ADVANCED POETRY WRITING-ENGL 4300-01 (CRN 52116)
Summer
2006— MTWR
Dr. Brigitte
Byrd
Office: A&S 210M
brigittebyrd@clayton.edu
Office Phone: (678) 466-4556
http://a-s.clayton.edu/langlit/faculty/Byrd.htm Office hours: TBA
(and by appointment)
Text and Online Materials:
Shade
2006: An Anthology of Poetry and Fiction,
ed. David Dodd Lee
The
Poetry Daily website: http://www.poems.com/
Additional Required
Materials:
1 manila folder in which you will turn your final portfolio
$20 for copying expenses
Notebook Computer Requirement:
Each CSU student is required to have ready access throughout the semester to a notebook computer that meets faculty-approved hardware and software requirements for the student's academic program. Students will sign a statement attesting to such access. For further information on CSU's Official Notebook Computer Policy, please go to http://itpchoice.clayton.edu/policy.htm.
In-class Use of Student Notebook Computers:
Student notebook computers will be used daily in the classroom. Computers are required to access course materials and to communicate with me. Access to the internet is mandatory.
Catalog Description:
Advanced instruction in writing poetry.
Prerequisite: ENGL 3800 (Intro to
CRW) with a minimum US grade of C
Course Objectives:
This course focuses on poetry writing through the study of
the craft which we will apply in the workshop. We will discuss sources of
inspiration, things to write about, preparation, language, sight, sound,
movement, shape and voice. I
will introduce you to the works of major 19th century poets
(Dickinson, Whitman, Rilke, Rimbaud) and Modernists (Eliot, Pound, Stein), the
You will take a weekly test on the material covered in class over the week in question.
You will participate in an open mic poetry reading at a local bookstore or café during the third week of class.
Your final portfolio will include all exercises (finished and typed) and three thoroughly revised poems stemming from the exercises (typed).
Exercises:
After starting most
of the exercises in class, you will finish them at home, type and edit them
before placing them in your folder. These
exercises are designed to trigger your imagination thus your writing as
well as support a point/element of craft discussed in class.
Late work Policy:
I do not accept late work. Late work will receive a 0 unless arrangements are made between us before a planned absence or immediately after class, in the case of a personal emergency. Once we have made arrangements, you will turn the paper in question directly to me.
Participation to
Open Mic Event:
You will select two poems to read at the event (at the end of the third week of June).
University Policies:
Students must abide by policies in the Clayton State University Student Handbook, and the Basic Undergraduate Student Responsibilities.
Attendance:
Attendance is expected for all class periods. Attendance is mandatory for workshops and the open mic event. An excused absence is an absence for which you provide me with a note from your doctor or other competent authority. Any absence after one excused absence will affect your participation grade: your overall grade for the course will drop one letter grade then one additional letter grade for each additional absence.
Plagiarism:
Any type of activity that is considered dishonest by reasonable standards may constitute academic misconduct. Plagiarism is one of the most common forms of academic misconduct. It will not be tolerated. Plagiarism is a counterproductive, non-writing behavior that is unacceptable in a course intended to aid the growth of individual writers. Plagiarism is representing another’s work or part thereof, be it published or unpublished, as one’s own. All instances of academic dishonesty will result in a grade of zero for the work involved. All instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Office of Student Life/Judicial Affairs. Judicial procedures are described at
http://adminservices.clayton.edu/studentlife/judicial_affairs.htm.
Disability Services:
Individuals with disabilities who
need to request accommodations should contact
the Disability Services Coordinator, Student Center 214, 678-466-5445.
disabilityservices@mail.clayton.edu.
In order to receive a C in this course, you must turn in all the written
work below on time and participate in the open mic event.
Remember that attendance is required and that after 1 absence, your
overall grade starts dropping. Similarly
attendance is mandatory for workshops and the open mic event. By
“mandatory” I mean that failing to comply with the previous requirements
will result in dropping one letter grade from your overall grade.
Midterm Portfolio (25%):
Test 1
10%
Test 2
10%
Participation
5%
Final
Portfolio (75%):
Test 3
10%
Test 4
10%
Test 5
10%
All exercises started in class finished and typed
10%
3 finished, typed and thoroughly revised poems
20%
Open mic event
10%
Participation
5%
A 90-100 (excellent)
B 80-89 (above average)
C 70-79 (average)
D 60-69
F 60 and below
The mid-term grade in this course, which will be issued on June 12, reflects approximately 25% of the entire course grade. Based on this grade, students may choose to withdraw from the course and receive a grade of "W." Students pursuing this option must fill out an official withdrawal form, available in the Office of the Registrar, by mid-term.
6/12 Midterm grade
6/14 Open mic event
6/28 Final Portfolio due in class
Course
Schedule:
You must bring Shade 2006 to every class meeting along with your computer, paper,
pen, and your notebook (see below)!
As
most writers do, you will keep a small notebook with you at all time during this
term so that you can record thoughts, dreams, observations, and start a list of
words. Your notebook then becomes a
pool of words and ideas for you to use in your creative work.
Week 1
5/30 Introduction to the course and to peers, “sources of inspiration,” exercises, SHADE
5/31 Dickinson and Whitman, “things to write about,” exercises, SHADE
6/01 Rilke and Rimbaud, exercises, SHADE
Week 2
6/05 Test 1, Eliot, “sight,” exercises, SHADE
6/06 Pound, “sound,” exercises, SHADE
6/07 Stein, “language,” exercises, SHADE
6/08 Test 2, Workshop 1 (bring enough copies of two of your poems for everyone in the class—including me)
Week 3
6/12 class canceled for attendance to open mic event out of campus this week
6/13
6/14 Beats (Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti, Kaufman), “shape,” exercises, SHADE
Callanwolde
Coffee House open mic event (you need to be there at 6:30pm to sign in.
There will be a bit of entertainment and refreshments will be served
before the event starts at 7:30pm. Cost
$3 for readers)
6/15 Workshop 2 (bring enough copies of two of your poems for everyone in the class—including me)
Week 4
6/19 Test 3,
6/20 “confessional” poets (Lowell, Plath, Sexton, Berryman), “voice,” exercises, SHADE
6/21 Workshop 3 (bring enough copies of two of your poems for everyone in the class—including me)
6/22 Test
4, Language poets (Hejinian, Bernstein, Silliman), exercises, SHADE
Week 5
6/26 Test 5, exercises, SHADE
6/27 Workshop 4 (bring enough copies of two of your poems for everyone in the class—including me)
6/28 Final portfolio due in class