ENGL 1550 - Writing 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 43, CRN 40422,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
India Gatts
Email: imgatts@student.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 7th Edition |
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 | Chapter 27: Process of Writing (pp 323-324) Chapter 29: Generating Ideas and Text (pp 329-339) | Intro to class/Unit 1 paper | Related assignments |
| 9/1 | Chapter 4: Developing Academic Habits of Mind (pp 41-51)“My First Language” 682-684 “Sometimes the ‘Tough Teen’ Is Quietly Writing Stories” 674-676 | Academic habits/Narrative writing lessons | Assignments related to readings |
| 9/8 | Chapters 7-9: Purpose, Audience, & Genre (pp 73-84) | PAG lessons/peer reviews | First draft |
| 9/15 | Chapter 33: Getting Response and Revising (pp 365-371) Chapter 34: Editing and Proofreading (pp 372-376) | Peer reviews/related pps | Peer reviews |
| 9/22 | Chapter 13: Analyzing Texts (127-145) | Unit 2 paper lessons | Unit 1 paper due |
| 9/29 | Chapter 50: Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing (521-532) Chapter 30: Organizing Your Writing, Guiding Your Readers (pp 340-357) | Lessons related to readings/Unit 2 paper | Assignments related to readings |
| 10/6 | Peer reviews | First draft | |
| 10/13 | Chapter 32: Assessing You Own Writing (pp 361-364) | Peer reviews/related pp | Peer reviews |
| 10/20 | Chapter 51: Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism | PP on finalizing paper/Intro Unit 3 paper | Unit 2 paper |
| 10/27 | Chapter 50: Synthesizing Ideas (515-520) Read the first text in the cluster you have chosen to write about for Paper 3 | Lessons on synthesizing | Assignments related to readings |
| 11/3 | Read the second text in the cluster you have chosen to write about for Paper 3 Make Connections When Synthesizing in Your Writing | Lessons on synthesizing | Assignments related to readings |
| 11/10 | Sample papers/peer reviews | First draft | |
| 11/17 | Peer reviews | ||
| 11/24 | Finalizing paper pps | Peer reviews | |
| 12/1 | Chapter 36: Reflecting on Your Writing ( 383-392). | Unit 4 paper/peer reviews | First draft |
| 12/8 | No class meeting during finals | Unit 4 paper |
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.