The Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University

Rap as a Contemporary Poetic Form

Summer Session II 2015

Instructor: J.P. Grasser (AS.220.164.75) Room: TBA Schedule: M/W/Th 3-5:30 PM Email: [email protected] Office Hours: By Appointment

DESCRIPTION:

In his essay "Disappearing Ink," Dana Gioia describes rap music as "the new oral poetry." As a course, Rap as a Contemporary Poetric Form will attempt to question Gioia's assertion. Initially, students will study traditional rhetoric, poetic sources and forms, including the Skeltonic, Free Verse, the Lyric, the Cento, and the Elegy. Students will critically examine a wide variety of authors including Lewis Carol, Walt Whitman, Allen Ginsburg, Langston Hughes, Kevin Young, Dora Malech, Eminem, Kanye West, Nicki Minaj, and Nas. Creative assignments will include the composition of traditional poetic forms, spoken word poetry, and original rap or hip-hop lyrics.

TEXTS:

Texts will be distributed by the instructor in class and over email. Students are expected to print and bring assigned texts to class.

ASSIGNMENTS:

In this course, students will 1. Submit a new, original creative work each class session. 2. Conscientiously and fairly critique your classmates’ writing in a workshop setting. 3. Read attentively and participate in class discussions.

ATTENDANCE & PREPARATION:

1. Attendance is expected at every class session. 2. Punctuality and preparedness are expected. You must bring the appropriate texts to every class. 3. Assignments are due at the beginning of the specified dates on the syllabus course schedule. No late work is accepted. 4. Active participation is expected in class discussions. GRADING & EVALUATION:

Poetry Assignments: 50% Final Portfolio & Revisions: 20% Class Participation & Written Responses: 30%

HONOR CODE:

From the Dean: “The strength of the University depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaborations, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition.” Any violation of academic integrity will result in a failure for the entire semester’s course. Any student failing due to academic dishonesty will, perforce, be relinquishing the right to take further courses in The Writing Seminars. All violations will be reported to the chairs of the Writing Seminars department, the associate dean of Student Affairs, and the chairman of the Ethics Board may also be notified. See “Academic Ethics for Undergraduates” at http://ethics.jhu.edu for more information.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES:

No electronic devices (cell phones, tablet computers, etc.) will be allowed in class. Because of the nature of the course, no laptops will be necessary.

SUPPORT SERVICES AND POLICIES:

This course is governed by the policies set forth in The Johns Hopkins University Undergraduate Student Handbook, which contains information on a wide variety of topics, such as support services, and policies relating to student rights and responsibilities. This course is governed by the policies set forth in this document.

Some JHU student support services you may find useful include:

SUPPORT SERVICE LOCATION PHONE NUMBER / WEBSITE

Library E-Reserves http://www.library.jhu.edu/services/fo rms/reserves.html [email protected] Summer & Intersession Programs 3505 N. Charles Street, Suite 101 410-516-4548 http://www.jhu.edu/intersession

CLASSROOM ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic adjustment, auxiliary aid or other similar accommodations, please contact The Office of Student Disability Services at [email protected], call 410-516-4720 or visit 385 Garland Hall.

STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Johns Hopkins University is a community committed to sharing values of diversity and inclusion in order to achieve and sustain excellence. We believe excellence is best promoted by being a diverse group of students, faculty and staff who are committed to creating a climate of mutual respect that is supportive of one another’s success. Through its curricula and clinical experiences, we purposefully support the University’s goal of diversity, and in particular, work toward an ultimate outcome of best serving the needs of students. Faculty and candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of diversity as it relates to planning, instruction, management, and assessment.

A WORD ON ETHICS

The strength of the university depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course, you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, improper use of the Internet and electronic devices, unauthorized collaboration, alteration of graded assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty, and unfair competition. Report any violations you witness to the instructor.

COURSE SCHEDULE

Week 1: Tupac Shakur & John Skelton: The Skeltonic 6/29: Introduction

7/1: Dana Gioia’s Disappearing Ink

7/2: Selections from Tupac & Skelton

Week 2: The Lyric: Kanye, Ginsburg

7/6: Selected lyrics from Kanye [First Assignment Due]

7/8: Selections from Ginsburg’s Howl

7/9: Workshop of 1st Assignment

Week 3: Wordplay & The Dozens

7/13: Selections from Invisible Man, Eminem [2nd Assignment Due]

7/15: Selections from Dora Malech

7/16: Workshop 2nd Assignment

Week 4: The Lyric in Social Context

7/20: Selections from Whitman, Hughes, Daneez Smith [3rd Assignment Due] 7/22: Videos of Spoken Word, Nas lyrics

7/23: Workshop 3rd Assignment

Week 5: More Forms: The Sento, Meta-lyrics

7/27: Selections from Nicki Minaj, Taylor Mali [4th Assignment Due]

7/29: Class Performance

7/30: Final Workshop & Wrap-up