Composition II 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.

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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-1302-015 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

No Textbooks Required.  All information will be available in Blackboard. The use of the following book is highly recommended and can be found at the Amarillo College Bookstore.

Amarillo College English Department. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302. 2nd ed., Hayden McNeil, 2019.

Supplies

Regular computer access with Internet.  I highly recommend the use of googledocs.  It is free and it will save all your information for you so you will never lose it.

If you do not have a laptop, the AC Bookstore rents laptops for $65 per sixteen-week semester.

Student Performance

Minor Grades  This includes quizzes, Citation Entries, Processing

Quizzes  At different times in the course, you will be asked to take some type of assessment of things done in class.

Citation Entries For different assignments in the course, you will be asked to produce works cited entries in correct MLA style. 

Processing  For different assignments, you may be asked to submit rough drafts or perform peer reviews.

These assignments are due on the day it is expected.  Each week all work will be due at midnight of a specific day. It is traditionally my policy that no credit given for late assignments.  Of course, it is up to my discretion whether or not I excuse a late assignment.

Socratic Seminars  After some of the readings, you will partake in four different Socratic Seminars during the semester.  You will be guided on how to respond in class.  You will be graded on the responses you make and how well you integrate the text into class discussion and how you guide your peers in their responses as well.  This will account for 15% of your overall grade.

Response Journals  You will be required to write at least a 150 word response to readings or viewings we have in class.  Each response will require quotes—in correct MLA style—from the text.  Each will require an outside credible web source with a correct works cited entry. Each student will write a Response to the first reading.  After that, of the eight readings and viewings in class, students will be required to turn in five.

Essays  You will write two essays this semester.

Literary Research Analysis You will write an analysis on two short stories by finding a commonality.  This essay will use a combination of primary and secondary sources to present an argument of your choosing.  You will also be required to use credible scholarly sources.

Comparative Synthesis You will write an in-class comparison on the topic of civil disobedience.  The “What Would You Do?” unit is filled with personal ethics and situations and how you would choose your outcome in them.

Major essays will be penalized 10 points for each day it is late; a day is a 24 hour period.   These essays are worth 30% of your overall grade.

Satire Project By using specific elements, you will visually analyze topics presented in the pieces we read or write your own satire that humorously pokes fun at something in society that needs some kind of attention.  This is worth 10% of your overall grade.

Re-write Policy  Any of these major papers turned in on time that score a 69 or below can be resubmitted for a better grade.  The student must first meet with the instructor and discuss the paper, and then the work can be revised and resubmitted within a week of receiving the grade. The highest grade achievable for resubmission is a 70.

*Students are required to complete three activities in the first three days of class before the Census Date in order to stay enrolled in the class.  Students who fail to complete these assignments may be administratively dropped from the course.

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

• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate.  I cannot help you if I don’t know what is going on.  I can’t allow you grace on something if I do not know what is happening.  I really can’t help you if I do not know what the problem is.  PLEASE, please communicate with me…email me…text me…give me a call, come see me during my office hours: those don’t work for you?  Make an appointment and we can have a zoom meeting at a suitable time for you.
• Students should take note work is due weekly.
• Please be respectful about your phone usage and airpods in class.  I would prefer you not wear airpods while class is going on.
• Plagiarism may result in a zero on an assignment, which may fail the student for the course.
• Attendance: Due to the short, intense nature of this course, students are expected to be logged into class at least once day.  If students do not turn in the first THREE assignments in the first three days, they will automatically be dropped at census day.

• Expected Teacher Behavior:

• At anytime you may contact me to see about your grades.
• The best way to get ahold of me is to text me through my Remind app.  I will get try to back with you within 2 hours between the hours of 7am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-7pm on weekends. 
• If you email me, I will get back to you within 24 hours, unless I otherwise note.
• I will grade everything generally within 72 hours of submission, though I usually get to them before that. (Unless I am out which may take longer)
• If you disagree with an evaluation or would like to have it explained to you, please contact me so we can discuss during tutoring hours or some other time that is convenient for us both.

Grading Criteria

Minor Grades, including Quizzes, Citation Entries, Processing 15%

Socratic Seminars 15%

Response Journals 15%

Research Literary Analysis 15%

Comparative Synthesis 15%

Satire Project 10%

Final Exam 15%

Attendance

Learning Outcomes of Weekly Modules:

Week 1&2

• Analyze different types of online sources to distinguish which are credible
• Integrate connections from different texts and personal experience with topics covered in a variety of topics
• Examine the proper way to quote in MLA
• Distinguish between elements of the story and evaluate texts in light of those differences

Week 3&4

• Analyze, interpret, and critique a variety of texts for specific elements and themes
• Compare and differentiate between these elements and themes inbetween texts
• Evaluate and examine secondary sources for specific information
• Synthesize ideas between primary and secondary sources

Week 5&6

• Infer and give examples of differing situations that affect human nature and society
• Debate the credibility of author’s arguments using rhetorical appeals
• Develop a response for culturally engaged ideas with support from credible sources
• Compare and Synthesize ideas from various texts and media forms

Week 7&8

• Identify and interpret the use of satirical elements within a text
• Examine and respond critically to social issues brought up in a variety of texts and media
• Critique various authors ability to write in a style that communicates in a specific way
• Generate a project with the idea to inspire change in society

Calendar

Additional Information

Learning Outcomes of the Course:

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

Learning Outcomes of Weekly Modules:

Week 1&2

• Analyze different types of online sources to distinguish which are credible
• Integrate connections from different texts and personal experience with topics covered in a variety of topics
• Examine the proper way to quote in MLA
• Distinguish between elements of the story and evaluate texts in light of those differences

Week 3&4

• Analyze, interpret, and critique a variety of texts for specific elements and themes
• Compare and differentiate between these elements and themes inbetween texts
• Evaluate and examine secondary sources for specific information
• Synthesize ideas between primary and secondary sources

Week 5&6

• Infer and give examples of differing situations that affect human nature and society
• Debate the credibility of author’s arguments using rhetorical appeals
• Develop a response for culturally engaged ideas with support from credible sources
• Compare and Synthesize ideas from various texts and media forms

Week 7&8

• Identify and interpret the use of satirical elements within a text
• Examine and respond critically to social issues brought up in a variety of texts and media
• Critique various authors ability to write in a style that communicates in a specific way
• Generate a project with the idea to inspire change in society