Composition I Syllabus for 2021-2022
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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-1301-028 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

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

Amarillo College English Dept., eds. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301, 1302 and 2311, 4th ed., Hayden-McNeil, 2019.

Supplies

A computer with reliable access to the internet and a word processing program, such as Word or Google Docs.  Notepad and Wordpad are not acceptable word processing programs for this course because their formatting features do not work with other programs used in the course.

Students must be able to save documents as either Word files  (.doc or .docx) or portable document format files (.pdf).

Student Performance

ENGL 1301 

Composition I Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective 117 rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis. 

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

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

Students should act with decorum and maturity with both the instructor and with fellow students.

Please be respectful of the Amarillo College students and instructors. 

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.”

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

"This I Believe" Essay (10%)

Rhetorical Analysis (10%)

Research Argument Essay  (15%)

Final Essay (20%)

Capstone Project (15%)

Journals (10%) DUE Weekly on Sunday 

Discussions (10%) DUE Weekly on Sunday (initial post due on Thursday / Responses by Sunday)

Quizzes (10%)  DUE Weekly on Sunday

Late work will NOT be accepted.  Plan accordingly.  Be sure to work out the details of submitting via Blackboard well before the due date for an assignment.

Previously written work, whether for a class taken at Amarillo College or another institution, will be not accepted for course credit.  All submissions in this course are to be unique and designated for this class exclusively.  

Attendance

Regular attendance is vital to success in the course.

Calendar

Additional Information

Please note that this course may contain adult subject matter.

Instructor: Carolyn May 

Welcome aboard English Comp I, folks!  I look forward to spending these next few weeks with you and getting to know you better.