This is a tentative schedule of events for this course throughout the semester. As anyone who has been in creative writing workshops will tell you, things very rarely go exactly as scheduled. So view this schedule as a rough guide; I’ll always announce any changes plenty of time in advance.
Week 1:
Monday, Jan.
6: Introductions. Discuss
basic terminology and some warm up poems. Assignment: start working on your
first poem and read Always Danger by David Hernandez.
Wednesday,
Jan. 8: Continue discussing
the Warm-Up Poems. Watch some videos of poetry readings.
Friday, Jan.
10: Finish discussing the
Warm-Up Poems. Time permitting, discuss some of the schools of poetry. Copies
of Poem #1 due in class; bring enough for everyone. On your own, read through
students’ poems and write some constructive suggestions on the poems. Also, on
your own, prepare your written response to Always Danger. Late
Registration and Change-of-Course end.
Week 2:
Monday, Jan.
13: Begin workshopping Poem
#1.
Wednesday,
Jan. 15: Continue workshopping
Poem #1. Journal #1 (over Always Danger) due in class. Discuss the book.
Friday, Jan.
17: Continue workshopping Poem
#1. On your own, start work on Poem #2 AND start reading Allison Joseph's Imitation of Life. This time, for Poem #2, please select one of the Poetry Prompts off
the blog.
Week 3:
Monday, Jan.
20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No
class.
Wednesday,
Jan 22: Finish Poem #1.
Friday, Jan.
24: Discuss Imitation of Life. Journal
#2 (over Joseph) due.
Week 4:
Monday, Jan.
27: Watch "Dead Poets Society" in class.
Wednesday,
Jan 29: Watch "Dead Poets Society" in class.
Friday,
January 31:
Watch "Dead Poets Society" in class. Distribute copies of Poem #2.
Week 5:
Monday, Feb.
3: Start workshopping Poem
#2. On your own, start working on Poem #3. This time, I want you to write an
“imitation poem” in which you try to imitate the style or subject matter of one
of the assigned poets or poems we’ve discussed so far. Also, start reading
Folly by Norman Minnick.
Wednesday,
Feb. 5: Continue workshopping
Poem #2.
Friday, Feb.
7: Continue
workshopping Poem #2.
Week 6:
Monday, Feb.
10: Finish workshopping Poem #2,
if necessary. Distribute copies of Poem #3, the imitation poem.
Wednesday,
Feb. 12: Continue workshopping
Poem #3.
Friday, Feb.
14: Continue workshopping Poem
#3. Discuss Folly
by Norman
Minnick. Journal #3 (over Minnick) due in class. Also include THREE
QUESTIONS FOR THE POET!!! Start workshopping Poem #3, time permitting.
Week 7:
Monday, Feb.
17: Continue workshopping Poem
#3.
Wednesday,
Feb. 19: In class, perform an
imitation of Albert Goldbarth’s poem, “Library” (available at
http://poems.com/special_features/library.htm). Feel free to tinker with that
and submit it as your fourth poem. Otherwise, you can turn in something
different. Also, in class, we'll discuss "Marginalia" by Billy Collins
(http://www.billy-collins.com/2005/06/marginalia.html).
Friday, Feb.
21: Discuss three Billy Collins poems off the blog ("The First Dream," "Shoveling Snow with Buddha," and "The Names") under the "Discussion Questions" tab. Distribute copies of
Poem #4.
Week 8:
Monday, Feb.
24: In-class scansion lecture (or review, if we decide to cover this earlier). Discuss the midterm assignment. For
this, I want you take TWO of the poems you have already turned in for the
semester (preferably the original drafts, not revisions) and scan them, like
what I did in the scansion activity. Then, write a journal (two pages minimum)
analyzing YOUR style, strengths and weaknesses, any patterns you notice in
terms of your word/syllable usage, your aesthetic, etc.
Wednesday,
Feb. 26: No class! I’ll be out of town
for a reading/presentation at the AWP Conference.
Friday, Feb.
28: No class! I’ll be out of town for a
reading/presentation at the AWP Conference. On your own, start work on Poem #5 (another imitation OR your choice
of the Poetry Prompts). Please put the name of the poem you're imitating on the
copy, as well. On your own, start reading No Object by Natalie Shapero
and prepare your written response. Also, discussions have been a little light lately so make sure you're prepared for workshop! That's a big part of your grade (and a nice way to avoid awkward silences).
Week 9:
Monday, March
3: Continue workshopping Poem
#4.
Wednesday, March
5: Continue workshopping
Poem #4.
Friday,
March 7: Finish workshopping Poem
#4. Midterm exam due in class
(this should consist of the journal AND the actual scanned
poems).
Spring
Break: No class Monday, March 10, through Friday, March 14
Week 10:
Monday,
March 17: Discuss No Object. Journal #4 (over Shapero) due in class. Course withdrawal period ends. Distribute copies of Poem #5 (either an imitation or your choice). This time, we'll try small group workshops so you only have to bring about 10 copies.
Wednesday,
March 19: Class visit from Natalie Shapero! MEET IN RB 361 INSTEAD!
Friday,
March 21: Class visit from Norman Minnick. MEET IN RB 361 INSTEAD!
Week 11:
Monday,
March 24: Distribute copies of
Poem #6 (another imitation OR your choice of the Poetry Prompts). Read and
discuss some examples of Prose-Poems (available on the blog). On your own, make
sure you’ve read Strike Sparks by Sharon Olds and prepared your journal
response.
Wednesday,
March 26: Start workshopping
Poem #6. Discuss Strike Sparks by Sharon Olds.
Friday,
March 28: Journal #5 (over Olds)
due in class. Finish workshopping Poem #6. On your own, work on Poem #7
(a Prose-Poem).
Week 12:
Monday,
March 31: Distribute copies of Poem #7. Start workshop.
Wednesday, April 2: Start workshopping
Poem #7. On your own, work on Poem #8 (either one of the prompts off the
website or something of your choice; this will be our last one so really put
some effort into it!). Also, if you haven't already decided what you're going to cover in your class presentation, DO SO NOW!
As I said, presentations can be over pretty much any contemporary,
published poet (focusing specifically on one to three poems, 5-7 minutes) but I don't
want multiple presentations over the same thing so we will SIGN UP
FOR PRESENTATIONS on Friday.Friday, April 4: Continue workshopping Poem #7. SIGN UP FOR PRESENTATIONS.
Week 13:
Monday, April
7: Finish workshopping Poem
#7. Distribute copies of Poem #8.
Wednesday,
April 9: Watch "Howl" in class.
Friday,
April 11: Watch "Howl" in class.
Week 14:
Monday,
April 14: Discuss "Howl." Workshop Poem #8 on a voluntary basis.
Wednesday,
April 16: Continue workshopping Poem #8 on a voluntary basis.
Friday,
April 18: Catch up on any leftover poems, if necessary. Otherwise, optional in-class conferences.
Week 15:
Monday,
April 21: Presentations.
Wednesday,
April 23: Presentations.
Friday,
April 25: Presentations.
Week 16:
Monday,
April 28: Last day of regular class. Optional in-class conferences.
Finals:
Tuesday, April 29 through Friday, May 2.
Final Exam: Your portfolio is due IN MY OFFICE on Thursday, May 1st, at 2:15 PM.
Your portfolio should contain all 8 poems, revised. At least three of those should be MAJOR revisions (labeled as such)! I also need the originals (labeled as "original," or just include a marked up copy). For minor revisions, obviously, label them "minor revision." Put all this in a folder, a binder, a paper bag, or an unlocked treasure chest. Whatever. If you have any questions over what I consider a "major" revision, let me know!
PRESENTATIONS
*Remember, these are short (about 5-7 minutes) so we'll try and do about 6 per class. Sign up AND give the name of the poet on which you'll be presenting.
Monday, April 21:
1)Stephanie Hentz: Helen Frost
2)Zach Crosby: Tony Hoagland
3)Austin Bartlett: Norman Minnick
4) Tommy Lingeman: Shel Silverstein
5)Krissy McCracken: Natalie Shapero
6)
Wednesday, April 23:
1)Carolyn Winebar: Maya Angelou
2)Cassie Stockigt: Sylvia Plath
3)Kayzie Priebe: Maya Angelou
4)stephanie SPencer: Dorothea Lasky
5) Colin Noll: Ana Bozicevic
6)Ryan sexton - Derrick Brown
Friday, April 25:
1) Shayna Shelton: Adrian Matejka
2)Taylor Caldwell:Mary Karr
3)Tyler Hanford: Debra Bruce
4) Holly Hight: Sherman Alexie
5) Aly Ingermann: Robert Frost
6)
Your portfolio should contain all 8 poems, revised. At least three of those should be MAJOR revisions (labeled as such)! I also need the originals (labeled as "original," or just include a marked up copy). For minor revisions, obviously, label them "minor revision." Put all this in a folder, a binder, a paper bag, or an unlocked treasure chest. Whatever. If you have any questions over what I consider a "major" revision, let me know!
PRESENTATIONS
*Remember, these are short (about 5-7 minutes) so we'll try and do about 6 per class. Sign up AND give the name of the poet on which you'll be presenting.
Monday, April 21:
1)Stephanie Hentz: Helen Frost
2)Zach Crosby: Tony Hoagland
3)Austin Bartlett: Norman Minnick
4) Tommy Lingeman: Shel Silverstein
5)Krissy McCracken: Natalie Shapero
6)
Wednesday, April 23:
1)Carolyn Winebar: Maya Angelou
2)Cassie Stockigt: Sylvia Plath
3)Kayzie Priebe: Maya Angelou
4)stephanie SPencer: Dorothea Lasky
5) Colin Noll: Ana Bozicevic
6)Ryan sexton - Derrick Brown
Friday, April 25:
1) Shayna Shelton: Adrian Matejka
2)Taylor Caldwell:Mary Karr
3)Tyler Hanford: Debra Bruce
4) Holly Hight: Sherman Alexie
5) Aly Ingermann: Robert Frost
6)
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