ENGL 1541 - Introduction to College Writing
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 08, CRN 43964,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Stephanie Caldwell, Ed.D.
Email: secaldwell@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 (7th Edition) | Richard Bullock, Deborah Bertsch, & Maureen Daly Goggin | 978-1324087335 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wed | 8/26 | Intro to course/instructor | Due 8/27 at 11:59pm: Week 1 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 8/28 | Intro to course/instructor | Due 8/30 at 11:59pm: Complete: Ask an Anonymous Question About the Syllabus Due 8/28 at 11:59pm: Writing Sample Assignment: Please read and follow directions carefully Due 8/30 at 11:59pm: Complete: Create A Writing Center Account (extra credit) |
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| Wed | 9/2 | Pre-reading strategies | Due 9/3 at 11:59pm: Week 2 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 9/4 | Pre-reading strategies | Due 9/6 at 11:59pm: Complete: Annotation and screenshots assignment Due 9/6 before 11:59:04pm: Discuss: Annotation Strategies - Reply |
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| Wed | 9/9 | Application - pre-reading strategies | Due 9/10 at 11:59pm: Week 3 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 9/11 | Application - pre-reading strategies | Due 9/13 at 11:59pm: Complete: AI Conversation with Professor Penguin - Thinking About Freewriting Complete: Scan, Annotate, Question, Read Assignment |
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| Mon | 9/14 | Library Instruction | Due 9/15 at 11:59pm: Extra Credit: Library Instruction Etiquette |
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| Wed | 9/16 | Pre-reading & active reading strategies | Due 9/17 at 11:59pm: Week 4 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 9/18 | Pre-reading & active reading strategies | Due 9/20 at 11:59pm: Complete: Scan, Annotate, Question, Read - Viewpoints Article |
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| Wed | 9/23 | Writing and communication ethically | Due 9/24 at 11:59pm: Week 5 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 9/25 | Writing and communication ethically | Due 9/27 at 11:59pm: Complete: AI Literacy - Crafting Professional Emails |
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| Wed | 9/30 | Exploring individual writing processes | Due 10/1 at 11:59pm: Week 6 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 10/2 | Exploring individual writing processes | Due 10/4 before 11:59:51pm: Discuss: "Perfect" AI vs. The Messy Human - Reply |
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| Wed | 10/7 | Connecting Reading to Writing | Due 10/8 at 11:59pm: Week 7 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 10/9 | Connecting Reading to Writing | Due 10/11 before 11:59:54pm: Complete: Annotation & Response Journal |
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| Wed | 10/14 | Complete sentences and paragraphs | Due 10/15 at 11:59pm: Week 8 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 10/16 | Complete sentences and paragraphs | Due 10/18 at 11:59pm: Complete: Analyzing Introductions, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusions based on "Black Mamas' Lives Matter" (Norton Field Guide pp. 773-777) |
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| Wed | 10/21 | Responding to writing | Due 10/22 at 11:59pm: Week 9 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 10/23 | Responding to writing | Due 10/25 at 11:59pm: Complete: Reading Response |
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| Wed | 10/28 | Rhetorical Situation: audience & purpose | ||
| Mon | 11/2 | Rhetorical Situation: Genre | Due 11/1 at 11:59pm: Week 10 Freewrite Complete: Analyzing Audience and Purpose |
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| Mon | 11/9 | Rhetorical Situation: Genre | Due 11/8 at 11:59pm: "Writing In The Wild" Genre Scavenger Hunt Week 11 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 11/13 | Brainstorming and pre-writing | Due 11/12 at 11:59pm: Week 12 Freewrite |
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| Fri | 11/20 | Drafting and peer review | Due 11/19 at 11:59pm: Week 13 Freewrite |
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| Wed | 11/25 | Drafting and Peer Review | ||
| Mon | 11/30 | Conferences and presentation guidelines | Due 11/29 at 11:59pm: Complete: Final Reflection Slideshow |
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| Mon | 12/7 | Essay Submission & presentations | Due 12/6 at 11:59pm: Complete: Final Reflective Essay |
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.