Composition II Syllabus for 2021-2022
Return to Syllabus List

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-1302-010 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

Required Textbooks:

Carter, Judith, et al., ed. A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301 and 1302: A Custom Publication for Amarillo College. Mason: Cengage, 2010. Print. *

*This book is available for purchase only at the AC Bookstore.

If you have questions regarding your textbooks call the AC Bookstore at (806) 371-5307.     

Supplies

You must have access to a reliable computer with Internet Access and either Google Docs or Microsoft Word. Wordpad, Notepad, etc. are not options due to these programs having issues with other programs used within this course. It must be able to save documents as Word files (.doc; .docx); or as PDFs (.pdf). It must also be able to access Blackboard. These programs will allow you to access class materials , communicate with me via email, and submit assignments.

If you do not have such a computer, there are computers for students to use in the Ware Student Commons. Additionally, the AC Bookstore has computers for rent.

 For this class, you will need your preferred note-taking supplies: spirals, pens/pencils, highlighters, Microsoft Word, a Notes App, whatever you prefer.

Lastly, you should have a USB drive. They are useful for ensuring you have a copy of documents you can move from computer to computer; if something happens to the computer or system, the copy on the drive remains intact. It’s also useful for saving online documents and other sources without taking up too much space on your computer. I’ve had students fail my course because they lost their Final Papers due to computer loss. Flashdrives are cheap and available from the Bookstore, Walmart, Walgreens, etc.

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 and 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.

In addition to the course description, the skills taught in this course will be primarily achieved through the study of literature. Also, in addition to the learning outcomes, students will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of literary genres and the basic vocabulary of literary analysis, as well as write a researched literary analysis paper that 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

Classroom Conduct

We are all adults and should know how to act. My primary concern is making sure EVERYONE in class has a safe environment conducive to learning and expanding viewpoints. As long as you act in a mature manner that does not hinder other students’ efforts to learn, we have no problems.

 A few ground rules:

1. Be respectful of students and instructors. Everyone is entitled to express their own ideas and opinions in our class discussions, but you are expected to use language appropriate to a classroom situation. Cursing, personal insults, or disrespectful language will not be tolerated. Such comments will be deleted, will not count towards discussion grades, and may result in further consequences. Being barred from discussions is on the table for repeat or particularly heinous offenses, and will harshly affect your grades.
2. Proofread and revise your writing.  This applies not just to the essays, but the discussion posts and journals as well. Make sure your discussion posts are accurate and understandable, and put careful thought and effort into them. Other students need to understand your posts to respond to them, so do your best. This goes double for essays.
3. Mental attendance. Online classes lack the regular structure of a dedicated classroom and scheduled time to meet. This means that you the student are responsible for the following:

• Checking your grades on Blackboard regularly
• “Attending” class by logging in each week, watching the video and reading the lectures and readings, and completing assignments.
• Emailing your instructor (me) if you have questions about assignments, grades, readings, etc.

4. No Plagiarizing. Read the Plagiarism statements above and below, in the textbook, and in the online class. Plagiarism, intentional or otherwise, will result in a 0 on the assignment. Repeat offenses risk expulsion from the class.

Plagiarism/Cheating policy:

Plagiarism: the incorrect or intentional use of another’s intellectual property as one’s own original content.

The AC English Department Plagiarism Policy (Spring 2013) describes cheating as including but not limited to “copying or leaving the test with a test or questions from a test, helping or attempting to help other students cheat on a test, or plagiarizing on a paper.

It further defines plagiarism as “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.

Let me be clear: The AC English department tracks plagiarism and records are kept of who plagiarizes and how. At the beginning of the semester, a list of names of plagiarizing students is sent to AC English dept. faculty.

The main reason not to plagiarize that should matter most to you: Plagiarized assignments in my class receive an automatic zero in the gradebook. Subsequent plagiarism will lead to expulsion from the class and a referral of the student to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Grading Criteria

Essays: 55%

Once Upon a Time Essay 15%

Short Story Literary Analysis 20%

Short Research Essay 20%

Final Exam Essay 20%

Weekly Discussions 10%

Weekly Journals 10%

Quizzes (5) 5%

Grading Schema:

A 90-100 Exceptional work

B 80-89 Above Average Work

C 70-79 Average Work

D 60-69 Below Average Work (Additional Practice)

F 0-59 Unsuccessful.

Extra Credit: I do not generally give extra credit, but I do allow Papers turned in on time that score a D or below to be resubmitted for a better grade if done in a timely manner. The highest grade achievable for resubmission is a 70. With the shortness of the summer semester and the loaded assignment schedule, I would say if you can get it done within a week, do so, otherwise focus on the next assignment.

Late work policy: Due to the time constraints and amount of content involved in this course, Late Work will not be accepted after the due date. I encourage you to try and complete assignments before the due date when possible. If you encounter difficulties technological or otherwise, please contact me as swiftly as possible before time runs out so that I can help you.

Assignments must be turned in through Blackboard. I do not accept assignments for grading via email.

Attendance

Perhaps the easiest and also most difficult ways to ensure a good grade in any college course is to show up on time, not skip class, and to complete assignments on time. Students who complete these three objectives consistently are far more likely to pass a class in my personal experience.

For an online class, there’s no set time for attending class or completing work. Completing assignments on time and getting what you need to done rests more on your shoulders than in scheduled classes.

 I highly encourage you, in any online class you take, to schedule a set time every day to work on online class materials. This gives you the same sense of structure and mental scaffold of an in-person class and will help you get assignments completed on time.

Part of this is also contacting me promptly with any questions, concerns, or any major issues. My email is always open, and I’m always happy to schedule an appointment with you either in my office or in the virtual classroom.

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must do so before Tuesday, October 5th in order to count as a withdrawal and not a drop. It is better to withdraw than drop, but I encourage you to contact me or an advisor before it gets that bad so that I/they can help you.

Administrative Drop Policy: Students who turned in any assignments  on or prior to the census date (Wednesday, July 20th)  will be administratively dropped.

Calendar

Additional Information

Contacts:

The other people in this class are students just like you. I encourage you to use the email function of Blackboard to communicate with each other if you have questions or if you need help with something to do with this class (copy of notes from a day you missed, advice on a homework assignment, reminder of page numbers, etc.). There is strength in numbers, and a college class is no exceptions.

Useful Phone Numbers:

AC Advocacy & Resource Center

806-371-543

AC Counseling Center

806-371-5191