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-LC25 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

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Bullock, Richard, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises. 4th ed., W. W. Norton, 2019

Supplies

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

Students may use the computers in the English Writing Lab in Ordway101, which are equipped with Word, during its regular hours of operation. See https://www.actx.edu/english/english-department-writing-lab-policies. To print in the English Writing Lab, you will need to purchase a Pharos printing card and have enough money on the card to pay for your printing. Printing costs five cents per page. You can expect to use about $3.00 to $5.00 on your printing card for this course. You can purchase a card or put more money on a card you already own in the Math Outreach Center (Durrett 104) or at the main desk on the fourth floor of Ware Student Commons.

This course will use material in Blackboard. To find these programs, log in to http://www.actx.edu and click on the "AC Connect" link at the top of the page. 

In addition, please bring a paper and pen to class each session for in-class activities and note-taking.

Student Performance

Learning Outcomes

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.

 

In addition to the learning outcomes listed, students will be expected to use the library’s online databases and other computer resources for research and word processing. Also, all students will write a third person, argumentative research paper that follows the MLA format for citing sources and utilizes peer review. 

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

Amarillo College 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.

Note: Self-plagiarism will be discussed with the class by each instructor and infractions for such are left up to the individual instructor’s discretion.

Grading Criteria

90-100% = A

80-89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

59% and lower = F

The policies for submitting late work are posted on the "Course Policies" page of the Blackboard course. For further information, please contact the instructor.

Breakdown of Grading:

Essays (2):  60% of final grade

Journal Entries/Minor Assignments: 15% of final grade

Online Quizzes:  10% of final grade

Final Exam:  15% of final grade

Tutoring Policy:

If a student scores below 70% on an exam or writing assignment, he or she will be required to attend tutoring per the instructor's directions before being allowed to complete the next assigned work.

Attendance

In previous semesters, students who attend every class and submit every essay are almost always successful in this course. Students who do not attend almost every class and who do not submit each essay are far less likely to pass. To increase your learning and your chances of earning credit, come to class, write the four required essays, and take the final exam.

Although points are not awarded or deducted for attendance, per se, this class involves a number of in-class assignments that may not be made up for any reason. 

Calendar

Additional Information

Policies Concerning a Technology Supported Environment

In order to provide the best learning environment possible, it is required that all students' video feed is turned on.  When the instructor and other students can see your non-verbal facial cues, it enhances the educational experience for everyone.  In addition, your "video presence" creates a better opportunity for you to be mentally present, committed to learning, and engaged in the class.

 

Policies Concerning Late Work

All assignments must be submitted according to the deadline schedule posted in the calendar section of our AC Connect class. Late essays are penalized 10 percent per day that they are late. Essays more than three days late will not be accepted. 

    

The final exam must be completed on the day indicated on the course calendar.