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-1301-006 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

NOTE: No textbook is needed.  All course material will be supplied within the Course Content files of our online course in AC Connect / Blackboard.

Supplies

Computer/Internet access

Access to a word processing program, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs

You need to download Zoom (preferably to a computer or tablet) and create a free account.  We will have required weekly Zoom class meetings each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.  The Zoom link will be posted in our Blackboard course Announcements.  Sign in to the Zoom class meeting with the same first and last name on our class roll so that you will get credit for attending.  

Student Performance

This is a tech-supported class, as all lecture classes on the Washington St. campus are this semester.  Therefore, we will NOT meet in person in the classroom this semester.  Instead, we will do all of our work online and have a required weekly Zoom class meeting each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m.

Essays: Essays must be at least 500 words, contain at least four paragraphs, and be typed, double-spaced. All essay rough drafts and final copies must be submitted as ATTACHED DOCUMENTS SAVED IN EITHER WORD OR PDF to the appropriate online dropbox in the Course Content area.  Essays will be graded on content, organization, style, and grammatical accuracy.

We will write three essays, which includes the final exam essay.

Final Exam: The final exam will be an online essay in which you will reflect on two important skills / concepts you learned in this class.

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

AMARILLO COLLEGE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT PLAGIARISM POLICY

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. [In this class, do not reuse papers already graded by another instructor.]

 

Grading Criteria

Grading Policy: Your grade will be determined as follows:

Attendance (required Weekly Zoom Class Meetings on Tuesdays): 15%

Essays (final copies):  40%

Outlines/Rough Drafts of Essays: 15%

Quizzes, short writing assignments:  10%

Final exam (essay):  20%

Attendance

Attendance is very important in a condensed tech-supported 8-week class.  We will NOT meet on campus this semester.  However, you will be required to attend weekly Zoom class meetings each Tuesday at 9:00 a.m., in which I will give you important instructions, guidance, and feedback.  It is also important to keep up with reading and writing assignments and quizzes because 8-week courses move quickly.  We have eight weeks to finish all course material, so log in frequently and plan to set aside enough time each week to finish your assignments.  Follow the Course Calendar in our AC Connect / Blackboard course for assignments and due dates.

Late Work / Makeup Work

You are allowed to turn in ONE LATE ESSAY FINAL COPY without penalty. Otherwise, 10 points will be deducted for any essay final copy that is turned in late. 10 points per day will be deducted for late outlines/rough drafts.  Plan ahead and write your essays before the last minute.  Online quizzes are left open for at least two-four days, so you have plenty of time to take them.  It is your responsibility to check quiz due dates and take them before they close.  Online reading quizzes and discussion posts will be available for at least two-four days, and you can take them any time during that period. Other late work may not be turned in without penalty, and no makeup tests or quizzes will be allowed unless there is a documented medical illness or event, a documented funeral of a close family member or friend, a court summons, a college-sanctioned trip for a competition, or another legally protected absence under state and federal law (e.g. military service).  Students are responsible for providing documentation in a timely manner in order to have absences excused.

WITHDRAWAL. The deadline for drops this semester is Dec. 9, 2020. Before you consider dropping this class or any class, talk with your instructor to try to protect your investment in the course.  If a student wants to withdraw from a class, then the student must contact the instructor and submit a signed Academic Withdrawal Form to Amarillo College.  The Withdrawal Form is linked on this syllabus above.

Calendar

Additional Information

Writers' Corner: Free writing help is available at the Writers' Corner in Ordway 104 or through https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904084aa5af2fa3fa7-writing.