ENGL 1550H - Honors Writing 1
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 40426,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Madeleine Zinz
Email: mozinz@ysu.edu
Course Description
1550H. Honors Writing 1. This Honors version of English 1550: Writing 1 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 1550H is three semester hours. Prereq.: Eligibility for the Honors Program AND 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 Reading + 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 |
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| Thu | 8/27 | Ch 3 "Summarizing + Responding: Where Reading meets Writing" Ch 4 "Developing Academic Habits of Mind" |
Read and discuss Ch 4 Intro to Assignment 1 + context of assignment |
|
| Tue | 9/1 | Ch 1 "Writing in Academic Contexts" Ch 2 "Reading in Academic Contexts" |
Discussion over 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 | Ch 27/28/29 Quiz Appeal to the Senses |
| Tue | 9/8 | Ch 7 "Purpose" Ch 8 "Audience" Ch 9 "Stance" Ch 10 "Genre" Ch 11 "Media/Design" |
Rhetorical Situations discussion | Reader Response Ch 7-9 Brainstorming Sheet |
| Thu | 9/10 | Ch 33 "Getting Response + Revising" Ch 34 "Editing + Proofreading" |
Discussion Tone v Stance Peer Review Overview |
Ch 33/34 Quiz |
| Tue | 9/15 | Peer Review | Assignment 1 Rough Draft | |
| Thu | 9/17 | Ch 6 "Writing with Generative AI" | Practice questions with AI based on textbook examples | Ch 6 Quiz AI Collab practice Considering Contexts for AI in Academics |
| Tue | 9/22 | Unit 1 Exam Intro to Assignment 2 + context of assignment |
Assignment 1 Final Practice speech assignment |
|
| Thu | 9/24 | Ch 13 "Analyzing Texts" | Discussion over chapter Music Video Analysis |
Identifying Key Features Ch 13 Music Video Group activity Breaking Down an Analysis |
| Tue | 9/29 | Intro to Ethos, Logos + Pathos | Rhetorical Appeals worksheet Identifying Rhetorical Appeals |
|
| Thu | 10/1 | Ch 51 "Quoting, Paraphrasing + Summarizing" Ch 52 "Acknowledging Sources, Avoiding Plagiarism" Ch 53 "MLA Style" |
MLA Handbook + Guide Outlining + Planning |
Brainstorming Sheet MLA activity Ch 51/52 Quiz |
| Tue | 10/6 | Ch 61 "Textual Analyses" | Point, Illustration, Explanations "The Basics" review over transitions, formatting, writing in a formal language |
Reader Response Ch 61 PIE activity MA 2 Outline |
| Thu | 10/8 | Peer Review | Assignment 2 Draft | |
| Tue | 10/13 | Ch 32 "Assessing Your Own Writing" | Discussion over chapter | Reader Response Ch 32 Line by Line activity |
| Thu | 10/15 | Intro to Assignment 3 + context of Assignment Unit 2 Exam Intro to Maag Library Research Database |
Assignment 2 Final | |
| Tue | 10/20 | Ch 47 "Finding Sources" | Potential Library Research Day | |
| Thu | 10/22 | Ch 48 "Evaluating Sources" | CRAAP Test | Reader Response Ch 48 |
| Tue | 10/27 | CH 40 "Comparing and Contrasting" | Block by Block v Point by Point | Brainstorming Sheet Ch 40 Quiz Block/Point activity |
| Thu | 10/29 | Ch 30 "Organizing Your Writing, guiding Your Readers" | Discussion over chapter eading | Ch 30/31 Quiz Considering Other's Opinions |
| Tue | 11/3 | Ch 23 "Remix" | Intro to Assignment 3.5 + integrating current research into a remix | Analyzing Remixes |
| Thu | 11/5 | Planning and Drafting a Remix | ||
| Tue | 11/10 | Intro to Reflective Letter + context of assignment Workshop Day |
Crafting Strong Titles Thesis Statement worksheet |
|
| Thu | 11/12 | Peer Review Group 1 | Assignment 3 Draft | |
| Tue | 11/17 | Peer Review Group 2 | Assignment 3.5 Idea Draft | |
| Thu | 11/19 | Formatting overview, reminders + recap (MLA, hanging indent, thesis statements, etc.) Recap revision process for Assignment 1 + 2 |
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| Tue | 11/24 | Workshop Day | ||
| Thu | 11/26 | THANKSGIVING - NO CLASS | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Remix Presentations | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Remix Presentations | ||
| Tue | 12/8 | FINALS WEEK - NO CLASS | Reflective Letter Assignment 3 Final Assignment 3.5 Final |
|
| Thu | 12/10 | FINALS WEEK - NO CLASS | All final revision (MA1/MA2) |
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.