ENGL 1551 - Writing 2
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 02, CRN 40427,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Nathaniel Stokes
Email: npstokes@ysu.edu
Course Description
This course builds upon students’ knowledge of the writing process and rhetorical concepts as they conduct scholarly inquiry on a specific topic using academic research. The course emphasizes the process of investigation including identifying problems to explore with research, collecting data from primary and/or secondary sources, synthesizing source material, and clearly presenting the results of these inquiries in a research-based argument. Students write a minimum of 5,000 words (approximately 20 double-spaced pages) cumulatively across the major assignments. Grading is ABCDF. English 1551 is three semester hours. Prereq.: ENGL 1549 with a grade of "C" or better or ENGL 1550 with a grade of "C" or better or ACT/SAT scores or Composition Placement Test results. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | The Norton Field Guide to Writing E Text: 7th Eddition | Norton | 978-1324087458 |
| Required | "A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindsets" | Farnam Street | |
| Required | The Declaration of Independence | ||
| Required | The Declaration of the Rights of Man | ||
| Required | "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" | A. M. Turing | |
| Required | "The Chinese Room" | John Searle | |
| Required | Do Decisions Shape Preference? Evidence from Blind Choice" | Sharot et al. |
The Norton Field Guide to Writing is an E text included with your class fee.
All other readings will be available through Blackboard--no additional purchase necessary.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8/24 | Farnam Street "A Summary of Growth and Fixed Mindsets" NFG Ch. 3: Rhetorical Situations |
Course Introduction and Syllabus Review Rhetorical Situations and Expectations Growth vs. Fixed Mindsets |
In-Class Writing 1: Wednesday Jounral Post 1: Due Friday by 11:50 P.M. All Readings Must be Completed Before Class |
| 8/31 | The Declaration of Independence The Declaration of the Rights of Man NFG Ch. 50, 51 |
Quoting, Paraphrasing, Summarizing Synthesizing texts Academic Research Introduction |
In-Class Writing 2: Wednesday Journal Post 2: Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 9/7 | A. M. Turing, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence" J. Searle "The Chinese Room" NFG Ch. 49,6 |
Evaluating Sources AI and Rhetoric Comparitive Argument Analysis |
No Class Monday: Labor Day In-Class Writing 3: Wednesday Journal Post 3: Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 9/14 | NFG Ch. 38, 52, 55 Sample Student Papers |
Writing as a Process Argument Development APA Formatting |
|
| 9/21 | NFG Ch. 55 | Peer Review APA Reference Pages Revising Arguments |
Half-Draft: Argument Comparison Paper: Due Before Class Monday Peer Review Workshop: Monday During Class Argument Comparison Reference Page Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 9/28 | Library Research Videos | Library Session Exploring Topics and Generating Research Questions Getting a Start on Research |
Argument Comparison Paper Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 10/5 | NFG Ch. 47 NFG Ch. 69 Russel Mobley (P. 905-908) NFG. Ch 70 Katelyn Root (P. 937-943) |
Secondary Research Evaluating Sources Proposal Drafting |
In-Class Writing 4: Wednesday Journal Post 4: Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 10/12 | Sharot et al. (2010), "Do Decisions Shape Preference? Evidence from Blind Choice" | Research Proposal Writing Avoiding Bias in Research Organizing Writing |
In-Class Writing 5: Wednesday Journal Post 5: Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 10/19 | NFG Ch. 16, 51, 53 | Annotated Bibliographies Synthesis Plagiarism |
Research Proposal: Due Wednesday by 11:59 P.M. |
| 10/26 | NFG Ch. 55 | APA Formatting More Work on Synthesis Peer Review Review |
Half-Draft: Annotated Bibliography due Before Class Friday Peer Review Annotated Bibliography: In-Class Friday |
| 11/2 | NFG Ch. 11 | Visual Design Revising, Drafting and Reorganizing Presentation Materials |
|
| 11/9 | Presentaton Best Practices Presentation Review |
No Class Wednesday: Veterans Day Annotated Bibliography: Due Friday by 11:59 P.M. |
|
| 11/16 | Verbal and Visual Design, Public Speaking, and Transforming Writing into Communication | Monday: Presentations Wednesday: Presentations Friday: Presentations |
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| 11/23 | Verbal and Visual Design, Public Speaking, and Transforming Writing into Communication | Half-Draft: Research Based Argument Paper due Monday by 11:59 P.M. Monday: Presentations No Class Wednesday or Friday: Thanksgiving Break |
|
| 11/30 | Final Presentations Course Synthesis and Reflection |
Monday: Presentations Wednesday: Presentations Friday: Presentations |
|
| 12/7 | No Class! Finals Week Make Up Day for Missed Presentations. |
Research Baded Argument Paper due Monday by 11:59 P.M. |
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.