Composition II Syllabus for 2021-2022
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Course Information

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Disability Statement

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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.

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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-1302-024 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

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

 

Supplies

Computer and internet access

Student Performance

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.)

6. Demonstrate an understanding of literary genres and the basic vocabulary of literary analysis.

TUTORING EXPECTATIONS: If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, he or she will be required to attend tutoring before being allowed to complete the next assigned work.

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

Please be respectful of the Amarillo College students and instructors. 

English Department Plagiarism Policy (Revised Spring, 2013):

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

 

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.

 

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. 

 

Plagiarism may receive a penalty of a zero.  A subsequent infraction will be deemed a reason for expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

 

 

Grading Criteria

Essays - 45%

Discussions, Journals, Outlines, Peer Reviews and Annotated Bibliography- 25%

Final Exam - 20%

Capstone Project -- 10%

 

A 90-100= high achievement

B 80-89= above average achievement

C 70-79= satisfactory achievement

D 60-69= unsatisfactory achievement

F 0-59= unacceptable

Attendance

 

No late work will be accepted.  Please anticipate problems and work responsibly so that your work will be submitted on time.  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.  

Calendar

Additional Information

Mrs. Carolyn May 

cmmay21@actx.edu

Virtual Office Hours: M-Th 9-5; Friday 9-noon; Saturday once a day to check email; Sundays for emergency situations only   Email will be answered within 24 hours.  

Some fun facts about me: I have been married to the same man for 43 years -- yay!  I have a 95-year-old Daddy who is a WWII Veteran and stills lives by himself, drives, cooks, and leads worship at a small-town nursing home. I used to be part of a rodeo club in high school and barrel raced; horses are my favorite animal.  I have ridden in a hot-air balloon over Longview, TX, and the Sandia Mountains of Albuquerque (you'll see a picture of the hot air balloon in one of the assignments in this course).  I own and ride my own motorcycle.  I am a bird watcher -- I never met a bird I didn't like (with the exception of a mad rooster in the hen-house).  I love mustard on potato chips for a snack, an apple for dinner, and a cookie with hot coffee for breakfast; in spite of this, I do eat healthy most of the time.  :)  I am a fan of For King and Country, Mercy Me, Casting Crowns, Mandisa, Francesca Battistelli, Michael W. Smith -- okay, let's just say I enjoy Christian music -- as well as George Strait and Alan Jackson. I am a full-time RVer, so home is where we park it.  I have traveled with Samaritan's Purse / Operational Christmas Child to deliver shoebox gifts to children in Panama. I am a pianist and soloist.  Oh... and I can eat fire -- just a fun side note.