Composition II Syllabus for 2024-2025
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

M-Th 8:30-9:00, MW 10:15-11:15 and by appointment

Course Information

AI Statement

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>

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-1302-006 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED TEXTS: A Rhetoric Handbook, Fifth Edition

Supplies

Internet access and a device to write on

Student Performance

STUDENT PERFORMANCE/LEARNING OUTCOMES (minimum competencies):

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 research processes.
  2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
  3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
  4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
  5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)

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

CLASS CONTENT:
In the college experience, students will encounter diverse views and new subject matter, which expand their knowledge and perspective.  In this college English class, we might read and discuss some works with subject matter that could include (but not be limited to) death, violence, sexuality, potentially offensive language, and political or religious viewpoints different from your own.  If this is a concern for you, please meet with me.

PLAGIARISM:

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.”

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.

 

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA/GRADE SCALE:

Daily Assignments              10%

Quizzes                               10%

Rhetorical Analysis Essay    15%

Research Essay.                 25%

Literary Analysis Essay       20%

Final Exam Essay                20%

90-100=A, 80-89=B, 70-79=C, 60-69=D, Below 60=F

Attendance

 Withdrawal Procedures: If you must drop the class, you must withdraw officially by the deadline; otherwise, you will receive an F for the semester.  If you feel you need to drop, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in the course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  The last day to drop this semester is Apil 29, 2025.
 

Students who need to withdraw from a class must:

  • consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing
  • consult with the financial aid office if receiving financial aid
  • consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits
  • consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters
    • NOTE:  The Texas Education Code stipulates that students 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, including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

ADMINISTRATIVE DROP POLICY: Students who do not complete a class assignment on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016.

Calendar

Spring II 2025

1302 Online Class Calendar

 

Week One—Summarizing Sources

Due by Weds. Mar. 19 at midnight—

Favorites--Google Slide--five extra points with photo

Syllabus Quiz

Watch Brene Brown, “The Power of Vulnerability” TED talk

Discussion Board-- "The Power of Vulnerability

 

Due by Sun. Mar. 23 at midnight

Read Instructions for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Journal 1

Grammar Quizzes—Week 1

Read RH 5 “Annotation (Close Reading) Guide”

Read RH 12-14 “Rhetorical Appeals”

Read RH 16 “Common Mistakes that Can Damage a Writer’s Ethos”

Read Short Story: “Miss Brill,” Katherine Mansfield

Quiz "Miss Brill"

 

Week Two—Analyzing a Text/Rhetorical Devices

Due by Weds. Mar. 26 at midnight—

Discussion Board “Miss Brill"

Rhetorical Analysis Typed Rough Draft Due on Week 2—worth two daily grades

Look over the LibGuide and watch the research video

Quiz LibGuide/Research 

Email Dr. Boykin your tentative research topic (one word/phrase) AND at least one question you have about the class or the research project

 

Due Sun. Mar. 30 by midnight

Journal 2

Week 2 Grammar Quizzes

Read RH 19 “Point of View and Writing Essays in Third Person”

Read RH 23 “How to Use MLA to Document”

Read RH 27 “Academic Verb List”

Read “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love,” Raymond Carver

Quiz--"What We Talk about When We Talk about Love"

 

Week 3—Research—Finding Reliable Sources

By Weds. Apr. 2 at midnight

Discussion Board on "What We Talk about When We Talk about Love"

 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Due in Dropbox

 

Due Sun. Apr. 6 by midnight

Journal 3

Week 3 Grammar Quizzes

Read RH 21-22 “Research and Reliable Sources”

Read RH 23 “Finding Reliable Sources on the Internet”

Read “The Yellow Wallpaper” Charlotte Perkins Gilman

Quiz  "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Email four annotation photos and an example of one paraphrase and one quotation AND ask at least one question about the research project or course

 

Week 4—Research

Due Wed. Apr. 9 by midnight-

Discussion Board on "The Yellow Wallpaper"

Typed Research Rough Draft due on Week 4

 

Due Sun. Apr. 12 by midnight

Read RH 28--Transition List

Read RH 29--Word and Phrase to Avoid in College-Level Academic Writing

Journal 4

Week 4 Grammar Quizzes

Read:  “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” Flannery O'Connor

Quiz "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

 

Week  5—Literary Analysis 

By Weds. Apr. 16 at midnight:

Discussion Board on "A Good Man Is Hard to Find"

Final Version of Research Essay Due in Dropbox

 

Due Sun. Apr. 20 by midnight

Journal 5

Week 5 Grammar Quizzes

RH 43-46 “Literary Analysis of Fiction”

Read RH 47 “Quoting and Paraphrasing from a Short Story”

Read “ A Worn Path,” Flannery O’Connor

Quiz "A Worn Path"

 

Week 6—Literary Analysis 

By Weds. Apr. 23 at midnight

Discussion Board "A Worn Path"

Literary Analysis Essay Rough Draft--due on Week 6

 

Due by Sun. Apr. 27 at midnight

Journal 6

Week 6 Grammar Quizzes

Read—“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Quiz-- "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

 

Week 7—Literary Analysis

By Weds. Apr. 30 at midnight-

Discussion Board on "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

Literary Analysis Due in Dropbox

 

Due Sun. May 4 by midnight

Common Assessment on "A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings"

Google Slides--Comparison/Contrast for Final Exam

 

Week 8—Finals Week

May 6--Final Exam due by 5:00 pm on Week 8

 


 

Additional Information

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:

03/13/25 1:25 PM

Last Edited on:

03/13/25 2:31 PM