ENGL 1541 - Introduction to College Writing
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 03, CRN 41593,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Courtney Poullas
Email: cmpoullas01@ysu.edu
Course Description
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | The Norton Field Guide to Writing: With Readings and Handbook, 7th Edition | Multiple | 978-1324087632 |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
The following readings from your course text are required. It is strongly recommended that you choose a novel of at least 250 pages to read throughout the semester, but this is not required.
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Week 2: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 2
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Week 5: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 6
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Week 6: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 28
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Week 7: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 1
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Week 8: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 3 • Handbook, S1
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Week 9: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 3
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Week 10: Norton Field Guide, Chapters 7 & 8
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Week 11: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 9
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Week 12: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 31
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Week 13: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 33
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Week 14: Norton Field Guide, Chapter 57
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/25 | None | Introduction to course, instructor | Ask an anonymous question about the syllabus, create a Writing Center account, complete the writing sample, complete weekly freewriting |
| 9/1 | Course documents: scan and question your texts, annotation basics; textbook ch. 2 | Pre-reading strategies Note: The last day to withdraw and receive a 100% refund is Sunday, 9/6 |
Annotations and screenshots assignment, annotation strategies discussion, weekly freewriting |
| 9/8 | None | Application – pre-reading strategies NOTE – YSU is closed Monday 9/7 for Labor Day |
InQuizitive module: Critical Reading Strategies; Scan, Annotate, Question assignment, AI conversation with Professor Penguin, weekly freewriting |
| 9/15 | Course document: Using Copilot to tackle challenging texts | Library instruction, pre-reading and active reading strategies | Scan, annotate, question, read with Viewpoints article; weekly freewriting |
| 9/22 | Textbook ch. 6 | Writing and communicating ethically | Plagiarism tutorial, crafting professional emails with Copilot, weekly freewriting |
| 9/29 | Course document: “Shitty First Drafts” by Anne Lamott, Course document: Getting to know your writing process through Loop Writing, textbook: Chapter 28 – Writing as Inquiry | Exploring individual writing processes NOTE: 8/31 is the last day to change a grading option and/or change a credit option |
Discussion: “Perfect” AI vs. The Messy Human, weekly freewrite |
| 10/6 | Norton Field Guide ch. 1 and “The Fast And The Fashionable | Connecting reading to writing | Annotation and response journal, weekly freewrite |
| 10/13 | Little Seagull 5e (part of your course text -- not a separate book): S1, Norton Field Guide ch. 30 and “Black Mamas’ Lives Matter,” course documents: introductory and conclusion paragraph quick start guides | Complete sentences and paragraphing | InQuzitive module: paragraph development; analyzing introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions assignment, weekly freewrite |
| 10/20 | Norton Field Guide ch. 3 and “Gentle With The Small Things” | Responding to writing Note: Sunday, 10/25 is the last day with withdraw with a grade of “W” |
InQuizitive module: synthesizing ideas, short reading response, weekly freewrite |
| 10/27 | Course document: Understanding the rhetorical situation, Norton Field Guide ch. 7 + 8 and “Barbie Review” | Rhetorical situation: Audience and purpose | InQuizitive module: rhetorical situations, processes, and genres; analyzing purpose and audience assignment, weekly freewrite |
| 11/3 | Norton Field Guide ch. 9 | Rhetorical situation: Genre | Writing in the wild genre scavenger hunt assignment, weekly freewrite |
| 11/10 | Norton Field Guide ch. 31 | Brainstorming and prewriting | Work on essay, weekly freewrite |
| 11/17 | Norton Field Guide ch. 33, course document: Peer review using describe, evaluate, suggest | Drafting and peer review Conferences and presentation guidelines |
Final essay first draft, peer review, weekly freewrite |
| 11/24 | Course document: student conferences, Norton Field Guide ch. 57 | Note: Thanksgiving break begins this week | Complete conference with instructor |
| 12/1 | None | Week 15: 11/30 Essay submission, course presentations | Submit final essay |
| 12/8 | None | None -- we do not meet during finals week | None |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.