ENGL 1541 - Introduction to College Writing
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 04, CRN 41594,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Jeffrey Buchanan
Email: jmbuchanan@ysu.edu
Course Description
This course acclimates students to academic writing expectations and college-level reading practices. Students engage in reflective and expository writing and incorporate peer and instructor feedback throughout the writing process. Students in this developmental course must complete it prior to enrolling in the first of two required composition courses in the general education core. This course does not count toward the graduation requirement in composition and does not count toward a degree. Grading for English 1541 is ABC/NC. Next course in sequence must be ENGL 1549 Writing 1 with Support (4 semester hours). Prereq.: Placement by ACT/SAT test results or by CPT results. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings + Handbook, 6th edition. |
The Norton Field Guide is a First Day Ready textbook, which means that it should already be available to you in Blackboard.
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
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introduction to the Course | ||
| Thu | 8/27 | NFG pp.11-15 | Writing: Reading Responses | |
| Tue | 9/1 | “Man of Steel” | Reading | RR#1 DUE |
| Thu | 9/3 | NFG pp.325-339 | Writing: Prewriting | |
| Tue | 9/8 | “Man of Steel” | Reading | RR#2 DUE |
| Thu | 9/10 | NFG pp.73-87 | Writing: Openings/Beginnings | |
| Tue | 9/15 | NFG pp.41-48 | Writing: Exploration | RR#3 DUE |
| Thu | 9/17 | Peer Workshop | ||
| Tue | 9/22 | Reflection | Paper#1 DUE; RR#4 (in class) | |
| Thu | 9/24 | Writing: Exploration | ||
| Tue | 9/29 | “The Work You Do” | Reading | RR#5 DUE |
| Thu | 10/1 | Writing: Support | ||
| Tue | 10/6 | “The Work You Do” | Reading | RR#6 DUE |
| Thu | 10/8 | Writing: Exploration | ||
| Tue | 10/13 | NYTimes Student Essays | Reading | RR#7 DUE |
| Thu | 10/15 | NYTimes Student Essays | Reading | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Peer Workshop | ||
| Thu | 10/22 | Reflection | Paper#2 DUE; RR#8 (in class) | |
| Tue | 10/27 | “Entering the Conversation” | Reading | RR#9 DUE |
| Thu | 10/29 | “Entering the Conversation” | Reading | |
| Tue | 11/3 | Writing: So What? | ||
| Thu | 11/5 | Writing: So What? | ||
| Tue | 11/10 | Peer Workshop | ||
| Thu | 11/12 | Writing: Editing/Proofreading | ||
| Tue | 11/17 | Reflection | Paper#3 DUE; RR#10 (in class) | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Writing: Editing/Proofreading | ||
| Tue | 11/24 | CLASS CANCELLED | ||
| Thu | 11/26 | UNIVERSITY CLOSED THANKSGIVING | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | CLASS CANCELLED | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Reflection | Paper #4 DUE | |
| Tue | 12/8 | NO CLASS--Exam Week | ||
| Thu | 12/10 | NO CLASS--Exam Week |
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.