ENGL 1550 - Writing 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 44, CRN 40423,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Jessica Quiles
Email: jquiles@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 and Readings + Handbook | Richard, Deborah Bertsch, Maureen Daly Goggin |
The Norton Field Guide to Writing with Readings + Handbook (7th edition, included with your course fees) Ebook access is included in your course fees. If you prefer a physical copy, you can purchase one at the university bookstore. You will need access to the textbook to complete course assignments.
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 and make notes of any questions you may have to ask in class | Welcome to Class! • Introductions • Syllabus • Intro to Class Survey • Review Short Assignment #1 • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • readings for next class • Short Assignment #1 due 8/27/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard under week 1 |
| Thu | 8/27 | Read Chapter 4 (pgs. 41-51): Developing Academic Habits of Mind Read pgs. 674-677: Sometimes the Tough Teen is Quietly Writing Stories Read pgs. 682-684: My First Language | • PP on Developing Academic Habits of Mind • AI Form • PP Part 1 of Literary Narrative • Introduction of Paper #1-Language/Literacy Narrative -Assignment prompt on Blackboard • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Thinking about ideas for Major Assignment #1 • Short Assignment #2 due 9/1/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard week 2 |
| Tue | 9/1 | Read Chapter 27 (pgs. 323-324) Processes of Writing Read Chapter 29 (pgs. 329-339) Generating Ideas and Text | • PP Part 2 on Literary Narrative • In class Activity 1- Brainstorming (30 min.) • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Short Assignment #3 due 9/3/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard week 2 • Making progress on Paper #1 |
| Thu | 9/3 | Read Chapter 30 (pgs. 340-357) Organizing Your Writing, Guiding Your Readers Read (pgs. 851-855) Who is Malala? | • PP on Organizing Writing & Guiding Readers • In class activity 2 – Assessing My Progress • Review upcoming assignments and due dates. | Work on: • Readings for next class • Making progress on Paper #1 • (draft for peer review due on Tuesday, 9/8/26 before the start of class) |
| Tue | 9/8 | Read Chapters 7-9 (pgs. 73-84) Purpose, Audience and Genre Read (pgs. 856-860) Gentle with the Small Things | • PP on Feedback and Peer Review • In class activity-Practice Peer Review • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #1 • Final Draft of Paper #1 Due Tuesday, 9/22/26 before the start of class. |
| Thu | 9/10 | Read (pgs. 439-446) Describing Read (pgs. 457-463) Narrative | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class Peer Review | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #1 considering the feedback you have received. • Final Draft of Paper #1 Due Tuesday, 9/22/26 before the start of class. |
| Tue | 9/15 | Read Chapter 6 (pgs. 61-69) Writing and Generative AI | • PP Writing and Generative AI • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class writing workshop. • Instructor conferences. | Work on: • Short Assignment #4 due 9/17/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard week 4 • Making progress on Paper #1 considering the feedback you have received. • Final Draft of Paper #1 Due Tuesday, 9/22/26 , before the start of class. |
| Thu | 9/17 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class writing workshop • Instructor conferences. | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #1 considering the feedback you have received. The Final Draft of Paper #1 Due Tuesday, 9/22/26 before the start of class |
| Tue | 9/22 | No readings for today | • PP Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis (part 1) • Review Paper 2 -Rhetorical Analysis Assignment Prompt on Blackboard • PP Information about required visit to Writing Center • In class activity- analyzing text • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Reviewing text options for paper #2. Options are on Assignment prompt. |
| Thu | 9/24 | Read Chapter 13 (pgs. 114-143) Analyzing Texts Read (pg. 816) Robert Frost The Road Not Taken Then Read Mathew Miller’s Lit Analysis of The Road Not Taken (pgs.807-810) | • PP Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis (part 2) • In class Activity-(PIE) based on TED Talk: What does my headscarf mean to you? • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Short Assignment #5 due 9/29/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard week 6 • Making progress on Paper #2 |
| Tue | 9/29 | Read pgs. 701-710 (The Norton Field Guide to Writing) Changing the Face of Poverty | • PP Logos, Pathos, and Ethos • In class activity • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Short Assignment #6 due 10/1/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard week 6 • Making progress on Paper #2 |
| Thu | 10/1 | Read Chapter 50 (pgs. 521-532) Quoting, Paraphrasing, and Summarizing (Norton Field Guide) | • PP on Quoting, Paraphrasing and Summarizing • In class Activity- Quotations and Paraphrasing • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Making progress on Paper #2 • (draft due on 10/6/26 before the start of class |
| Tue | 10/6 | Read Chapter 52 (pgs. 533-537) Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism | • PP on Citing Sources • In Class Activity-Citing Sources • In class writing workshop: Students will use time in class to make progress on drafting their paper using short assignments #4 and #5 | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #2 • (2nd draft of paper 2 due on Tuesday, 10/13/26 before the start of class) |
| Thu | 10/8 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In Class Peer Review • Instructor conferences. | Work on: • Readings for next class • Short Assignment #7 due 10/13/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard under week 8 • Making progress on Paper #2 considering the feedback you have received. • (2nd draft of paper 2 due on 10/13/26 before the start of class) |
| Tue | 10/13 | Read Chapter 33 (pgs. 365-371) Getting Response and Revising | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class writing workshop • Instructor conferences | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #2 considering the feedback you have received. • (Final Draft of Paper #2 is due on Tuesday, 10/20/26 at the start of class. |
| Thu | 10/15 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In Class Peer Review • Instructor conferences | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #2 considering the feedback you have received. • (Final Draft of Paper #2 is due on Tuesday, 10/20/26 at the start of class. |
| Tue | 10/20 | No readings for today | • PP on Synthesizing Ideas • Review Paper #3 -Synthesis -Assignment Prompt on Blackboard • In class activity on Synthesis • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Readings for next class • Short Assignment # 8 Due 10/22/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard under week 9 |
| Thu | 10/22 | Read chapter 50 (pgs. 515-520) Synthesizing Ideas (Norton Field Guide) | • PP on How to Write a Synthesis Paper • In class activity on Annotating for Synthesis • Review upcoming assignments and due date | • Short Assignment #9 due 10/27/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard under week 10 • Making progress on Paper #3 (Paper #3 draft due on Tuesday, 11/3/26) |
| Tue | 10/27 | Read chapter 2 (pgs. 11-28) Reading in Academic Contexts (Norton Field Guide) | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In Class Activity • In class writing workshop | Work on: Making progress on Paper #3 (Paper #3 draft due on Tuesday, 11/3/26) |
| Thu | 10/29 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In Class Activity • In class writing workshop | Work on: Making progress on Paper #3 (Paper #3 draft due on Tuesday, 11/3/26) |
| Tue | 11/3 | Read Chapter 40 (pgs 422-428) Comparing and Contrasting | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class activity | • Making progress on Paper #3 (Final Draft of Paper #3 is due on Tuesday, 11/17/26 at the start of class. |
| Thu | 11/5 | Read Chapter 13 (pgs. 140-143) Analyzing Texts | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In Class Peer Review • Instructor conferences | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #3 considering the feedback you have received. (Final Draft of Paper #3 is due on Tuesday, 11/17/26 at the start of class. |
| Tue | 11/10 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • Writing workshop • Instructor conferences | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #3 considering the feedback you have received. • Short Assignment #10 due 11/12/26 See separate assignment sheet on Blackboard under week 12 • (Final Draft of Paper #3 is due on Tuesday, 11/17/26 at the start of class |
| Thu | 11/12 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • Writing workshop • Instructor conferences | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #3 considering the feedback you have received. (Final Draft of Paper #3 is due on Tuesday, 11/17/26 at the start of class). |
| Tue | 11/17 | No readings for today | • PP on Reflective Writing • Review Final- Paper 4 Reflection- Prompt Assignment prompt On Blackboard • In class Reflective Writing Activity • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | • Work on: Making progress on Paper #4 (Draft for Peer Review due on 12/1/26) |
| Thu | 11/19 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class writing workshop | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #4 (Draft for Peer Review due on 12/1/26) |
| Tue | 11/24 | No readings for today | • Review upcoming assignments and due dates • In class writing workshop | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #4 (Draft for Peer Review due on 12/1/26) |
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving Break | No classes today | Stay Safe and Enjoy Your Break |
| Tue | 12/1 | No readings for today | • Writing workshop day • Review upcoming assignments and due dates | Work on: • Making progress on Paper #4 • (Final Draft of Paper #4 is due on Tuesday, 12/8/26 by 11:59pm. |
| Thu | 12/3 | No readings for today | • Peer feedback • Review important end of the term information • This will be the last day class meets | Work on final paper - due Tuesday, 12/8/26 by 11:59pm |
| Tue | 12/8 | Finals Week | Final Paper #4 is due today by 11:59pm | |
| Thu | 12/10 | Finals 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.