Composition II Syllabus for 2023-2024
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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 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-1302-025 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

Amarillo College English Dept., eds. A Rhetorical Handbook for English,  6th ed., Hayden-McNeil, 2023.

Please note this textbook was edited in May 2023, and old copies may not include the necessary readings.  

All other readings will be provided electronically through Blackboard. 

Supplies

Access to the internet and a computer is imperative in this class. All assignments will be turned in electronically. 

A USB drive or access to Google Docs is vital for saving your essays so that you can work on them both at home and in the computer labs. Please ensure that you save your documents multiple places. Lost documents are not the responsibility of the instructor. 

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 of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)

 

Departmental expectations:

6. Demonstrate an understanding of literary genres and the basic vocabulary of literary analysis.

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

Policy on Cheating and Plagiarism

Cheating will not be tolerated in this class.

Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying or leaving the test with a test or questions from the test, helping or attempting to help other students cheat on tests or assignments, or plagiarizing a paper. 

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.

 

Online Classroom Conduct

Per the Amarillo College Rights and Responsibilities (linked above), you are expected to behave in the virtual classroom in a way that is supportive of the learning environment. Behaviors that are not supportive include, but are not limited to: 

1. Abusive, offensive, or otherwise disrespectful demeanor toward AC faculty, staff, students, and/or property. Please be respectful to your fellow classmates and conduct yourselves in a manner appropriate for a classroom setting. Even in a virtual space, treating others with kindness and respect is the expectation.

2. Unauthorized access, reconfiguration, modification, copying or misuse of college or other students' computer files, including inappropriate use of e-mail, data or software. 

Grading Criteria

Grading Criteria

Visual Analysis Essay 15%

Short Story Literary Analysis Essay 15%

Research Argument Essay 15%

Capstone Project 15%

Final Essay 20%

Discussions 10%

Journals 10%

 

 

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

Attendance

This is an online course and therefore there is no attendance requirement. However, regularly checking both Blackboard and your student email account is crucial to success in this course. It is your responsibility as a student to plan and work responsibly so that you submit assignments on time. 

Late Work Policy

I will accept late work up until THREE days after an assignment deadline (unless otherwise noted in the syllabus/Blackboard). However, I will deduct ten points for every day that the assignment is late. So, for example, if an assignment is due on Sunday night, but you don't turn it in until Wednesday, the highest possible grade you can make on that assignment will be a 70. After the three day grace period has passed, you will receive a grade of zero. 

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. 

Calendar

Additional Information

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 806-371-5191.  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 www.actx.edu/arc

 

AC Advocacy & Resource Center

806-371-543

 

AC Counseling Center

806-371-5191

 

Dr. Lori Boykin

806-371-5157

lkboykin22@actx.edu

Please be advised that this is a college level course and may include adult subject matter.