Academic Achievement – Spring 2017

MISSION: Wayland Baptist University exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning focused and distinctively Christian environment for professional success and service to God and humankind.

COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE

/

ACAC 0331 – Writing II (PLO1 and PLO2)

TERM AND DATES

/

Spring 2017 (January 9-May 6, 2017)

INSTRUCTOR

/

Prof. Amy Miles, M.A..

OFFICE ADDRESS

/ Wayland Baptist University
1900 W 7th St
Plainview, TX 79072
Office Location: VHEC 108

PHONE

/

Office: 806-291-1059 / Cell: 806-673-9210

E-MAIL ADDRESS

/

OFFICE HOURS

/ M: 11:00AM-2:00PM
T: 1:30-3:00pm
W: 11:00AM-2:00PM
Th: 1:30-3:00PM
F: 11:00AM-12:00PM

CATALOG COURSE DESCRIPTION

/ developing essential college writing skills, complex sentences, and logically organized paragraphs and essays; improving grammar, mechanics, revising and proofreading. Required for students whose score on approved assessment tests is below minimum for entry in ENGL 1301. Three lecture hours and one lab hour per week. “C” or better with the Accuplacer score incorporated into course grade required to advance to ENGL 1301.

REQUIRED RESOURCE MATERIALS

/ Textbook: Wordsmith, A Guide to College Writing, 6th Edition by Pamela Arlov with MyWritingLab code folder
Other Required Materials:
·  University Catalog
·  Calendar/Planner
·  My Writing Lab

6

PREREQUISITE: None

6

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Because the university classroom is a place designed for the free exchange of ideas, we must show respect for one another in all circumstances.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course, students actively engaged in learning will --

1.  Compose paragraphs with the use of consistency, sentence variety, and language awareness.

2.  Apply the various rhetorical modes used to develop paragraphs and essays.

3.  Utilize correct grammar, sentence mechanics, revising and proofreading skills

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Academic Achievement Attendance Policy

1. Students enrolled at Wayland Baptist University should make every effort to attend all class meetings. The University expects students to make class attendance a priority. Students should arrive to class on time. Three times arriving late will equal one absence, or three times leaving class early will equal one absence. An arrival of more than five minutes late or departure of more than five minutes early will be deemed a late arrival/leave early.

2. Students must bring books, paper, pens or pencils, highlighters and other supplies required for the course. If students arrive to class without proper supplies, they will be asked to leave, and awarded an absence for the day.

3. University sponsored/required trips and activities will be considered excused, but it is the student’s responsibility to make appropriate arrangements to complete and turn in assignments and acquire any materials distributed during the class meeting.

4. Use of cell phones, IPODS, or headphones will not be permitted. Students using these, or other electronic devices, in class without the instructor’s permission will be asked to leave, and awarded an absence for the day.

Option 1: Two Days per week courses

1-2 absences: no penalty

3 absences: warning

4 absences: Final grade reduced by one letter

5 absences: Final grade reduced by another letter

6 absences: F in course, effective immediately

Rewards:

0 absences: 5 points added to final grade

1 absence: 3 points added to final grade

2 absences: 1 point added to final grade

Option 2: Three Days Per week courses

1-3 absences: no penalty

4 absences: warning

5 absences: Final grade reduced by one letter

6 absences: Final grade reduced by another letter

7 absences: F in course, effective immediately

Rewards:

0 absences: 5 points added to final grade

1 absence: 3 points added to final grade

2 absences: 2 points added to final grade

3 absences: 1 point added to final grade

*Students aware of necessary absences must inform the professor with as much advance notice as possible in order to make appropriate arrangements. Email the professor prior to the week when you will not be in attendance.

*What you do in the case of an absence:

a.  School related absences (sports, field trips, music performances, etc.)

i.  Make sure that your coach/professor has sent out an email notifying all professors that you will be absent from class. I WILL NOT APPROVE A SCHOL RELATED ABSENCE WITHOUT THIS EMAIL!

ii.  Notify me as soon as you know you will be absent! This means before you are absent!

iii.  Ask for your assignments which you will miss while you are gone ASAP!

iv.  Turn in your assignments before you leave.

1.  If you do not turn in your assignment before you leave, then you can’t turn it in when you come back.

v.  If you don’t follow this procedure for turning in assignments, then you CANNOT MAKE UP ANY ASSIGNMENTS in this class!

b.  Excused Absences

i.  What is an excused absence?

1.  Death in the family, hospitalization, military related absence, being EXTREMELY sick, etc.

ii.  Notify me as soon as you can about your absence, preferably before. Email me ASAP if you can.

iii.  Ask for your assignments which you will miss while you are gone or you did miss while you were gone.

iv.  You have a one week extension. If you do not get the assignments turned in by that time, then the assignments cannot be submitted.

c.  Unexcused Absences

i.  What is an unexcused absence?

1.  Going on vacation, going on a business trip, being sick with something as simple as a cold or the flu, forgetting about working on the class for a week, not participating because you don’t have a textbook or other appropriate material, etc.

a.  NOTE: If something is going to keep you from participating, like not having a textbook, CONTACT ME IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!! I can’t help you if I don’t know you have a problem. Not having a textbook still counts as an absence!

ii.  You cannot makeup the work for this type of absence. You can have no extension.

ACADEMIC HONESTY: University students are expected to conduct themselves according to the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic misconduct for which a student is subject to penalty includes all forms of cheating, such as illicit possession of examinations or examination materials, forgery, or plagiarism. (Plagiarism is the presentation of the work of another as one’s own work). Disciplinary action for academic misconduct is the responsibility of the faculty members assigned to the course. The faculty member is charged with assessing the gravity of any case of academic dishonesty, and with giving sanctions to any student involved. Penalties may be applied to individual cases of academic dishonesty; see catalog for more information about academic dishonesty. Cheating in this class at any time will result in an immediate grade of F for the class.

DISABLED PERSONS: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), it is the policy of Wayland Baptist University that no otherwise qualified person with a disability be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the university. The Coordinator of Counseling Services serves as the coordinator of students with a disability and should be contacted concerning accommodation requests at (806) 291-3765. Documentation of a disability must accompany any request for accommodations.

EVALUATION: UNIVERSITY GRADING SYSTEM:

A 90-100 Cr Credit
B 80-89 NCR No Credit
C 70-79 I Incomplete*
D 60-69 W Withdrawal
F below 60
WP Withdrew Passing
WF Withdrew Failing X No grade given
IP In Progress / A grade of “CR” indicates that credit in semester hours was granted but no grade or grade points were recorded.
*A grade of incomplete is changed if the work required is completed prior to the date indicated in the official University calendar of the next long term, unless the instructor designates an earlier date for completion. If the work is not completed by the appropriate date, the I is converted to the grade of F. An incomplete notation cannot remain on the student’s permanent record and must be replaced by the qualitative grade (A-F) by the date specified in the official University calendar of the next regular term.

Course grading criteria: All assignments are due as noted on course calendar. All assigned work must be word processed. Assignments not completed on time will reflect a lowered grade of 10% deduction per day minimum. Late work will not be accepted after 7 calendar days.

final grade for course will be based on the following

Attendance And Class Participation / Required
Writing Lab / 15%
Paragraphs/Essays / 45%
Daily (In-Class) Exercises / 15%
Final Exam (WritePlacer) / 25%
Extra Credit / None offered

Students shall have protection through orderly procedures against prejudices or capricious academic evaluation. A student who believes that he or she has not been held to realistic academic standards, just evaluation procedures, or appropriate grading, may appeal the final grade given in the course by using the student grade appeal process described in the Academic Catalog. Appeals may not be made for advanced placement examinations or course bypass examinations. Appeals are limited to the final course grade, which may be upheld, raised, or lowered at any stage of the appeal process. Any recommendation to lower a course grade must be submitted through the Executive Vice President/Provost to the Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee for review and approval. The Faculty Assembly Grade Appeals Committee may instruct that the course grade be upheld, raised, or lowered to a more proper evaluation.

General Rules for the Classroom

1.  All questions are important questions. There is no “dumb” question except a question that is not asked. Ask your questions!

2.  Each student will respect other students and their comments or questions.

3.  Each student will respect the instructor. While the instructor is talking, students will not carry on conversations in class. If this condition exists, the student may be sent away from class.

4.  If you are going to be absent, please let the instructor know in advance, if at all possible.

5.  All cell phones, texting devices, and beepers must be turned off in class unless permission to leave them on is granted by the instructor.

6.  If a student arrives 10 minutes after class begins, he/she will not be admitted and will be counted absent for that day.

7.  If a student leaves before the class is over, that student will be counted absent for that day unless permission is granted by the instructor.

8.  If a student sleeps in class, the student will be counted absent for the day.

9.  Students, please do not leave the class and return. This disturbs your fellow classmates and the instructor. If you must leave in case of an emergency, please do not return to the class but see me after class.

10. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student who cheats or plagiarizes will be dismissed from the class and receive an “F” for the semester.

Course Schedule

This schedule is subject to change

Week One: January 9-13

Course Introduction

Syllabus

Week Two: January 16-20

*MLK Holiday – Monday, January 16 – No Day Classes!

Writing Topic: The Writing Process and Preparing to Write

Week Three: January 23-27

*Presidential Inauguration – No Classes – Wednesday, January 25

Writing Topic: Building a Framework: Thesis and Organization

Week Four: January 30-February 3

Writing Topic: Introducing the Essay

Week Five: February 6-10

Writing Topic: Developing Body Paragraphs

Week Six: February 13-17

Writing Topic: Concluding the Essay

Week Seven: February 20-24

Writing Topic: Revising, Proofing, and Formatting

Week Eight: February 27-March 3

Writing Topic: The Rhetorical Modes

Week Nine: March 6-10

Writing Topic: The Rhetorical Modes

Week Ten: March 13-17

*Spring Break Holiday – No Classes!

Week Eleven: March 20-24

Writing Topic: On Demand Writing (Accuplacer Preparation)

Week Twelve: March 27-31

Writing Topic: On Demand Writing (Accuplacer Preparation)

Week Thirteen: April 3-7

Writing Topic: On Demand Writing (Accuplacer Preparation)

Intro to MLA

Week Fourteen: April 10-14

*Easter Holiday – No Classes on Friday, April 14

Writing Topic: MLA Research and Documentation

Week Fifteen: April 17-21

*Easter Holiday – No Classes on Monday, April 17

Writing Topic: MLA Research and Documentation

Week Sixteen: April 24-28

Writing Topic: MLA Research and Documentation

Week Seventeen: May 1-5

*Finals Week (Finals technically begin at 2:00pm on Friday, April 28)

*Final Examinations will not be given in advance of the scheduled hours. Students should make transportation arrangements which will allow them to meet the examination schedule.

*Grammar textbook exercises will be discussed and completed in class and will coincide with lab work. In addition to our writing topics, there will most likely be grammar topics every week, particular when lab begins.

6