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-LC25 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

Required Textbooks:

Carter, Judith, et al., ed. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. Mason: Cengage, 2010. Print. *

Bullock, Richard, Michal Brody, and Francine Wineberg. The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises. 3rd  ed., W. W. Norton, 2014.

*These books are available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.     

Supplies

For this class, you will need note-taking supplies: spirals, pens/pencils, highlighters, whatever you prefer.

 

You will also need access to a reliable computer with Internet Access and Microsoft Word. Word Online, Open Office, Wordpad, Notepad, etc. are not options due to these programs having issues with other programs used within this course. It must be able to save documents as .doc; .docx; or .pdf.

 

There are computers in the Underground which are equipped with Word and are available during its regular hours of operation.

 

Additionally, you should have a USB drive. They are useful for ensuring you have a copy of documents you can move from computer to computer; if something happens to the computer or system, the copy on the drive remains intact. It’s also useful for saving online documents and other sources without taking up too much space on your computer.

Student Performance

After studying the material presented in this course of study, the student will be able to do the following as evaluated by the faculty in the department/program:

 

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

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

COVID-19 Statement 

All students are required to wear a mask or cloth face covering that covers the mouth and nose at all times while on Amarillo College campuses, properties and instructional sites. Students with a documented health risk for which they wish to request an exemption under this policy must contact the office of Student Affairs to discuss potential alternative instructional delivery options.

 

Students working alone in an enclosed space are permitted to remove the mask. However, they must wear the mask at all other times. Should a student wish to eat or drink, he or she may remove the mask to do so provided they stay at least six feet from others.

 

This policy will be strictly enforced. Failure to follow the policy may result in student discipline.

 

The college President has the authority to suspend or reenact this policy as the pandemic conditions and data warrant without the necessity of board action.

 

Classroom Conduct

We are all adults and should know how to act. My primary concern is making sure EVERYONE in class has a safe environment conducive to learning and expanding viewpoints. As long as you act in a mature manner that does not hinder other students’ efforts to learn, we have no problems.

 A few ground rules:

 

1. No tobacco products.
2. Please do not talk out of turn when I am lecturing.
3. No cell phones, period. Laptops are only to be used for in-class purposes, not note-taking.
4. Show up to class on time. If you are late (it happens to all of us at one point or another) please enter the room and find a seat quietly. Be sure to consult me or a classmate after class to learn what you’ve missed.
5. There is a checklist for each week available on Blackboard. Use it, especially if you’re going to miss class.
6. Let’s be respectful of everybody in class, faculty, staff, student, or property.
7. If you are sick, please stay home. Your health, both physical and mental, is more important, than attending every single class, and nobody wants to spread illness to other students. (just make sure to email me or another student for what you missed)
8. Two-day classes: My thinking is we’ll take a 15-minute break in-between segments, allowing for bathroom breaks, and to help us shift gears from one topic to another. These will normally be from 6:45 to 7:00. This means that you should be back to the classroom by 7:00 so we can keep the momentum going.
9. Covid Addendum: If you test positive, please let me know as soon as you can. If you’re showing symptoms and even think you might have it, let me know and stay home. Rule 7 above is extremely important right now, so err on the side of caution for yourself and your classmates.

 

Plagiarism/Cheating policy:

Plagiarism: the incorrect or intentional use of another’s intellectual property as one’s own original content.

 

The AC English Department Plagiarism Policy (Spring 2013) describes cheating as including but not limited to “copying or leaving the test with a test or questions from a test, helping or attempting to help other students cheat on a test, or plagiarizing on a paper.

 

It further defines plagiarism as “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.

 

Let me be clear: The AC English department tracks plagiarism and records are kept of who plagiarizes and how. At the beginning of the semester, a list of names of plagiarizing students is sent to AC English dept. faculty.

 

The main reason not to plagiarize that should matter most to you: Plagiarized assignments in my class receive an automatic zero in the gradebook. Subsequent plagiarism will lead to expulsion from the class and a referral of the student to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Grading Criteria

Minor Assignments 15%

Grammar Quizzes 10%

 

 Essay 1: This I Believe 15%

 Summary Analysis Essay  15%

Essay 2: Researched Argument 25%

Midterm Exam 10%

Final Exam 10%

 

Grading Schema:

A 90-100 Exceptional work

B 80-89 Above Average Work

C 70-79 Average Work (Good)

D 60-69 Below Average Work (Additional Practice)

F 0-59 Unsuccessful.

 

Extra Credit: I do not generally give extra credit, but I do allow Papers turned in on time that score a D or below to be resubmitted for a better grade if done in a timely manner. The highest grade achievable for resubmission is a 70. With the shortness of the semester and the loaded assignment schedule, I would say if you can get it done within a week, do so, otherwise focus on the next assignment.

 

Late work policy: Due to the time constraints and amount of content involved in this course, Late Work will not be accepted after the due date. I encourage you to try and complete assignments before the due date when possible. The only extenuating circumstances I will consider are personal/family emergencies and technological emergencies; both of these must be reported BEFORE the due date. 

Attendance

Perhaps the easiest and also most difficult ways to ensure a good grade in any college course is to show up on time, not skip class, and to complete assignments on time. Students who complete these three objectives consistently are far more likely to pass a class in my personal experience.

 

I do keep track of attendance, and while I don’t grade for it, it does show up on Blackboard as a percentage. That percentage is how much of the class you’ve attended. Between missing quizzes, in-class assignments, and journals, not to mention the really important lectures, a low attendance score often accompanies a low grade.

 

However, I also understand that life happens. Don’t stress-out too much if illness, car trouble etc. cause you to miss one or two daily-work grades. There will be plenty more. Missing class is also mitigated by keeping up with assignments and getting the notes for lectures from another classmate.

 

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must do so before Tuesday, December 8th, in order to count as a withdrawal and not a drop. It is better to withdraw than drop, but I encourage you to contact me or an advisor before it gets that bad so that I/they can help you.

 

Administrative Drop Policy: Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date of Nov 2nd will be administratively dropped.

Calendar

Additional Information

Contacts:

The other people in this class are students just like you. I encourage you to get the contact information (name, phone number, email address) of 2-3 (one at the least) classmates. Call or Email them if you need help with something to do with this class (copy of notes from a day you missed, advice on a homework assignment, reminder of page numbers, etc.). There is strength in numbers, and a college class is no exceptions.

 

Useful Phone Numbers:

 

AC Advocacy & Resource Center

806-371-543

 

AC Counseling Center

806-371-5191