Composition I Syllabus for 2022-2023
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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-LC1 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

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301, 1302, and 2311 (Fourth Edition) to be purchased in the AC Bookstore

The Little Seagull Handbook with exercises 4th edition to be purchased in the AC Bookstore (This includes the code for the InQuizitive lab)

Supplies

Regular computer access with Internet

Paper and pen

Student Performance

Grade Categories and Weights

Minor Assignments (Disc. Bd, Journals, Quizzes, outlines, rough drafts & attendance)  20%

Narrative  15%

Literary Project 20%

Research Paper 25%

Final Exam 20%

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. 

CLASS CONDUCT

Please do not be disruptive or rude. Be on time. Be courteous and respectful to your professor and fellow students. Watch your language. During class discussion, it’s fin to disagree, but do so with respect to others. 

• Due to the short, intense nature of this course, students are expected to be in class and on time every day.
• Late work is not accepted without prior approval.
• If a student is struggling with any aspect of the course, immediate contact with the instructor is a must.
• Cell phones should not be used in the classroom during class.
• Each student is expected to come to class prepared every day. Some assignments are ONLY completed during class.
• Plagiarism may result in a zero on an assignment, which may fail the student for the course. See your instructor for help in avoiding plagiarism. AI generated writing is considered plagiarism. 
• 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.

English Department Plagiarism Policy (Revised Spring, 2023):

The Amarillo College English Department defines plagiarism as "using exact words from any outside source without using quotation marks or properly citing them; paraphrasing words from any outside source without citing them; or using research from any outside source without citing it."

The Amarillo College English Department defines collusion as "the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence and computer translators, in preparing written work for fulfullment of course requirements."

Any work produced in part or in whole through plagiarism or collusion may receive a penalty on the paper's grade, up to and including a zero for the assignment. A subsequent infraction will result in expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Enrollment Management.  

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. 

Grading Criteria

89.5-100 = A

79.5-89.4 = B

69.5-79.4 = C

59.5-69.4 = D

0-59.4 = F

Attendance

Excessive absences may result in the administrative withdrawal of a student or failure.

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

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Class attendance and being on time is necessary for satisfactory achievement. Please complete all assignments by their due dates. NOTE: Attendance is especially important for a condensed 8-week class. 

If you must stop attending class, you must withdraw officially by the deadline; otherwise, you will receive an F for the semester. The last day to drop this semester is June 22, 2023.

STUDENT WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES: Students who need to withdraw from class must:

• consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing. 
• consult with financial aid office if receiving financial aid.
• consult with the Veterans Benefit Coordinator if receiving veteran benefits.
• consult with their academic advisor to determine how withdrawing may affect their enrollment in future semesters.

NOTE: The Texas Education Code stipulates that students 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,including courses from which transfer students have withdrawn at other Texas institutions of higher education. (Senate Bill 1231) Rule 4.10.

Calendar

Additional Information

*Be advised that this is a college class with subject matter that some may find intellectually and psychologically challenging.