I am available for office hours and individual conferences online through Zoom. You can email me at margaret.netherton@actx.edu to set up a Zoom appointment.
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 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.
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
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.
Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016
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.
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 .
ENGL-2307-001 Creative Writing
Practical experience in the techniques of imaginative writing. May include fiction, nonfiction, poetry, screenwriting or drama.
Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website
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.
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.
(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)
Online Course
You do not need to buy a textbook for this course. All course content is posted online in our Blackboard course. Reading selections are posted in the "Content" section of the course.
Access to a reliable Internet connection
Word processing software, such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs
This Creative Writing class will offer students the opportunity to become more skilled and confident creative writers. Students will learn about techniques and strategies that writers can use to achieve particular and powerful effects. They will also benefit from instructor and peer feedback on their writing and from the examples of literary models provided for them.
Students will be expected to write new, original work for this class. Specifically, students will write rough drafts and then final copies of a short story and a poem. Students will write peer reviews of each others' drafts; read examples of effective stories and poems, and take reading quizzes on these reading selections.
Students will also be expected to submit at least one creative work to Freelancer, AC's literary magazine, for publication before the semester is over.
Continuing Education students enrolled in this class are encouraged to complete all of the assignments along with the academic students and benefit from instructor and peer feedback; however, they are not required to do so. As long as CE students turn in at least one writing assignment, they will receive a "Satisfactory" report for the class.
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".
ENGLISH DEPT. TUTORING POLICY
If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, he or she will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor’s directions before being allowed to complete the next assigned work.
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.
PEER REVIEWS
Reader feedback is an important part of a creative writing course. Students will be required to complete peer reviews on a certain number of classmates' drafts to provide helpful feedback and insights into reader response. While honest feedback is appreciated, please keep your tone civil and avoid any personal attacks or insults. The aim in this class is to create a supportive, helpful environment so that you can all become better writers.
GRADING CRITERIA/GRADE SCALE: Your grade will be determined as follows:
Final Copies of Story, Poem: 40%
Rough Drafts of Story, Poem: 25%
Peer Reviews: 20%
Reading Quizzes / Discussion Post: 15%
90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, Below 60=F
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. In an online class, this takes the form of regularly checking the course calendar, keeping up with the course reading, completing assignments on time, and emailing the instructor with questions or concerns.
WITHDRAWAL: The drop deadline this semester is Dec. 9, 2020. See the Student Withdrawal Procedures above for instructions on required steps before you can withdraw from a course.
MAKEUP WORK:
Reading quizzes promote good attendance and participation—they help ensure that students read the material. Reading quizzes will be open for several days, so you can take them at your convenience. The lowest reading quiz grade will be dropped. For other assignments, if you have a genuine emergency arise, please contact me as soon as possible so that we can make necessary arrangements. Otherwise, you are responsible for turning in work when it is assigned.
Tentative Course Outline for English 2307: Creative Writing
NOTE: ASSIGNMENTS and SPECIFIC DUE DATES are posted on the course CALENDAR in our AC Connect/Blackboard course. Check it weekly and follow it closely.
Week One (Oct. 26-Nov. 1):
This week, you will familiarize yourself with the course format and requirements, go over the syllabus, read Unit One content, and introduce yourself and meet other students in the Discussion area.
Read Content: Unit One material on 1) Important Literary Terms and Techniques, 2) the handout on creating engaging characters, and 3) the handouts on different types of plots. Take the quiz on Important Literary Terms and Techniques. Post a Discussion post in the Unit One Introductions Discussion forum introducing yourself to the class.
Week Two (Nov. 2-Nov. 8):
Read the Unit 2 stories "The Story of an Hour," "The Lottery," and take the reading quizzes on them. Read the Short Story Assignment and decide on a theme that you'd like your story to present. Begin thinking about the types of characters and a plot that could work with this theme. Work on the first draft of your story.
Week Three (Nov. 9-Nov. 15):
Read the Unit 2 stories "Everyday Use" and "Harrison Bergeron." Take the reading quizzes on them. Post the first draft of your story in the Unit 2 Story Peer Review Discussion forum.
Week Four (Nov. 16-Nov. 22):
Complete your assigned peer reviews on your peer review partners’ stories.
Week Five (Nov. 23-Nov. 30):
After reading instructor and peer feedback, revise your story and submit the final copy in the Content: Unit 2 Story dropbox by Monday at midnight after Thanksgiving.
Week Six (Nov. 30-Dec. 6):
Read all of the poems posted in Unit 3, as well as the handout on poetic terms and techniques. Take the reading quizzes on "Poetic Terms / Techniques," "When in Disgrace With Fortune," "Dover Beach," "My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun," and "Suicide Note." Read the Poem Assignment and decide on the type of poem you want to write, which types of techniques you want to employ, and whether you'll use rhyme or create rhythm through some type of repetition.
Week Seven (Dec. 7-Dec. 13):
Finish the first draft of your poem and post it in the Unit 3 Poem Peer Review Discussion forum. Complete assigned peer reviews on poem drafts.
Week Eight (Dec. 15-Dec. 19):
Read instructor and classmate feedback on your poem draft. Revise your poem and submit the final copy in the Unit 3 Poem dropbox by TUESDAY, DEC. 15.
By THURSDAY, DEC. 17, submit at least one piece of writing to AC's literary magazine, Freelancer. Email your submission to Dr. William Netherton at wdnetherton@actx.edu and copy me on the email at margaret.netherton@actx.edu.
The free AC Writers' Corner can help you with any grammatical issues in your writing. Contact them to set up an in-person, email, or virtual appointment: writerscorner@actx.edu.
10/18/20 3:24 PM
10/26/20 8:05 PM