English 3150: Intermediate Poetry Workshop University of North Texas Spring 2016 3150.001 TR 12:30-1:50 pm AUDB 201 Dr. Anne Keefe Email: [email protected] Office: LANG 408A Office Hours: TR 8:15-9:15 am W 1-2 pm “It is the pleasure of the workshop that everyone there gets to be a part of such moments of sweetness, when there appears at last a poem that is fine and shapely, where before there was only struggle, and the tangled knot of words. We all partake, then, a little, of the miracle, that is made not only of luck and inspiration and even happenstance, but of those other matters too— technical knowledge and diligent work—matters that are less interesting perhaps, but altogether essential, for such things support the ineffable and moving light of the poem: they are the bedrock of the river.” --Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook Description This course is an intermediate level workshop focusing on the craft of poetry writing. We will engage the art of poetry through technical exercises in sound, meter, form, image, and voice. Structured in a workshop environment, the class discussion will center on student-created texts, with supplemental readings from contemporary poets, and culminate with a final portfolio of revised work. Required Texts Mary Oliver, A Poetry Handbook: A Prose Guide to Understanding and Writing Poetry (ISBN: 9780156724005) Additional course readings will be provided in our course reader, which I will distribute on the first day of class, or as handouts. Electronic versions of all readings will also posted on our Blackboard site. You are responsible for bringing your reader, handout, or textbook to class when a reading is assigned for that class day. Course Expectations Because a workshop depends on student writing as its primary text, this course will require you to consistently generate new writing, along with completing some craft readings by working poets, and preparing written responses for discussion of work by your peers. You are expected to be on time and prepared for each class session. Absences, tardies, and/or late work will negatively affect your grade, as will a lack of participation or unproductive participation. It is your responsibility to provide printed copies of your work to me and your peers in the workshop. Creative writing is personal and independent work, and sharing it in a public forum can be intimidating. So, it is absolutely imperative that we all respect the work and contributions of each member of the workshop by listening attentively and providing constructive feedback during workshop and class discussion, as well as in written responses. The different backgrounds, perspectives, styles, and personalities in this workshop group will enrich the writing of each individual, but only if each member is willing to participate and contribute equally. Remember that each work is a work-in-progress and each author is a person in the room. Assignments and Requirements Workshop Poem Assignments: The attached schedule of assignments notes each time you are required to turn in a typed draft of a poem for workshop. You will need to bring enough typed copies (19) for each member of the class and myself. Workshop poems must be typed, proofread, and clearly include your name and a title for the piece (staple poems longer than 1 page). If you are absent on your scheduled workshop day, you miss your chance at workshop for that unit. Likewise, if you turn your poem in late, there is no guarantee that we will be able to fit it into the workshop schedule. Written work will not be accepted via email (if you are absent on the day an assignment is due, you may email it to me to show that it was completed on time, but you will need to bring a hardcopy to class the following session). In-Class Writing Prompts and Form Practice Sheets: We will do some prompted writing exercises in class. You are expected to have a notebook in which you are collecting these exercises (which you may go on to develop for the portfolio). We will also practice scansion and identifying form and meter using worksheets in class and for homework. These count as part of your participation grade. Workshop Comments: You are expected to come to class with written comments on each person’s draft. As you read, you should be asking questions, writing responses and reactions, and thinking critically about the meaning and effectiveness of the work. Don’t just read for interpretation of what’s happening, also focus on how the author creates meaning through the use of form, tone, diction, artistry, effectiveness of metaphor, etc. As the course progresses you will learn more and more vocabulary to aid you in your responses, but trust your instincts as a reader and share your experience of the work with the author. Written comments should always maintain respect and consideration for the work of the author. Comments such as “I don’t like this” or “this doesn’t work” are vague and unhelpful. Be specific and explain your reactions. Point to the specific moments in the text that lead you to your conclusions. Ask questions about what you don’t understand. Literary Journal Review: This project gives you a chance to engage with the type of poetry being published right now. You will be assigned a current literary journal to read and review. Each of the journals is located in the current periodicals section (lower level) of Willis Library (detailed instructions on how to find the journal will be handed out in class; you can also ask for assistance at the Library Services Desk on the 1st floor of Willis). You will select a recent issue of the journal to read and then you will write up a short review paper to be posted on our course discussion site. Reviews will need to cite at least one poem from your sample issue, to help you discuss what style of poetry you tend to see in this journal. Reviews should also include a summary of submission guidelines for poetry. Once initial reviews are posted, each student will be required to post three discussion comments on reviews by your peers. Close Reading Paper: This is a short, formal paper that is a close reading explication of a single poem. You will be given a few poems to chose from, and should use the paper to demonstrate your knowledge of the course concepts. You can also refer to the Vendler reading on “Describing Poems” for strategies. Final Portfolio: At the end of this course you will compile a final portfolio—basically a folder or envelope containing your work for the course and your revisions of that work. You will need to save all drafts with my comments for this final portfolio so that you can demonstrate that you have revised deeply. Grading Breakdown 25% Class Participation (reading preparedness, in-class writing and worksheets, workshop comments, and discussion) 20% Poem Assignments (6 poems total) 10% Literary Journal Review and discussion comments 15% Close Reading Paper 30 % Final Portfolio (7 poems total: 6 revised poem assignments + 1 new poem developed from in-class prompts) Policies and Course Information Blackboard Course Website (BB): Our course website is available via Blackboard by logging in with your UNT ID and password at learn.unt.edu. Assignment sheets for each poem and pdf versions of the selected poetry readings will be posted on this site. You are responsible for the course content and any annoucements posted on Blackboard. (NOTE: if you don’t check your UNT email regularly, please add an email address that you use regularly to your Blackboard user profile so that you don’t miss annoucements or emails from your instructors.) Please do not try to use Blackboard to contact me; use my direct UNT email ([email protected]). Technical issues with Blackboard? First, trouble-shoot by trying BB in another browser (Ex. If you are using Internet Explorer, switch and try it in Safari). If you still have trouble, contact UNT’s IT helpdesk: http://www.unt.edu/helpdesk/bblearn/. ABSENCE POLICY Unexcused Absences: You are allowed 3 unexcused absences during the semester with no grade penalty. However, these absences can result in missed grades for workshop participation and/or writing assigment deadlines. Students should plan to “save” their allowance of unexcused absences for illness, injury, family responsibilities, minor emergencies, car trouble, and so on. Absences due to these typical causes are not authorized by the Department of English as excusable absences (even with “official” notes from medical professionals, etc.). Grade Penalty for Excessive Unexcused Absences: A student who exceeds 3 unexcused absences will receive a grade penalty of 1 letter grade per excessive absence on his or her final grade for the course (this penalty begins with the 4th unexcused absence). *ABSENCE MAKE-UP POLICY: You have the option of earning up to 2 extra unexcused absences by attending the English Department’s Visiting Writer events and writing a short response paper. These events will be annouced in class and on Blackboard. The following actions may also result in a student being counted as officially absent: • Showing up to class more than 10 minutes late • Failing to attend a mandatory scheduled conference with the instructor • Sleeping during class • Unauthorized use of electronic devices, wearing headphones (see me if you require the use of a laptop for note-taking) • Working on outside materials for other classes • Repeatedly forgetting to bring textbooks to class • Disrupting class: Those disrupting class will be asked to leave. Actions considered misconduct by the University may be found in the UNT Student Code of Conduct.