KnowledgeBase:Syllabus
Archive| english 213 | Creative Writing: Poetry | Mary Ann Samyn | Spring 2003 | MW | Home |
|
English 213: Poetry Workshop ~ Spring 2003
MW 2:30-3:45 pm~ 123 Armstrong
Mary Ann Samyn
Office: 463 Stansbury, 293-3107 x453
E-mail: MaryAnn.Samyn@mail.wvu.edu
Office Hours: MW 1:30-2:20 and by appt.
Texts
The Poet's Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry: Kim Addonizio & Dorianne Laux
The New Young American Poets: ed. Kevin Prufer
Other Resources: interesting and helpful. . .
The Academy of American Poets: www.poets.org
Poetry Society of America: www.poetrysociety.org
The Associated Writing Programs: www.awpwriter.org
Poetry Daily: www.poetrydaily.org
Poets & Writers Magazine: www.pw.org
Web del Sol: www.webdelsol.com
Course Description
English 213 is an introduction to the pleasures of reading and writing poetry within a community of writers. The class depends on the workshop model–the understanding that we are all craftspeople working together to hone our skills by studying the poems of more accomplished writers, developing a vocabulary with which to talk about those poems, identifying our own material for poetry, and sharing and critiquing each other's work with generosity and vigor.
We'll spend our time discussing poetry from our texts, generating material through freewriting and other activities, and doing close readings of your poems. You will be responsible for submitting all assignments on time and in multiple copies when required and for reading and responding to your classmates' work both verbally and in writing. Our course goals include not only writing poems but also learning how to return to those pieces in revision. We will also discuss general issues of craft (the line, rhythm, figurative language, white space, etc.) as we discover how a writer's vision of the world moves from inside to outside, from a private space to the public space of the page.
Course Goals
3 participate in a community of writers and readers through workshops and conscientious completion of all reading and writing assignments
3 employ critical writing, thinking, and reading processes in responding to the work of professional authors and other students
3 develop a process for writing poetry
3 acquire and use a vocabulary to express the formal and thematic aspects of poetry
3 revise poems based on workshop feedback
3 develop a sense of writing as a way to understand the world around us
3 consider and express the connections between writing and the other arts
3 evaluate your own work by identifying weaknesses and acknowledging and building on strengths
Evaluation
In addition to a final portfolio (original drafts and revisions and a final essay about your work), your grade will also be based on the six poems brought to class (with copies, ready for workshop, not first drafts), six responses to our anthology, and your general preparedness for class and willingness to participate in all workshops, discussions of the reading, in-class activities, and other assignments.
Attendance and Participation
I take attendance seriously; so should you. This class is, I assume, something you're choosing to take, so attendance shouldn't really be an issue. There are many more people who want to be in this class than can be, so if you're not truly interested in learning to become a better poet, please let someone else have your spot. The attendance policy is as follows: you're allowed (but not entitled!) to three absences. Beyond that, your final grade will go down 1/3 of a letter for each absence. Once you reach ten absences, you will fail the course--no matter how "well" you're doing. how good a writer you are, what your reasons for being absent. Excessive tardiness will also result in a lowered final grade. If you are absent for some unavoidable reason, it's your responsibility to contact me and/or a classmate and keep up with all assignments. Attendance without participation is pointless; you'll want and need to participate if you want to get an A or B in this class.
Please remember to keep this syllabus and all other course handouts.
Course Schedule
Week 1 January 13 Course introduction: what are the characteristics of
contemporary poetry? What does it mean to be a
poet?
January 15 Reading: Poet's Companion (PC): 19-29, 85-93
Week 2 January 20 MLK Day: no class
January 22 In-class writing
Response #1 (typed. one page) due (New Young
American Poets)
Week 3 January 27 Poem # 1 due: revised from last week: two copies
January 29 Reading: PC 30-38, 94-103 and bring a photo to
class
Week 4 February 3 Poem #2 due: photo: bring enough copies for the
whole class
Workshop
February 5 Workshop
Response #2 due (New Young American Poets)
Week5 February 10 Workshop
February 12 Reading: PC 39 45, 104-114
Response #3 due (New Young American Poets)
Week6 February 17 Discussion
February 19 Poem #3: elegy due: bring enough copies for the
whole class
Workshop
Week 7 February 24 Workshop
February 26 No class: I'll be at the AWP Conference.
Week8 March3 Workshop
March 5 Workshop
Reading: PC 46-63
Response #4 due (New Young American Poets)
Week 9 March 10 Poem #4 due: shadow/taboo poem with copies
Workshop
March 12 Workshop
Spring Break
Week 10 March 24 Workshop
March 26 Reading: PC 64-81
Response #5 due (New Young American Poets)
Week 11 March 31 Poem #5 due: witnessing/place poem with copies
Workshop
April 2 Workshop
Week 12 April 7 Workshop
April9 Reading: PC 115-128
Response #6 due (New Young American Poets)
Week 13 April 14 Poem #6 due: imitation with copies
Workshop
April 1 6 Workshop
Week 14 April 21 Workshop
Reading: PC 186-192: Revision
April 23 Finish up workshop, etc.
Week 15 April 28 Work on portfolio
April30 Last day of class: portfolio due
| Unless
otherwise noted, items published by the Center for Literary Computing are
copyrighted by the authors and may be shared in accordance with the Fair
Use provisions of |