an ethical dilemma, demanding that students communicate their critical thinking as they consider both personal and social responsibility issues.

Grading Criteria

40% Online & In-class Assignments; 40% Essays; 20% Final Exam Writing and/or Project

Attendance

This is an 8 weeks hybrid course. Attendance is a must in order to successfully complete the course. No absence will be excused without a medical statement. Accepting late work will be the exception--not the rule.  The drop date this semester is Oct. 6th.

Calendar

Below is a tentative schedule of assignments.  Check each Monday morning for any possible changes as this is just flat an ever-changing time!

 

Assignments are available via Content or Discussions on left-hand menu bar on Homepage.  Again, the below constitutes your online portion of this hybrid course work.  (Since we are only meeting in class five times this semester, this is, obviously, the majority of your work.)

 

Note:  Honors Students only?  See additional "Honors Project" schedule on course menu.

 Below is a tentative schedule of assignments. 

 

Week One:  View Welcome Video (Content)  Then,

a--Go to Content: Lessons: Introductory Materials:  After reviewing Welcome and Course Overview, list the ten most important items you found and briefly comment as to why. Submit in Drop Box.

b--Go to Content: Lessons: "Sentence Musts."  Then, complete Sentence Work in Drop Box.

c--Go to Content: Lessons: Rhetorical Appeals.  Watch youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPiQ_LuKtDE   

 . . . After studying rhetorical appeals and watching the video, write a well-developed paragraph (minimum length—200 words) explaining how Sepetys used logos, ethos, and pathos in her presentation.  Submit to Discussion Board.  (Note: a paragraph always requires a topic sentence. If you need review as to paragraph development and topic sentences, see Content, “Paragraphs.”)

d--Read first section of Between Shades of Gray, “Thieves and Prostitutes,” chapters 1-28.  Take first three reading quizzes (Go to Content: Reading Quizzes).

NOTE: THESE FOUR TASKS MUST BE COMPLETED NO LATER THAN SUNDAY AT MIDNIGHT, OR YOU WILL BE ADMINISTRATIVELY DROPPED FROM THE COURSE MONDAY MORNING.

NO CLASS MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

 

Week Two    Be sure to read Weekly Review material!  (Content).  

--Thoroughly study Content: Lessons:“Stylistic Writing/Figurative Language.”  Select a chapter in the book.  Write paragraphs discussing Sepetys’ use of three different types of figurative language, i.e., stylistic devices. Briefly explain why such usage improves the writing.  Submit to Drop Box as described there.

--See Content page, “Adjectives and Adverbs.”  Select a chapter in section two of the book.  Select your “three best adjective choices” and explain why you chose them.  Post to Discussion Board. Select one adverb in your chosen chapter and do the same. Comment on peers’ postings.

--Read the second section of the novel, “Maps and Snakes,” chapters 29-62.  Take next five quizzes!

CLASS MEETING THIS WEEK PER YOUR EITHER MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY DESIGNATION. SEE ANNOUNCMENT.  LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU!

 

 

Week Three

--Study Lessons: "Organization":  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7P4fzbzwwAg 

--Study Lessons: “Transitions.”  Complete Transitions: Worksheet.  Submit to Drop Box.

--Watch carefully: Lessons:Two youtube videos:  "MLA Formatting" &  "In-Text Citations" -- List the five most important things you learned about MLA Citations and submit to Discussion Board.  Discuss with peers. Make sure you understand that a quote cannot stand alone as a sentence; it must be grammatically and logically worked into (embedded into) the writer's sentence. 

--Read last section of novel.  Complete remaining quizzes.

NO CLASS MEETINGS THIS WEEK.

 

Week Four

--See Lessons: “Section Titles: Symbolism.”  Complete drop box assignment. Make sure you have completed above assignments before tackling this paragraph work.

--See Lessons:  Watch video: "Stalin."  Discuss what you learned with others in corresponding discussion post.

--Study Lessons: "Outline: Purpose"

CLASS MEETING THIS WEEK PER YOUR EITHER MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY DESIGNATION. SEE ANNOUNCMENT.

 

Week Five

--Carefully study Essay One assignment page.

-- Submit your thesis and short sketch outline following the example given on your essay one assignment page to Drop Box BY TUESDAY EVENING FOR INPUT.

--Answer "sample essay" questions in drop box BY WEDNEDAY EVENING FOR CREDIT.

--Essay due Sunday by midnight.

CLASS MEETING THIS WEEK PER YOUR EITHER MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY DESIGNATION. SEE ANNOUNCMENT.

 

Week Six

--Watch Librarians’ Video for further understanding of citations. (You will complete embedded questions in the video as you go.)

--Study ESSAY TWO ASSIGNMENT.  

--Submit Thesis/Sketch Outline.

CLASS MEETING THIS WEEK PER YOUR EITHER MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY DESIGNATION.   SEE ANNOUNCMENT.

 

Week Seven

--Submission of draft to peer and peer editing.

--Essay due.

CLASS MEETING THIS WEEK PER YOUR EITHER MONDAY OR WEDNESDAY DESIGNATION. SEE ANNOUNCMENT.


Week Eight

--Final Exam will be open Monday morning through Wednesday until noon.  Once opened, it should be self-explanatory.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

This course includes adult content.

Syllabus Created on:

08/21/20 12:23 PM

Last Edited on:

09/06/20 4:12 PM