ENGL 1550 - Writing 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 18, CRN 44206,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Madeleine Zinz
Email: mozinz@ysu.edu
Course Description
1550. Writing 1. This course develops an awareness of writing processes and provides strategies for generating ideas, drafting, giving and receiving feedback, revising, and editing. Students analyze texts in light of specific audiences, purposes, and contexts and develop critical skills in reading, thinking, and writing. Students write a minimum of 5,000 words (approximately 20 double-spaced pages) cumulatively across the major assignments and incorporate sources into their writing. English 1550 is the first of two required composition courses in the general education core. Grading is ABCDF but must earn a "C" or better to satisfy the General Education requirement and continue to ENGL 1551 or ENGL 1551H. English 1550 is three semester hours. Prereq.: Placement by ACT/SAT test results OR Composition Placement Test results. 3 s.h.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Review syllabus, guidelines, and policies. Practice with Norton eBook, Blackboard, Outlook and Writing Center information |
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| Thu | 8/27 | Ch 4 "Developing Academic Habits of Mind" Ch 2 "Reading in Academic Context" |
Reading and discuss Ch 4 Intro to Reader Responses Summarizing + response activity |
Summarizing + response activity |
| Tue | 9/1 | Ch 1 “Writing in Academic Contexts” Ch 2 “Reading in Academic Contexts” |
Reading and class discussion of Ch 1 & 2 Intro to Assignment 1& context of Assignment |
Reader Response Ch 1 OR 2 |
| Thu | 9/3 | Ch 27 “Processes of Writing” Ch 28 “Writing as Inquiry” Ch 29 “Generating Ideas” |
Discussion over Ch 27, 28, 29 Appeal to the Senses activity |
Appeal to the Senses activity |
| Tue | 9/8 | Ch 7 “Purpose” Ch 8 “Audience” Ch 9 “Stance” Ch 10 “Genre” Ch 11 “Media/Design” |
Rhetorical Situations: Purpose, Audience & Stance, Genre, Media/Design Rhetorical MadLibs OR Adapting to the Rhet. Sit. activity |
Ch 7, 8, 9 + 10 Quiz Brainstorming Sheet Adapting to the Rhetorical Situation |
| Thu | 9/10 | Ch 32 "Getting Response and Revising" | Discussion + activity over Tone v Stance Peer Review overview |
Peer Review Reader Response |
| Tue | 9/15 | Peer Review Day | Assignment 1 Rough Draft | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Ch 6 "Writing with Generative AI" | Practicing questions with AI based on textbook examples AI Collaboration Practice activity |
Ch 6 Quiz AI Collab Considering Academic Contexts for AI Use |
| Tue | 9/22 | Unit 1 Exam Intro to Assignment 2 + context of assignment |
Assignment 1 Final Draft Practice Speech |
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| Thu | 9/24 | Ch 13 "Analyzing Texts" | Discussion over Ch 13 Music Video Analysis |
Reader Response Ch 13 Music Video Group Activity Breaking Down an Analysis |
| Tue | 9/29 | Intro and activity on Ethos, Logos, + Pathos | Rhetorical Appeals Group Activity Identifying the Rhetorical Situation |
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| Thu | 10/1 | Ch 51 “Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing” Ch 52 “Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism” Ch 53 “MLA Style” |
MLA activity Outlining + Planning activity |
Brainstorming Sheet MLA activity Ch 51/52 Quiz |
| Tue | 10/6 | CH 61 "Textual Analyses" | Point, Illustration, Explanations discussion and activity “The Basics” review over transitions, formatting, writing in a formal language |
Reader Response Ch 61 PIE Activity MA 2 Outline |
| Thu | 10/8 | Workshop day – this class is not mandatory. You may come and ask questions, work in a quiet space, and catch up on work. | ||
| Tue | 10/13 | Peer Review Group 1 | Assignment 2 Draft | |
| Thu | 10/15 | Peer Review Group 2 | ||
| Tue | 10/20 | Ch 32 "Assessing Your Own Writing" | Discussion over chapter | Reader Response Ch 32 Line by Line Activity |
| Thu | 10/22 | Intro to Assignment 3 + context of assignment Unit 2 Exam Intro to Maag Library Research Database |
Assignment 2 Final Draft | |
| Tue | 10/27 | Ch 47 "Finding Sources" | Possible Library Day | |
| Thu | 10/29 | Ch 48 "Evaluating Sources" | CRAAP Test Worksheet FInal Article Checkpoint |
Reader Response Ch 48 |
| Tue | 11/3 | Ch 40 "Comparing and Contrasting" | Block by Block v Point by Point discussion, guide and activity | Brainstorming Sheet Ch 40 Quiz Comparison Practice |
| Thu | 11/5 | Ch 30 "Organizing Your Writing, Guiding Your Readers" | Discussion over chapter reading Activity over drafting + recap over outlines Considering Other's Opinions activity |
Thesis Statement activity Ch 30/31 Quiz |
| Tue | 11/10 | Intro to Reflective Letters + context of assignment Revision process for Assignment 1 + 2 |
Crafting Strong Titles | |
| Thu | 11/12 | Feedback overview of all drafts Final formatting overview reminders + recap (MLA, hanging indent, thesis statements, etc) Conference sign-ups + what to prepare |
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| Tue | 11/17 | Peer Review Day 1 | Assignment 3 Draft | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Peer Review Day 2 | ||
| Tue | 11/24 | Conferences | ||
| Thu | 11/26 | THANKSGIVING BREAK | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Crash course over APA + Resumes | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Unit 3 Exam Final Surveys |
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| Tue | 12/8 | Assignment 3 Final Reflective Letters |
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| Thu | 12/10 | All final revisions (MA1 + 2) |
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.