I can be reached by email or via Remind Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you message me outside of these hours I will respond, but it will likely be several hours or the next day. I do not respond to emails after 8:00 PM at anytime. Please plan your correspondence accordingly. Do not wait until an assignment is due to email about that assignment.
Virtual office hours available by appointment. Please email me to set up an appointment.
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 Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. <strong>The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor. </strong>
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 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
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.
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-1301-028 Composition I
Corequisite: INRW 0303 Prerequisite: Scores on a state-approved test indicating college-level reading and writing skills
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
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, 1 lab)
Online Course
Required Textbooks:
Amarillo College English Dept., eds. A Rhetorical Handbook for English 1301, 1302 and 2311, 4th ed., Hayden-McNeil, 2019. (Must be purchased at Amarillo College Bookstore.)
Richard Bullock, Michael Brody, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook, 5th ed., W.W. Norton and Company, 2024. (Access card not required. Book can be purchased as used. Additionally, the 4th edition of this book is acceptable as well.)
Access to the internet and a computer is imperative in this class. All assignments will be turned in electronically.
A USB drive or access to Google Drive is vital for saving your essays so that you can work on them both at home and in the computer labs. Please ensure that you save your documents multiple places. Lost documents are not the responsibility of the instructor.
Must have reliable access to Microsoft Word or Google Docs. Amarillo College provides free home access to the Office 365 Suite. For more information, please visit: actx.edu/remote/office-365.
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.
In addition to the learning outcomes listed, students will be expected to use the library’s online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing. All students will write a third person, argumentative research paper that follows the MLA format for citing sources and utilizes peer review.
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".
Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism
Cheating will not be tolerated in this class.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying or leaving the test with a test or questions from the test, helping or attempting to help other students cheat on tests or assignments, or plagiarizing a paper.
English Department Plagiarism Policy (Revised Spring, 2023):
The English Department takes plagiarism seriously. The Amarillo College English Department defines plagiarism 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." The Amarillo College English Department defines collusion as "the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence and computer translators, in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements." 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. Any work produced in part or in whole through plagiarism or collusion may receive a penalty on the paper's grade, up to and including a zero for the assignment. A subsequent infraction will result in expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Enrollment Management.
Online Classroom Conduct
Per the Amarillo College Rights and Responsibilities, you are expected to behave in the virtual classroom in a way that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to:
1. Abusive, offensive, or otherwise disrespectful demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students, and/or property. Please be respectful to your fellow classmates and conduct yourselves in a manner appropriate for a classroom setting. Even in a virtual space, treating others with kindness and respect is the expectation.
2. Unauthorized access, reconfiguration, modification, copying or misuse of college or other students' computer files, including inappropriate use of e-mail, data or software.
Thesis and Outline Assignments/Rough Drafts: 10%
Quizzes: 10%
Discussions: 10%
Essays: 60%
1. Evaluation Essay (20%)
2. Research Argument Essay (20%)
3. Final Timed Essay (20%)
Capstone Project: 10%
Grading Schema:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 0-59
Late Work Policy
I will accept late work up until THREE days after an assignment deadline (unless otherwise noted in the syllabus/Blackboard). However, I will deduct ten points for every day that the assignment is late. So, for example, if an assignment is due on Sunday night, but you don't turn it in until Wednesday, the highest possible grade you can make on that assignment will be a 70. After the three day grace period has passed, you will receive a grade of zero.
I understand that sometimes life happens and that an extension might be necessary in certain cases. If you feel you have a circumstance that warrants an extension on an assignment, please contact me in advance of the assignment being due so we can discuss the possibility of an extension. Extensions are never a guarantee - but I will try my best to accommodate you should extenuating circumstances arise.
This is an online course and therefore there is no attendance requirement. However, regularly checking Blackboard is crucial to success in this course. It is your responsibility as a student to plan and work responsibly so that you submit assignments on time.
Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must initiate the request with their instructor before the withdrawal deadline.
Administrative Drop Policy: Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped.
| Week 1: January 13 - January 19 | |
Read | "English Department Plagiarism Policy" (Rhetoric Handbook) |
| "MLA Manuscript Preparation" (Rhetoric Handbook) | |
| "W2 Academic Contexts" (Little Seagull) | |
| "Ice and Pie" Handout | |
| Academic Writing Handout | |
Lectures to Watch | Writing a Good Thesis |
| Argument of Evaluation Essay and Writing as a Process | |
Quizzes to Take | Commas Quiz (Due January 19 at 11:59 PM) |
| Coordination and Subordination Quiz (Due January 19 at 11:59 PM) | |
To Do | Submit Argument of Evaluation Outline and Thesis Assignment (Due January 19 at 11:59 PM) |
| Complete Discussion 1 (Due January 19 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Complete Office Hour Poll (Complete by January 19 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 2: January 20 - January 26 | |
Read | "What Can I Put in My Three Part Essay?" (Rhetoric Handbook) |
| "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" (Horace Miner) | |
| Annotation Handout | |
Lectures and Videos to Watch | Thesis and Support Essays |
| Strong Academic Paragraphs | |
| How to Annotate a Text | |
Quizzes to Take | Comma Splices/Run-Ons Quiz (Due January 26 at 11:59 PM) |
| Apostrophes Quiz (Due January 26 at 11:59 PM) | |
To Do | Submit Argument of Evaluation Essay Rough Draft (Due January 26 at 11:59 PM) |
| Complete Discussion 2 (Due January 26 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 3: January 27 - February 2 | |
Read | "Words and Phrases to Avoid in College-Level Academic Writing" (Rhetoric Handbook) |
| "W-3 Reading Strategies" (Little Seagull) | |
| "Body Ritual Among the Nacirema" (Horace Miner) | |
| Lectures to Watch | Finding Reliable Sources lecture |
Quizzes to Take | Quotation Marks Quiz (Due February 2 at 11:59 PM) |
| Semicolons Quiz (Due February 2 at 11:59 PM) | |
To Do | Submit Argument of Evaluation Final Draft (Due February 2 at 11:59 PM) |
| Complete Discussion 3 (Due February 2 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 4: February 3 - February 9 | |
Read | "How to Find and Document Sources Using MLA Style" (Rhetoric Handbook) |
| "Incorporating Quotations" (Rhetoric Handbook) | |
| "Arguments" (Little Seagull) | |
| "My Name is Margaret" by Maya Angelou | |
Lectures to Watch | Researched Argument Essay lecture |
| Strong Evidence lecture | |
| Writing a Good Thesis lecture | |
Quizzes to Take | Subject-Verb Agreement Quiz (Due Ferbruary 9 at 11:59 PM) |
| Plagiarism Quiz (Due February 9 at 11:59 PM) | |
To Do | Researched Argument Essay Outline and Thesis Assignment (Due February 9 at 11:59 PM) |
| Complete Discussion 4 (Due February 9 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 5: February 10 - February 16 | |
Read | "R-3 Synthesizing Sources" (Little Seagull) |
| "Incorporating Quotations" (Rhetoric Handbook) | |
| "MLA Parenthetical Citations" (Rhetoric Handbook) | |
| "How to Paraphrase" (Rhetoric Handbook) | |
| "My Name is Margaret" by Maya Angelou | |
Lectures to Watch | Argument lecture |
| In-text Citation and Documentation Lecture | |
Quizzes to Take | MLA-Style In-Text Documentation (Due February 16 at 11:59 PM) |
| MLA-Style Works Cited (Due February 16 at 11:59 PM) | |
To Do | Submit Researched Argument Essay Rough Draft (Due February 16 at 11:59 PM) |
| Complete Discussion 5 (Due February at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 6: February 17 - February 23 | |
| Lectures to Watch | "In-class Writing Assignments" |
| Videos to Watch | "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
To Do | Complete Researched Argument Essay Peer Review (Due February 22 at 11:59 PM) FIRM DEADLINE |
| Submit Researched Argument Essay Final Draft (Due February 23 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Complete Discussion 6 (Due February 23 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Week 7: February 24 - March 2 | |
| Read and Annotate | "5 Ways to Develop a Growth Mindset Using Grit and Resilience" |
| Videos to Watch | "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie |
To Do | Complete Timed Final (Due March 1 at 11:59 PM) FIRM DEADLINE |
| Complete Common Assessment Assignment (Due March 2 at 11:59 PM) FIRM DEADLINE | |
| Complete Discussion 7 (Due March 2 at 11:59 PM) | |
| Begin creating Capstone Project | |
| Week 8: March 3 - March 7 | |
| To Do | Complete Capstone Project (Due March 5 at 11:59 PM) FIRM DEADLINE |
| Scheduled dates are subject to change at the discretion of the Instructor. AC Connect Login: https://acconnect.actx.edu | |
Please be advised that this a college-level course and may include adult subject matter.
12/18/24 9:14 AM
12/18/24 9:27 AM