Composition II Syllabus for 2025-2026
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Instructor Information

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. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

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-1302-017 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 Resources Student 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

REQUIRED TEXTS: 

A Rhetoric Handbook, 5th ed.

Supplies

Ruled paper

A writing utensil

Access to the internet.  All major assignments will be turned in online both at home and in the computer labs. Lost documents are not the responsibility of the instructor. 

Printing:  Rough drafts need to be typed and printed out.  As an AC student, you have $20 automatically in your account each semester.  You can use any of the printers on campus to print your paper, including the printer on the first floor of Ordway.

You MUST KNOW YOUR AC Connect ID NAME AND PASSWORD to use the printers and/or campus computers. Also, you will need to know this information to access Blackboard from any computer.

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:

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

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

My Expectations: 

I truly like to hear what college students think and their reasons for thinking that way.  To accomplish that goal, the class needs to be a place where everyone’s voice can be heard. My first and most important expectation of you is that you show respect to me and to the other students in the class. Please do not smoke/vape in the classroom.

Please help minimize distractions for everyone else in the class by slipping into the classroom quietly if you arrive late, stepping outside the classroom if you have an urgent phone call, and keeping devices put away unless we are using them on an assignment.

What You Can Expect:

A Writing Coach to Help You:  Maybe it's my background in sports, but I see myself as your writing coach.  You will "practice" your writing by doing outlines and drafts for each essay, and I will give you advice about how to improve your skills along the way before you actually get a final grade on an essay.  I do expect you to work hard, but you can expect me to work just as hard or harder than you this semester for your success.

Class/Small Group Discussions:   I truly want to hear what you think, so you can expect to talk in this class. I teach in college because I love to hear what college students think and why. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!  

A Safe, Respectful Environment: I will treat you with respect, and I want you to treat me and the other students in the class with respect.  I want everyone’s voice to be heard, so we will all listen respectfully to each other, even if we disagree.

Minimized Distractions: I want to keep distractions to a minimum so that everyone can concentrate.  Please do not use foul or disrespectful language. I also ask that you don’t smoke/vape in class. If you have a call or important text, just slip out of class; otherwise, keep your phone put away (unless we are using it for an assignment, which we will do on occasion).

Some Fun along with the Work:  I believe we can work and have fun at the same time. I will try to mix things up so that you don't have to listen to me lecture every day.  I fully expect that we might have a few laughs together.

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:

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. Attempting to pass off AI-generated writing as one's own also constitutes plagiarism.

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%

Summary of Scholarly Article  5%

Literary Analysis Essay.         15%

Final Exam Essay                   20%

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

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Regular attendance is vital to doing well in this course.  Missing too many classes will adversely affect your daily grade average and thus your overall average. If there is a specific situation that is keeping your from attending class, please let Dr. Boykin know.

If you must stop attending 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.
 

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES: 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 Ask AC 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 attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016.

Calendar

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.