Composition I Syllabus for 2022-2023
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Instructor Information

Office Location

Moore County Campus 137

Office Hours

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-1301-0154 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises, 4th edition, WW Norton

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301, 1302, and 2311, 4th edition, Amarillo College English Department, Macmillan, 2019.

Supplies

A USB flash drive to save work in the computer lab. (optional)

Student Performance

Student Performance:

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. 

GRADES:

Final grades will be determined by exams, quizzes, exercises, and successful completion of all assigned writing, research, and reading projects. It is important that you complete all of your assignments on time to help you be successful.

Because of the tight schedule in this 8 week course, late work is not accepted.

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

Our class environment is based upon a simple principle: I commit to treat you with respect, and you commit to treat each other and me with respect. We are all equally responsible for maintaining a respectful dialogue and attitude. Disrespectful behavior towards anyone will not be tolerated in this class.

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-9 pm 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 the due date, 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 my office hours or some other time that is convenient for us both.

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.

  • Due to the short, intense nature of this course, students are expected not to miss class if they can help it.

  • Please be courteous about using Air/earpods and your phone while we are trying to have a conversation or someone else is talking. 

  • Plagiarism will most likely result in a zero on an assignment, which may fail the student for the course.

 

Grading Criteria

Minor Assignments (journals, peer reviews, rough drafts, annotated bibliographies) 15%

Essay 1 -15%

Essay 2-15%

Researched Argument-25%

Grammar-10%

Midterm Exam-10%

Final Exam- 10%

Grades will be based on the following system:

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

It is important that you attend every class.  Otherwise, you will miss out on the many engaging learning activities. If you have to miss, please contact the instructor prior to the absence so I can keep you caught up on your work.

I encourage you to sign in the attendance sheet in class every day, keep up with the class calendar, and complete all assignments on time.  In addition, please check your email regularly.   

If during the semester you consider dropping this class, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and that gives you an opportunity to complete it. If you have to drop, you must officially drop or withdraw from a course. Failure to withdraw may result in a grade of “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated withdrawals that are submitted on or before the withdrawal deadline: December 7. 

Calendar

 

 

Class topics and Assignments

Grammar (Little Seagull/Blackboard Quizzes)

Week 1:

October 24-30

 

  • Focus Question: What makes a good college essay?
  • Introductions
  • Review syllabus
  • Diagnostic writing (Journal 1)
  •  Read “English Dept Plagiarism Policy “ and “Steps in Avoiding Plagiarism” (RH 3-4),  “How Purpose Determines the Structure of an Essay” (RH 20-22),  “The Basic Structure of an Essay” (RH 45-46) “What Can I put in My Three Part Essay” (RH 47-48); “Narrative Writing” (RH 50)
  • Read W-1-W-3 and W-10 in Little Seagull
  • Assign essay #1—This I Believe Essay
  • Read “Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset: What's the Difference and Why Does it Matter?”

 

  • Elements of a sentence
  • Fragments (S-1, S-2)

 

Week 2:

Oct. 31-Nov. 6

  • Focus Question: How do I improve my essay?
  • Rough Draft/Peer Review Essay 1
  • Read “MLA Manuscript Preparation”  (RH 6-7)
  • Review MLA format in MLA information folder
  •  Submit Final Copy of Essay 1 (This I Believe) by Sunday, Nov 6 (11:59 PM)
  • Read “The Most Important Factor in a College Student's Success”
  • Journal 2
  •  
  • Comma Splices and fused  sentences  (S-3)
  • Pronouns (S-6)

 

  

Week 3:

Nov. 7-13

 

  • Focus Question:  What is rhetoric?  Why does it matter to me?
  • Read “The Rhetorical Situation” (RH 34-35); “What is Rhetorical Analysis” (RH 36-39; “Identifying Rhetorical Appeals in Written and Visual Arguments” (RH 39-40); “Ethos,” “Pathos,” “Logos,” and “Kairos” (RH 76-85)
  •  Discuss rhetoric and rhetorical appeals
  • Read Little Seagull "Rhetorical Analyses" (W-9) and "Developing paragraphs" (W-5)
  • Discuss ICE method for using quotations
  • Journal 3:Essay 1 Reflection
  • Assign Summary Analysis

 

  • Read “Factors that Influence a Student’s Success in College”

 

  • Commas (P-1)
  • Semicolons (P-2)

Week 4:

Nov. 14-20

 

  • Focus Question: How do I take an in class essay exam?
  • MIDTERM exam in class
  • Peer Review Summary Analysis
  • Submit Final Copy of Summary Analysis by Sunday, Nov. 20(11:59 PM)

 

  • Read "Arguments"( W-8) in Little Seagull and p. 22-27 "Rhetoric, The Rhetorical Appeals, and the Academic Argument" in Rhetoric Handbook
  • Read “The 5 Most Common Barriers for Community College Student”
  • Journal 4
  • Quotation Marks (P-4)
  • Words Often Confused (L-4)
  • Apostrophes (P-5)

Week 5

Nov. 21-27

(No class Wednesday- Thanksgiving break)

  • Focus Question:  What is an argument?  How do I write a good argument essay?
  • Read argument assignment instructions and choose topic
  • Using the library’s databases and locate sources for argument essay
  • Read "How to Find and Document Sources Using MLA Style” (RH 12-18) and Incorporating Quotations, MLA Parenthetical Citations, How to Paraphrase  (RH 12-20)
  • Complete lesson on plagiarism and documentation
  • Write Journal 5: Essay 2 Reflection Journal
  • Read R-1-R-3  in Little Seagull

 

  • Subject/verb agreement (S-5)
  • Verbs (S-4)

 

Week 6

Nov. 28-Dec. 4

 

  • Focus Question:  What is plagiarism?  How do I avoid it?
  • Take quizzes on plagiarism and documentation
  • Submit outline of researched argument (Journal 6)
  • Write rough draft of researched argument

 

  • Integrating Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism       (R-4)

Week 7:

Dec. 5-11

 

  • Focus Question:What else can I do to make my essay better?
  • Rough Draft Due Wednesday
  • Peer Review Researched Argument
  • Researched Argument Due Saturday, December 10 by 11:59 PM to Blackboard

 

 

Week 8

December 12

Focus Question:  What have I learned in this class?

Final Exam  In Class

 

 

SUBJECT TO CHANGE

   

Additional Information

Blackboard:

Blackboard is one program that we use in this class.  The class calendar is posted in Blackboard.  Assignments are posted under the content area.  The grade book and Email are available for you through Blackboard too. Assignments will be completed here too.

TUTORING:

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.

 

Writers' Corner: See poster or instructor for hours

AC subscribes to Smarthinking, an on-line tutoring service you may use free for 10 hours each semester. This service is available nights and weekends. Access instructions are located in AC Online.

OFFICE HOURS

Monday/Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 AM

Other times are available by appointment.

Syllabus Created on:

10/13/22 9:05 AM

Last Edited on:

10/13/22 12:05 PM