Composition II Syllabus for 2023-2024
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Phone

Phone number not available

Office Location

<p>Ordway 102</p>

Office Hours

Monday and Wednesday 10:00-12:00 or 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 Enrollment Center, Suite 700. 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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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-1302-DC008 Composition II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: ENGL 1301

Course Description

Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

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

Dual Credit Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

All course materials are provided free of charge in the Blackboard course.

Supplies

Computer and internet access.

You will be required to use either Microsoft Word or Google Docs to write essays for this course. Both are available through the AC Connect page and are already paid for by your student fees. 

Student Performance

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. 

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

Expected Teacher Behavior:

  • At anytime, you may contact me to see about your grades. Grades are an invitation to a conversation, and while I cannot guarantee I will change my mind on a particular grade, I will talk you through why you earned it, and what to work on. We can communicate through email or in the online office during office hours. If office hours don't work for you, we can schedule a time.

  • The best way to get a hold of me is either through email, which I check frequently, or to to text me through my Remind app.  I will  try to back with you within 2 hours between the hours of 9am-8 pm on weekdays and between 11AM and 4PM Saturday-Sunday

  • If you email me, I will get back to you within 24 hours, unless I otherwise note.

  • I will grade everything generally within 7 days of the due date, though I usually get to them before that. (Unless I am out which may take longer)

Expected Student Behavior:

We are all adults (or are considered as such for the purposes of this class, and will be treated as such) 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.

  • Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.  I cannot help you if I don’t know what is going on.  I can’t allow you grace on something if I do not know what is happening.  I really can’t help you if I do not know what the problem is.  PLEASE, please communicate with me…email me…text me…give me a call, come see me during my office hours: those don’t work for you?  Make an appointment and we can have a zoom meeting at a suitable time for you.

  • Log into class at least once each day to check your grades and check for messages from me. We have six weeks, and every moment counts. Please also check your email and Remind at least this often, in case I send a message or announcement.

  • Due to the short, intense nature of this course, students are expected to complete assignments by the due date. Late work is generally not accepted unless there is a valid reason (emergency, technical difficulties of extreme nature) and I am notified before the deadline.

  • Keep up with everything, assignments, readings, and more for each week on Blackboard. Use it, especially if you’re going to miss class. Do the readings and check with me or another student if you have questions.
  • Let’s be respectful of everybody in class, faculty, staff, student, or property.
  • If you plan to go on vacation or otherwise take a trip this semester, please let me know WELL BEFORE YOU LEAVE. I'd like to work with you to make sure you can stay caught up on assignments and still enjoy your vacation. This goes double for if you plan to travel abroad- you cannot access the AC website from outside the U.S.A. unless IT helps you. 
  • Plagiarism will most likely result in a zero on an assignment, which may fail the student for the course.

The English and Cultural Studies Department takes academic integrity seriously.  Scholastic dishonesty, punishable as prescribed by Board policies, shall include, but not be limited to plagiarism, collusion, and cheating on a test or written assignment.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as “using exact words from any outside source without using quotation marks or properly citing them; paraphrasing words from any outside source without citing them; or using research from any outside source without citing it.” 

Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism is defined as turning in your own previous work to meet a current assignment.  This policy will be amended at the discretion of each individual instructor.  

Collusion

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing  work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Bard) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. 

Cheating

“Cheating on a test” shall include:

  1. Copying from another student’s test paper.

  2. Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test.

  3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator.

  4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of a pending test.

  5. The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the pending test.

  6. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.

  7. Bribing another person to obtain a pending test or information about a pending test.

Statement of Consequences

If you plagiarize, cheat, or collude, you will face consequences. Ignorance of the policy is not an excuse. Any work produced in part or in whole through plagiarism, collusion, or cheating may receive a penalty up to and including a zero for the assignment.  After assigning a zero, a subsequent infraction will result in a meeting the head of the Department and possible expulsion from the class. Another incident will result in a referral to the Vice President of Enrollment Management. 

Grading Criteria

Research Assignment 1 15% 

Essay 2: An Admirable Person 20% 

Major Research Assignment 25%

Final Essay 20% 

Minor Assignments (Discussions, Journals, Quizzes, Peer Reviews) 20%

90-100 A

80-90 B

70-80 C

60-70 D

0-59 F

Attendance

Attendance in an online class is measured by completing assignments. 

Furthermore, recall rules 1 and 2 from the student conduct section. An online class offers you maximum flexibility in when you complete coursework, but it trades in the stability and structure of having a regular class time to do so. Set a schedule for yourself and manage your time so that you are working on something for class each day. be your own class schedule, and it becomes much easier to get what you need to done.

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must initiate the request with their instructor before the withdrawal deadline, August 1

Administrative Drop Policy: Students who do not complete an assignment on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016.  The due date for this assignment is July 3.

Calendar

Calendar

English 1302 Summer 2024 Course Calendar

Week 1 July 1-7

  • Review syllabus and all items in START HERE folder

  • Take Syllabus Quiz

  • Read Introduction to Course Theme: Voices of Injustice

  • Watch TED Talk by Bryan Stevenson

  • Complete Journal 1 Assignment by Wednesday, July 3

  • Read "Introduction: Higher Ground" of Just Mercy

  • Post to Discussion Board by Friday and reply to TWO classmates by Sunday

  • Read instructions for discussion replies

  • Read assignment instructions for Research Assignment 1 and submit by Sunday

Week 2 July 8-14

  • Read "The Ones Who Walk Away from the Omelas," "Harrison Bergeron," and "The Lottery"

  • Complete Week 2 Discussion (Initial post by Friday; TWO responses by Sunday)

  • Read Elements of Literature Crash Course

  • Take literary terms quiz

  • Complete Journal

  • View lesson: “Literary Analysis of Fiction”

  • Read instructions for Essay 2 and review library resources for that assignment

Week 3 July 15-21

  • Review Integrating Quotations in MLA style

  • Take Integrating Quotations Quiz

  • Post rough draft of essay 2 to discussion board by Wednesday

  • Reply to TWO classmates by Friday

  • Final Draft Essay 2 due Sunday

Week 4 July 22-28

  • View lesson: “Literary Analysis of Poetry”

  • Take Poetry Terms Quiz

  • Read "My Papa's Waltz." "Still I Rise," "Calling Him Back from Layoff," and "We Wear the Mask"

  • Read FRACTIONS method of analyzing poetry

  • Watch video on how to analyze a poem using FRACTIONS

  • Post to Discussion Board and reply to TWO classmates

  • Read instructions for Major Research Assignment and use library resources to begin finding sources and writing the essay

  • Submit outline to journal 4

Week 5 July 29-August 4

  • Post rough draft to discussion board by Wednesday; TWO replies/peer reviews due by Friday

  • Submit Final draft of Major Research Assignment due Sunday

Week 6 August 5-6

Timed Final: DUE August 6 by 11:59 PM

 

Additional Information

Please be advised that this is a college level course and may include adult subject matter.

 

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

Amarillo College offers help in the form of counseling and other assistance for students facing personal issues that might affect their ability to complete the course. While I encourage you to think of this course as a chance to take a break from other concerns and focus on something else, I'd rather offer help to address issues that might prevent you from succeeding in my class. I highly encourage you to reach out to me if you're experiencing difficulties. I'm happy to use the Student Retention Tool to recommend you to either of the services above. If you or another student you know  needs help of this nature, then call the numbers above or visit the websites provided below.   The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/.  The A.R.C. offers social services such as housing, utilities, legal assistance, childcare, and medical or dental help. Additionally, the Timely Care feature on AC Connect can provide medical assistance and mental health aid. 

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES and the ADVOCACY & RESOURCE CENTER:

Amarillo College offers free services to assist students with personal issues, such as anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down or depression, 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. If you or someone you know is 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 806-371-5191.  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 www.actx.edu/arc.

Syllabus Created on:

06/28/24 10:14 AM

Last Edited on:

06/28/24 10:22 AM