English 213: Poetry Workshop ~ Spring 2004
MW 2:30-3:45 pm ~ Armstrong Hall

Mary Ann Samyn
Office: 463 Stansbury, 293-3107 x453
E-mail: MaryAnn.Samyn@mail.wvu.edu
Office Hours: T 10-12, often M 1 :30-2:3O, and by appt.

Texts
The Poet's Companion:A Guide to the Plea*ures of Writing Poetry: Kim Addonizio & Dorianne Laux
The City of Sal' by Greg Orr
The Good Thief by Marie Howe
The Stree' of Clocks by Thomas Lux

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.orc 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 tallc about those poems, identifying our own material for poetry, and sharing and critiquing each other's work with generosity and vigor.

This course is NOT for those who are completelv satisfied with their writing and simply want to share what thev alreadY know. Nor is this class for those interested in writina sona Iyrics. Songwriting is I an entirely different discipline one about which I know very very little. Rather, English 213 will introduce you to the reading and writing of contemporary poetry.

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 retum 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
- participate in a community of writers and readers through workshops and conscientious completion of all reading and writing assignments
- employ critical writing, thinking, and reading processes in responding to the work of professional authors and other students
- develop a process for writing poetry acquire and use a vocabulary to express the formal and thematic aspects of poetry
- revise poems based on workshop feedback
- develop a sense of wridng as a way to understand the world around us
- consider and express the connections between writing and the other arts
- 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 poems you bring to class (with copies, ready for workshop, not first drafts), responses to readings (on time: I accept late work one class period later---after that, you'll receive a zero), reading quizzes, and ~our general preparedness for class and willingness to participate in all workshops, discussions of the reading, in-class activities, etc. Rernember: creative writing is an academic discipline. That means. this course and its gradina policies are rigorous.

Attendance and Participation

I take attendance seriously, so should you. This class is, I assurne, 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 vou reach ten absences. vou will fail the course--no matter how "well" You're doing. how good a writer you are. what vour reasons for beina 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 12 and 14
Course introduction. Begin readin g poetry.

Week 2: January 21
Greg Orr; discuss first lines; more freewriting and sharing. what makes a poem? One-page response due.

Week 3: January 26 and 28
Images; first poems due: discuss in small groups and comments by me.

Week 4: February 2 and 4
Poet's Companion: read 19-38 and be prepared to discuss. In-class exercises.

Week 5: February 9 and 11
Workshop poem #2 based on exercises.

* February 12: Reading: Jim Harms

Week 6: February 16 and 18
Poet's Companion: 39-63. In-class project.

Week 7: February 23 and 25
FW. Write a poem about the project for next week. Poet's Companion: 64-81.

Week 8: March 1 and 3

Workshop project poems. Poet's Companion: 85-114.

* March 3: Pizza Party for English Majors

Week 9: March 8 and 9
Marie Howe. Persona poems. One-page response due.

Spring Break

Week 10: March 22 (no class March 24)
Workshop persona poems.

* March 24: Reading: Gail Adams and Kevin Oderman

Week 11: March 29 and 31
Thomas Lux. Writing an imitation. One-page response due.

Week 12: April 5 and 7
Identify the features of a poem. Write irnitation for next week. Poet's Companion: 1 15-128.

Week 13: April 12 and 14
Workshop imitations.

* April 14: Calliope Reading

Week 14: April 19 and 21
Revision strategies. Poet's Companion: 186-192. Reflective essay...

* April 22: Reading: Terrance Hayes

Week 15: April 26 and 28

FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE APRIL 28 IN CLASS---NO EXCEPTIONS.

* April 29: MFA Reading