Composition II Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Instructor Information

Office Location

<p>Ordway Hall 102 (The Gnome&#39;s Den)</p>

Office Hours

Monday: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.  Tuesday: By appointment. Wednesday, by appointment, reserved for online course. Thursday: 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.  Friday: no contact, my time. 

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-1302-003 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

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

 

Required Textbook

This class will use one required text:

A Rhetoric Handbook for English 1301, 1302, and 2311 5th Edition

Supplies

Students must have access to a computer and the internet.  If you don't have a computer, then you have access to a computer in the Ware Student Commons, or you can call the book store to see about renting a computer.

This course requires students to use a word processing program and Blackboard for course content and for submitting work, and Blackboard email for communication purposes. Students must submit work and communicate through these programs in order to pass this course. Work must be saved and submitted to Blackboard as Microsoft Word or PDF documents. 

The college provides students with a Google G Suite Account.  These programs include email, document creation,and slide presentation programs, 

Late work is generally not accepted for this course. This must be arranged in advance, not after the fact. To pass, all work for this class must be turned in.

Other Supplies

Students need frequent access to:

  • a reliable computer with
  • Internet access
  • a flash/USB/Jump drive to save work (Optional if you work on computers to save/back up your work.)

If you have computer software difficulties, call 371-5000 immediately for help. As a back-up, computers are available in the Ware Commons on the Washington Street Campus. Bring a USB drive to save your work, or work in Google Drive so your work is not lost. 

Student Performance

Course Objectives

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1.  Demonstrate knoweldge 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.

 

Amarillo College English and Cultural Studies Department 

Plagiarism, Collusion, and Cheating Policy, Revised Spring 2024

 

The English and Cultural Studies Department takes academic integrity seriously.  Scholastic dishonesty, punishable as prescribed by Board policies, shall include, but not be limited to plagiarism, collusion, and cheating on a test or written assignment.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined 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.” 

 

Self-Plagiarism

Self-plagiarism is defined as turning in your own previous work to meet a current assignment.  This policy will be amended at the discretion of each individual instructor.  

 

Collusion

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing  work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Bard) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.  I will explain this  in class early on. 

 

Cheating

“Cheating on a test” shall include:

  1. Copying from another student’s test paper.

  2. Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test.

  3. Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator.

  4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of a pending test.

  5. The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the pending test.

  6. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.

  7. Bribing another person to obtain a pending test or information about a pending test.

 

Statement of Consequences

If you plagiarize, cheat, or collude, you will face consequences. Ignorance of the policy is not an excuse. Any work produced in part or in whole through plagiarism, collusion, or cheating may receive a penalty up to and including a zero for the assignment.  After assigning a zero, a subsequent infraction will result in a meeting the head of the Department and possible expulsion from the class. Another incident will result in a referral to the Vice President of Enrollment Management. 

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

Behavior

CODE OF STUDENT CONDUCT: All rules and regulations set forth in the “Student Code of Conduct” section in the current edition of the Students’ Rights and Responsibilities publication will be followed in this course (see link above).

Disrespect will not be tolerated.  While students are expected to express their own ideas and opinions in the discussion section of this course, students are also expected to use words that are appropriate for a classroom situation. No cursing, personal insults, or disrespectful language will be tolerated. Violation of this rule will result in the student being barred from using the discussion portion of the course, which will result in the loss of points for discussion contributions

The discussion forums in this class provide a great opportunity for you to practice your writing style.  Proofread and spell-check your discussion posts, and check your posts and replies for clarity and accuracy. As with emails, avoid using text-message style abbreviations, and use proper capitalization and grammar. In addition, proofread your posts for tone. A successful writer is ever-mindful of his/her audience, and your posts should be courteous and professional—even if you are disagreeing with a classmate. Discussion posts with numerous spelling and grammar errors and inappropriate tone will not receive credit.

Other Responsibilities

  • Check your grades regularly in Blackboard. If you have any questions or concerns about your grades, please talk to me as soon as possible.
  • If you have questions or concerns about any assignment grade, you must contact me about your concerns BEFORE the week of finals.
  • Read the plagiarism policy on the top of this syllabus. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in a zero on the assignment. If you are concerned about plagiarism or are not sure whether you’ve cited sources correctly, please schedule a visit with me or with the Writers’ Corner.
  • Attend Class. The college attendance policy is that they expect you to attend all classes.  In this online class, attendance is participating in the class, communicating with the instructor and other students, and turning in all assignments on time. 

Grading Criteria

Grade Determination

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

Grade Percentages of Assignments

Grade Breakdown

Daily work, homework, & participation         20%

Poetry essay                                                 20%

Short story analysis                                       20%

Research paper                                             25%

Final Exam                                                     15%

All work is due on the date assigned. The class calendar is usually followed, but it is always subject to change.  I will adjust the schedule according to class needs and announce this in class and through email.  Work must be started on the start date according to the calendar. Because each assignment has a specific learning objective, I would rather you do the work properly even if it means starting over, rather than simply turning something in to meet a due date. 

*Note that some assignments will be worth more points than others. For instance, the research paper, a lengthy assignment, will be worth 16% while other smaller assignments will be worth less.

 

Tutoring

TUTORING:  You can use SMARTHINKING (see link in Blackboard), online tutoring available through the AC website.  Be advised that the Smartthinking tutoring service may a 2-3 day turnaround, so you need to submit work well before the due date to be sure to receive timely feedback from a tutor.

While on the AC campus,  visit the Success Center in Ware Commons or the Writers' Corner to get help with your assignments. You may also submit work online. A link is in your Blackboard course.

 

Assignment Submission and Late Work

Assignment Submission:

  • Please submit each assignment in its designated place in Blackboard. Please follow instructions for naming each file before submitting it in Blackboard.
  • I will not accept assignments submitted through email unless I have specifically told you to email an assignment to me.
  • Assignments must be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)or Adobe (.pdf) format. I will not accept work submitted in a format other than .doc/.docx or .pdf. (Blackboard requires these formats for grading/grade book functions.)
  • Save your work carefully and diligently. If you do not have a thumb drive, you may want to create your documents in Google Docs so you don’t have to worry about saving. If you work in Google Docs, you can save your work in .pdf or .doc/.docx before you submit it in Blackboard.

Late work will not be accepted. Because this is a fast-paced 6-week course, you must complete assignments by the due date. Any assignment turned in after the due date at midnight is late. I understand that technical problems occur and life issues sometimes interfere with assignments, but I am counting on your commitment to this class despite life's setbacks. When you can, work on assignments ahead of their due dates. If a situation arises that interferes with your turning in work in a timely manner, please email or call me.

Assignment Due Dates:    Exact due dates for assignments are not specified on this syllabus. Please check your lessons and Blackboard course calendar for exact assignment due dates.

Attendance

This is a hybrid class, meaning we meet for intensive instruction in the classroom on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Homework is completed online throughout the week, not just in class meetings. The class begins on July 1, and ends on Aug. 9, 2024.

Administrative Drop Policy: Students who do not attend class or turn in the first week's assigned work on or prior to the census date, July 8, will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Keeping up with a summer course

Check-in every day to keep track of the course Blackboard page. Class schedules may change or important class information may be shared. Participation is extremely important. All reflective writing assignments and peer reviews are due by posted times of their due dates (See the Content folders for exact dates).  Lack of communication,  participation, and submission of assignments in a timely manner will be taken into account when the final grade is determined. You hurt yourself when you fall behind schedule.

Students are expected to participate actively in this course. Participation means:

  • Checking email regularly in your Amarillo College GMail account. I frequently send emails that explain course updates or include course notes, so check your AC Gmail account as often as possible.
  • Reading chapters from the handbook when assigned.  Story and poetry reading assignments mean deep reading. You will be expected to read all of the poems in the poetry folder and all of the short stories in the fiction folder to develop your understanding of what the writers were doing; you are unlikely to be successful in writing the analysis assignments if you read only the poems that you are analyzing for the poetry  essay, and only  the story that you will analyze for the fiction essay. Plan on reading the poems and the story that you are analyzing several times.
  • Complete and submit weekly assignments by due date.

Withdrawal

A 6-week, online course can be demanding for students. Each daily  class period is nearly two hours so that instruction time is equal to the time spent in regular fall and spring semesters.  Thus, each day in summer is extremely  valuable to you and your  learning process.  I hope you are committed to this process.  If you are, you should succeed in this class.  That said, I also hope you know that a real person is here to grade your assignments, monitor your progress, adjust due dates and assignments accordingly, and answer any questions you may have.

If during the semester you consider dropping, please check with me first for an alternate plan that protects your investment in this course and gives you an opportunity to complete it.  Any time you fall behind for any  reason, I will reach out to you to work out a plan for getting back on track.  All paperwork concerning the withdrawal must be signed and turned in by the close of business on the the last date of withdrawal, Aug. 1, 2024.

Withdrawing early from a class could affect scholarship or financial aid monies.  Check with a counselor or advisor before you withdraw from any class.

 

Students who wish to withdraw from a class must:

  • consult with their instructor to obtain a signed academic withdrawal request form to submit to the AskAC department for processing (which must be signed by the instructor, the student, and the student's advisor before being turned in)
  • consult with the 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

ENGL 1302 Summer II 2023 Weekly Calendar

 

 

Brief Weekly Calendar -- These listings are brief descriptions and do not include precise assignments, which are listed in the course Blackboard page. Our course week runs from Monday through Sunday for the first five weeks, and Monday through Thursday in the sixth week. Course grades will be posted by 11 a.m. on the Friday of this week. 

Week 1

  • We  start with poetry, which provides a unique view of American culture because of the power and richness of the language, imagery, and metaphor. An essayist may  use two hundred words of a two thousand word essay to create a mood; a poet may use as little as two words to do the same.
    1. A short diagnostic writing about your expectations and goals.
    2. Introduce poems and assign poetry analysis.
    3. Reflective writing 1.
    4. First draft due of poetry analysis due July 7.

 

Week 2

  • Do two peer reviews by Wednesday. During this time, I will email comments to you on your first drafts of the poetry analysis essays.
    In addition this week, we will have a short practice on choosing strong words in a short poetry-writing exercise. 
    The final draft of the poetry essay will be due on the following Sunday, July 14. You will also have a short reflective writing on your essay.
     
    Because we are shoe-horning eight-weeks of work into six weeks,  you will need to read short stories throughout the week so that we have adequate time for the literary analysis and the closing research paper, which will involve finding sources in the  library databases, writing a first draft, and finally the peer reviews, my comments and guidance and the revised draft.  So, of the seven stories, read five; if you find one confusing or uninteresting, then set it aside and move on to the next. All you need this week is to be able to answer the question for the stories that you have read, "What has just happened?"  Further instructions on this next week.

 

Week 3

  • Review the assignment sheet to understand how we will analyze one of these stories for the essay.
    You also have an introductory assignment on the value of reading literary fiction, which is defined as having characters that have differing aspects to their personalities, which often are conflicting within the characters, and plots that examine human nature.
    In a short summary assignment, read "Basic Guidelines for Literary Analysis Paper" in the Rhetoric Handbook, pages 99-101, and discuss how you will use this information in your analysis essay. 
    By the end of the weekend, post a draft of your literary essay. Peer reviews will start week 4.

 

Week 4

On Monday and Tuesday, we need to do the two peer reviews. I will return your paper by mid-week. After receiving my comments and your peer reviews, revise and submit your final draft by July 28.
We also will have two reflective writings this week.
And I will introduce the research paper assignment at the end of the week.

 

 

 

Week 5

  • First  we will search for sources for your research paper using the  library databases.  I require three sources from the databases. After finding sources, compile a brief annotated bibliography of your sources, using MLA style.
    On Saturday a first draft of the research paper is due with posting in the peer review forum. This paper needs to have a more formal tone than narratives, informative essays, persuasive essays, or evaluation essays.

 

Week 6

This week will feel like a tornado in that we have a day to peer review, hence, one, instead of two, and a day after that comes the revised research paper draft.
In addition, we have a reflection on the research paper process, a one-paragraph paper.
And finally, on Thursday, we will have the reflective final due. This can be done early, meaning as soon as you finish revising the research draft, and the reflection pararagraph.  Course grades are due on Friday morning, 11:30 a.m., which means work cannot be turned in at 11:25 a.m. on Friday.

 

 

 

Assignment Due Dates:   Due dates are attached to each assignment in the weekly folders. Follow these so you do not run out of time.

Assignment Criteria

Late work will not be accepted. Because this is a fast-paced 6-week course, you must complete assignments by the due date. Any assignment turned in after the due date at midnight is late. I understand that technical problems occur and life issues sometimes interfere with assignments, but I am counting on your commitment to this class despite life's setbacks. When you can, work on daily work assignments ahead of their due dates. If a situation arises that interferes with your turning in work in a timely manner, please email or call me as soon as possible.

Assignment Submission:

  • First drafts of essays will be posted in the peer review forums. I will mark up and provide guidance for revision, and return that copy by email. Because I am marking up papers electronically, I need the first draft as a Word document.   Final drafts will be submitted electronically in Blackboard after you have had your conference with me. If this turns into a lengthier process for any of the assignments, the final due date will be adjusted.
  • Assignments submitted through email will not be accept unless you  have specifically been told to email an assignment.
  • Assignments must be submitted in .doc, .docx (Microsoft Word for first drafts) , or pdf (Adobe for final revised drafts) format. Work submitted in a format other than .doc, .docx, or .pdf will not be accepted. 
  • Save your work carefully and diligently. If you do not have a thumb drive, you may want to create your documents in Google Docs so you don’t have to worry about saving. If you work in Google Docs, you can save your work in .pdf or .doc, .docx, before you submit it in Blackboard.

 

Additional Information

Final Exams:

Information about final exams will be posted in Blackboard.

Course Content and Work

This course requires students to use a word processing program (Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.) and Blackboard for course content and for submitting work, and Blackboard email for communication purposes. Students must submit work and communicate through these programs in order to pass this course. Work must be saved and submitted to Blackboard as Microsoft Word or PDF documents. 

The college provides free Google G Suite accounts for its students. With G Suite students can create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and calendar appointments and save them to the Google Cloud platform. 

Late work is not accepted for this course. To pass, all work for this class must be turned in.

Most minor work is graded by the end of the week it is assigned. Major work, such as essays, are graded on the basis of participation and peer reviews for the first draft, and on the basis of revisions based on my expectations for revised drafts.

College Content:
In the college experience, students will encounter diverse views and new subject matter, which expand their knowledge and perspective.  In this college English class, we might read and discuss some literary works with subject matter that could include (but not be limited to) death, violence, sexuality, potentially offensive language, and political or religious viewpoints different from your own.  If this is a concern for you, please meet with me.

Syllabus Created on:

04/03/24 10:34 PM

Last Edited on:

04/03/24 11:03 PM