ENGL 1550 - Writing 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 45, CRN 40424,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Isabella Davis
Email: ipdavis@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 | Richard Bullock | 1324087633 |
| Optional | Bad Ideas About Writing | Cheryl E. Ball and Drew M. Loewe | 0-9988820-0-3 |
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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Subject to Change : Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | Introduction and Welcome to the Course | |
| Thu | 8/27 | Misconceptions about writing, how to succeed in this course, and Academic Writing: Chapter 1 of the textbook and from the book Bad Ideas About Writing Writing Sample in class | Due 8/30 before 11:59:48pm: Introduction Post and Reply - Reply Due 8/27 at 11:59pm: Writing Sample |
| Tue | 9/1 | Purpose, audience, and genre In class activity found on slides Kahoot on lesson What to expect next class, and upcoming assignments | |
| Thu | 9/3 | Expository/Explanatory Essay Overview and lesson | Due 9/1 at 11:59pm: In class assignment |
| Tue | 9/8 | Research and work on their assignments | |
| Thu | 9/10 | A PPT on analysis and assessing your own writing: Chapter 32 of the textbook | Due 9/13 at 11:59pm: Rough Draft on Expository/Explanatory Essay |
| Tue | 9/15 | Peer review on essay | Due 9/15 before 5:30:37pm: Insert your rough draft here - Reply |
| Thu | 9/17 | Work Day | Due 9/20 at 11:59pm: Expository/Explanatory Essay Assignment Drop |
| Tue | 9/22 | Reflection Rhetorical strategies lesson Upcoming due dates and a quick description of paper 2 | Due 9/22 at 11:59pm: Reflection on Expository/Explanatory Essay |
| Thu | 9/24 | Recap of rhetorical strategies Rhetorical Analysis overview which essays from the textbook you can choose and a small description of them | |
| Tue | 9/29 | How to set up a paper: Introduction and thesis lesson (Chapter 30 of the textbook) | |
| Thu | 10/1 | PPT Lesson on outlines (Chapter 30 of the textbook) Examples of different outlines Work on your outline during class | Due 10/4 at 11:59pm: Outline for Rhetorical Analysis |
| Tue | 10/6 | How to set up a paper: paragraph organization, transitions, and paper organization, the PIE METHOD In class activity Work on your paper | |
| Thu | 10/8 | Example of a rhetorical analysis and activity Work on their rough draft | Due 10/11 at 11:59pm: Rough Draft on Rhetorical Analysis |
| Tue | 10/13 | Peer Review/Instructor Conference | Due 10/13 before 5:30:02pm: Peer Review Tuesday - Reply |
| Thu | 10/15 | Work Day | |
| Tue | 10/20 | How to set up a paper: citing a source, using in text citations, and paraphrasing lesson (Chapter 48 of the textbook) Have them work on their own work cited page and have them turn it in Also have them work on their source integration and paraphrasing! | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Work on your paper and ask any questions you might have | Due 10/25 at 11:59pm: Rhetorical Analysis Assignment Drop |
| Tue | 10/27 | Reflection and Literacy Narrative lesson (Chapter 12 of the textbook) | Due 10/27 at 11:59pm: Brainstorming activtiy Major Assignment 2 Reflection |
| Thu | 10/29 | Strategies for good writing lesson: dialogue, guiding your reader, and adding details (Chapters 42-44 of the textbook) Start outlines | |
| Tue | 11/3 | film/tv show activity to practice detailed writing and descriptions | |
| Thu | 11/5 | Literacy narrative examples and work on your outline | Due 11/8 at 11:59pm: Literacy Narrative Outline |
| Tue | 11/10 | Work Day | |
| Thu | 11/12 | Processes of writing (Chapter 27 of the textbook) and work on your rough draft | Due 11/15 at 11:59pm: Literacy Narrative Rough Draft |
| Tue | 11/17 | Peer Review/Instructor Conference | Due 11/17 before 5:15:44pm: Peer Review - Reply |
| Thu | 11/19 | Workday Introduce final reflection Reflection lesson PPT and overview | |
| Tue | 11/24 | Work Day | |
| Thu | 11/26 | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Work Day | Due 11/29 at 11:59pm: Literacy Narrative Assisnment Drop Due 12/2 at 1:59am: Final Reflection Outline |
| Thu | 12/3 | Workday for Reflection and final day to ask questions | Due 12/7 at 1:59am: Final Reflection Assignment Drop |
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.