Meeting: W 2:00-4:40PM--Room A 100

http://geocities.datacellar.net/geraldinecanon

Note that the "canon" after my first name in the web address is not "cannon."

Prerequisite: Eng 101 or permission of instructor.

Required Text:

--Writing Poems, 6th ed.--Michelle Boisseau and Robert Wallace. (Longman)

Course description: "Explores the art and craft of poetry writing. Students consider techniques used by poets, and explore the possibilities inherent in poetry. The class reads and examines the work of published poets, expecially those selected by the students. The primary focus, however, is on original work produced by the students durring the course. 3 credit hours."

Reading and writing poems with critical perception. Critique experience and audience awareness. Drafting, revising, and presenting well-crafted, polished work that is ready for publication. Knowledge of a variety of poetic forms and techniques.

Students will prepare and submit poems in a timely fashion, as scheduled for examination by peers in a weekly workshop.

Students will pick up photocopies of poems that have been turned in for workshop to evaluate--and they will do so in a timely manner. The poems need to be read and evaluated before the workshop.

Students will carefully read all poems and annotate (as much or as little as is deemed necessary) the photocopies in a constructive manner. Be positive with negative criticism. The best criticism is a balance of negative and positive comments--delivered effectively, with reasoning whenever possible.

Students need to be prepared to share some comments constructively with the author verbally in class.

Students will give their written annotations to the appropriate author after the poem has been discussed.

Any student who wants authors to have written comments, but wants to remain unknown, may give me critiques to pass along to the appropriate authors after class.

Students will polish their work after workshops and submitt it all together in a writing portfolio at the end of the semester. The portfolio should contain the original work and the revision--the "final" draft.

Some of the poems will stem from assignments given in class, but the majority of the work will be up to the writer’s inspiration. We will examine various types of writing--forms and genres. Students are encouraged to examine individual poets of interest and to present their findings to the class. We will have one class period for students to share work by favored poets/writers.

Grading will be somewhat subjective. I am open to conferences about progress and individual work. Students should make arrangements in advance to discuss a set of poems or a portfolio of work. Attendance and class participation are of utmost importance. You must come to class regularly and you must come prepared. Your grade will be based upon your final portfolio and your participation in class--even if you get published by Poetry this semester. This would speak volumes to your credit, but publications of any sort do not guarantee you an A in this class. You must turn in and pick up work in a timely fashion for constructive criticism to occur. Anything aside from constructive criticism will not be tolerated in this workshop. However, we must be prepared for the occasional off the wall comment or odd question. If someone asks you something you do not want to answer, just decline to answer. If someone makes a comment you feel is inappropriate, say so. How will anyone know otherwise? I will try to steer the class away from meandering dialogues with no connection to the work at hand.

Our first week: Introductions to each other and the course.

Handouts

Index cards (fill one out for me tonight)

General creative writing discussion

Workshop process--expectations, etc.

Portfolio/Conference questions

Assignment--When and where to turn in your work

General Schedule(subject to change):

1/21: Introduction (see earlier description)

1/28: Ch. 1 Workshop of material

2/4 : Ch. 2 Workshop of material

2/11: Ch. 3 Workshop of material

2/18: Ch. 4 Workshop of material

2/25: Ch. 5 Workshop of material

3/24: Ch. 7 Workshop of material

3/31: Ch. 8 Workshop of material

4/7: Ch. 9 Workshop of material

4/14: Ch. 10 Workshop of material

4/21: Ch. 11 Workshop of material

4/28: Ch. 12 Workshop of material

5/5: Student presentations--reports on works of published poets