Composition I Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Office Hours

I am on ET, one hour later than you are. Please contact me via my AC email (jaherr@actx.edu) and be aware that I check my email at least twice daily Monday-Friday, approximately 8:00 AM CT and 8:00 PM  CT.  Please know that I do not respond to emails or Remind messages after 8:00 PM CT Monday-Friday, and  after 8:00 AM on Saturdays. There will be occasions when I am working online that I will check and respond during the daytime hours, but please know that if you don not hear from me within 24 hours, I may not have received your email, so please resend. I do not respond to emails or Remind messages on Sunday, so please plan accordingly. Since all weekly assignments are due on Sunday, please be mindful that I am not available to answer questions on Sundays, so please don't wait until the last minute to complete your assignments.

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 Enrollment Center, Suite 700. 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:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

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-1301-043 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

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Amarillo College English Dept., eds. A Rhetorical Handbook for English 1301, 1302 and 2311, 4th ed., Hayden-McNeil, 2019.

Richard Bullock, Michal Brody, and Francine Weinberg. The Little Seagull Handbook with Exercises, 3rd ed., W.W. Norton and Company, 2017.

Supplies

THE INTERNET-Reliable Internet connection

GOOGLE.DOCS

Access to a functioning laptop/desktop- 

Student Performance

 

Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will: 

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. 

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

Student Rights and Responsibilities

http://catalog.actx.edu/content.php?catoid=17&navoid=769

Amarillo College English Department Plagiarism Policy, 

revised Spring 2023

 

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

 

Plagiarism

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.” 

Collusion

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 fulfillment 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. 

 

Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism is defined as turning in your own previous work to meet a current assignment.  Please do not self-plagiarize in this class.

 

Grading Criteria

 

Grading Criteria

 

Literary Analysis Sherman Alexis(10%):

Rhetorical Analysis Essay (15%): 

Rhetorical Analysis Project (20%): 

Final Essay (20%):

 

Journals (15%) DUE Weekly on Sunday 

Discussions (15%) DUE Weekly on Sunday

Quizzes (5%)  DUE Weekly on Sunday


 

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-79

F 0-59

 

Attendance

Student Withdrawal Procedures: Students who wish to withdraw from a class must initiate the request with their instructor before the withdrawal deadline.

Administrative Drop Policy: Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

 

Calendar

ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE ON SUNDAY OF THE WEEK EXCEPT TWO PEER REVIEW DISCUSSION ASSIGNMENTS OPEN MID WEEK AND CLOSE ON A SPECIFIC DATE. CHECK THE CALENDAR FOR SPECIFICS

 

Week 1

Assignments: All Week 1 assignments are due Sunday night, October 29, by midnight
Quizzes Week 1
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 1
Creative Journal 1
Discussion 1
Essay 1
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
Introduction, Acknowledgments, English Department Plagiarism Policy
Steps in Avoiding Plagiarism
Academic Writing, Journals and Discussions
The Basic Structure of an Essay
What Can I Put in My Three-Part Essay?
Thesis Statements
Grammar:
Capitalization Crash Course
Lectures:
READ the Syllabus
Strong Thesis
Academic Paragraphs
Blackboard Reading:
"Every Little Hurricane" by Sherman Alexie
Week 2
Assignments: All Week 2 assignments are due Sunday night, November 5, by midnight
Quizzes Week 2
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 2
Creative Journal 2
Discussion 2
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
Point of View and Writing Formal Essays in Third Person
Literary Analysis of Fiction Essay
MLA Manuscript Preparation and MLA Example
Grammar:
Commas
Lectures:
Annotation
Elements of Literature (Fiction)
Blackboard Reading:
"Every Little Hurricane" by Sherman Alexie
Week 3
Assignments: All Week 3 assignments are due Sunday night, November 12, by midnight
Quizzes Week 3
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 3
Creative Journal 3
Discussion 3
Essay 1
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
Words and Phrases to Avoid in College-Level Academic Writing
Proofreading and Editing Checklist
Academic Verb List
Transitions
Lectures:
Revisionary Tactics
The Rhetorical Situation
Grammar Concepts:
Run-ons and Comma Splices
Blackboard Reading:
"Barbie-Q" by Sandra Cisneros
Week 4
Assignments: All Week 4 assignments are due Sunday night, November 19, by midnight
Assign Essay II RESEARCH ESSAY
Quizzes Week 4
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 4
Complete Common Assessment
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
What is Rhetoric
The Rhetorical Situation
Lectures:
Research Thesis
Strong Evidence
Reliable Sources
Grammar Concepts:
Quotations , Semicolons, Apostrophes
Blackboard Reading:
Common Assessment
Week 5
Assignments: All Week 5 assignments are due Sunday night, November 26, by midnight
Quizzes Week 5
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 5
Creative Journal 4
Discussion 5
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
Researching and Reliable Sources
Finding Reliable Sources on the Internet
Research Argument Essay
Lectures:
Introductions and Conclusions
Paraphrasing and Quotations
MLA In-text Citations
Grammar Concept:
Subject Verb Agreement
Blackboard Reading:
"America Ruined My Name for Me" by Beth Nguyen
Week 6
Assignments: All Week 6 assignments are due Sunday night, December 3, by midnight
Quizzes Week 6
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 6
Creative Journal 5
Discussion 6
 PEER REVIEW DISCUSSION OPENS ON 11/29 AND CLOSES 12/1
Research Argument
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
How to use MLA to Document Outside Sources in Your Essay
Works Cited
Lectures:
"Argument"
Concept:
Plagiarism
Blackboard Reading:
"Collective Nouns for Humans in the Wild" by Cathy Fish
Week 7
Assignments: All week 7 assignments are due Sunday night, December 10, by 11:59 PM
Quizzes Week 7
Self-Reflection Learning Journal 7
Creative Journal 6

Discussion 7

Peer Review Capstone Project  Opens 12/4 and closes on 12/8

Capstone Project Due 12/10
Rhetoric Handbook Readings:
Rhetorical / Visual Analysis Essay
Rhetorical Appeals
Kairos
Ethos
Logos
Pathos
Advertising’s Fifteen Basic Appeals
Lectures:
Rhetorical Appeals
How to Use Rhetoric to Get What you Want
Blackboard Reading:
"The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Week 8
Assignments: Week 8 
Final Due December 11-13 11:59 PM

Additional Information

Syllabus Created on:

09/30/23 6:37 PM

Last Edited on:

10/22/23 1:33 PM