ENGL 1551 - Writing 2
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 44241,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Course Description
Dr. Gordon's section: Creating Research-Based Arguments from Archival Sources. We can find many fascinating documents in public archives, from newspaper articles to photographs to genealogical records, and much more. Moreover, we all have a personal “archives” in the form of documents that are meaningful to us, such as photographs, letters, and official documents. Throughout the course, we’ll explore how these documents can be used as sources for your arguments.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | "Writing as a Mode of Learning" | Janet Emig | |
| Required | "Black, Catholic and Gen Z" | Gabrielle Pitre | |
| Required | "Esther's Journey" | Jay L Gordon | |
| Required | "Milestone Documents" | The National Archives | |
| Required | Estelle Bedford oral history | Estelle Bedford | |
| Required | "My Father's Home" | Antonio Reis | |
| Required | "Cuyahoga River Fire: The Blaze the Started a National Discussion | Michael Rotman | |
| Required | "Brainstorming Ways to Develop and Expand Your Writing" (video) | Jay L Gordon |
For course readings, you will do the following:
- Read online texts as assigned.
- Read both primary and secondary sources that you find and use yourself for your major writing projects.
Note that your student fees pay for The Norton Field Guide to Writing textbook. However, you have the option to opt out of the student fee charge. Keep in mind that you may be required to use it later, in Writing 2 (ENGL 1551).
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
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 (all deadlines are Fridays at 11:59 p.m.)
| Week of | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Why write? | Why Write - draft 1 | |
| 8/31 | Writing as a Mode of Learning (Janet Emig) | Reasons for writing: personal, professional | |
| 9/7 | Revision strategies | Why Write? - draft 2 | |
| 9/14 | Identifying themes in documents | ||
| 9/21 | Esther's Journey (Jay L Gordon) | Developing a thematic analysis | Document Theme Analysis - draft 1 |
| 10/5 | Revision strategies | Document Theme Analysis - draft 2 | |
| 10/12 | Milestone Documents (National Archives) | Where are archival documents about the United States? | |
| 10/19 | Cuyahoga River Fire (Michael Rotman) | The National Archives | Exploring the US with Archives - draft 1 |
| 10/26 | Estelle Bedford Oral History | The Library of Congress | |
| 11/2 | Brainstorming Ways to Develop and Expand Your Writing (Jay L Gordon) | Revision strategies | Exploring the US with Archives - draft 2 |
| 11/9 | Argument and Rhetoric - pt 1 | ||
| 11/16 | Argument and Rhetoric - pt 2 | ||
| 11/23 | Archives and Arguments | Archive-Based Argument - draft 1 | |
| 12/7 | FINALS WEEK | Archive-Based Argument - draft 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.