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Fall 2026 Syllabus
Instructor
Madeleine Zinz
Email: mozinz@ysu.edu
Course Description
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Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings + Handbook | Bullock, Bertsch, & Goggin | 978-1-324-08770-0 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon | 8/24 | Ch 4 “Developing Academic Habits of Mind” Ch 3 “Summarizing and Responding: Where Reading Meets Writing” |
Review Syllabus, guidelines, and policies. Practice with Norton eBook, Blackboard, Outlook and Writing Center website info. Email Etiquette discussion and activity Look at Writing Sample assignment Lecture Ch 1-4; discussion over Ch 3 & 4 Intro to Reader Responses Summarizing & response activity |
Email Etiquette Summarizing & response activity Writing Sample |
| Mon | 8/31 | Ch 27 “Processes of Writing” Ch 28 “Writing as Inquiry” Ch 29 "Generating Ideas" Ch 7 “Purpose” Ch 8 “Audience” Ch 9 “Stance” Ch 10 “Genre” Ch 11 “Media/Design” |
Intro to Assignment 1& context of Assignment Discussion over Ch 27, 28, 29 Appeal to the Senses activity Rhetorical Situations: Purpose, Audience, & Stance, Genre and Media/Design Rhetorical MadLibs OR Adapting to the Rhet. Sit. activity |
Appeal to the Senses Reader Response Ch 7, 8, + 9 Rhetorical Activity |
| Mon | 9/7 | Ch 33 “Getting Response and Revising” | Organization and Drafting – beginning strategies, endings, thesis statements, and paragraphs In-Class writing workshop – exit ticket! Discussion & Activity over Stance v Tone Peer Review Overview |
Brainstorming Sheet Practicing Peer Review Worksheet |
| Mon | 9/14 | Ch 34 “Editing and Proofreading” Ch 6 “Writing with Generative AI” |
Peer Review Day Practice questions with AI based on textbook examples AI Collaboration Practice activity |
Assignment 1 Rough Draft Peer Review Submission Ch 33/34 Quiz Ch 6 Quiz Considering Academic Contexts for AI Use |
| Mon | 9/21 | Unit 1 Exam Intro to Assignment 2 & context of Assignment Discussion over revisions for MA1 and potentially MA 2 Practice speech assignment |
Assignment 1 Final Draft Demonstrate & practice analyzing speeches |
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| Mon | 9/28 | Ch 13 “Analyzing Texts” | Discussion over Ch 13 Outlining + Planning Activity Music Video Analysis Intro & activity on Ethos, Logos & Pathos |
Identifying Key Features Ch 13 Music Videos Group Activity Breaking Down an Analysis Rhetorical Appeals Group Activity Identifying Rhetorical Appeals Worksheet |
| Mon | 10/5 | Ch 51 “Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing” Ch 52 “Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism” Ch 53 “MLA Style” Ch 61 “Textual Analyses” |
MLA activity Point, Illustration, Explanations discussion and activity “The Basics” review over transitions, formatting, writing in a formal language |
Brainstorming Sheet MLA Activity Ch 51/52 Quiz Reader Response Ch 61 PIE Activity MA 2 Outline |
| Mon | 10/12 | Workshop day – this class is not mandatory. You may come and ask questions, work in a quiet space, and catch up on work. First half: Peer Review Second half: Wordiness & Weak Verbs discussion & activity |
Assignment 2 Draft Peer Review |
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| Mon | 10/19 | Ch 32 “Assessing Your Own Writing” | Discussion over Ch 32 Unit 2 Exam Intro to Assignment 3 + context of assignment Intro to Maag Library Research Database |
Reader Response Ch 32 Line by Line Activity Assignment 2 Final Draft |
| Mon | 10/26 | Ch 47 "Finding Sources Ch 48 "Evaluating Sources" |
Last in class day to find sources for your paper CRAAP Test Worksheet Final Article Checkpoint |
Reader Response Ch 47 CRAAP Test Article checkpoint |
| Mon | 11/2 | Ch 40 "Comparing and Contrasting" Ch 30 "Organizing Your Writing, Guiding your Readers" |
Block by Block v Point by Point discussion, guide, and activity Discussion over chapter reading Activity over drafting + recap over outlines |
Brainstorming Sheet CH 40 Quiz Comparison Method Practice Thesis Statements Ch 30/31 Quiz Considering Others Opinions |
| Mon | 11/9 | Intro to Reflective Letters + context of assignment Recap revisions process for Assignment 1 + 2 Feedback overview of all drafts Final formatting, overview, reminders + recap (MLA, hanging indent, thesis statements, etc) Conference sign-ups + what to prepare |
Crafting Strong Titles Conference sign-ups will close Nov 17 |
|
| Mon | 11/16 | Peer Review Wordiness + weak verbs discussion with activity Conferences (Mandatory, no class) |
Assignment 3 draft Wordiness activity Conference forms are fur BEFORE your conference |
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| Mon | 11/23 | Conferences (Mandatory, no class) THANKSGIVING |
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| Mon | 11/30 | Crash Course over APA + Resumes Workshop day Unit 3 Exam Final Survey |
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| Mon | 12/7 | Assignment 3 Final Reflective Letter All final revisions |
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.