Poetry Writing Syllabus May – June 2010

Poetry Writing Workshop

Jane Belton

Syllabus May – June 2010

Monday 5/24

In Class: Exercise 12 due. Workshop Day II

Assignment: Work on revising your poem according to feedback. Read remainder of poems to be workshopped. Prepare materials for Portfolio II (see checklist).

Tuesday 5/25

In Class: Workshop Day III

Assignment: Revise your writing for portfolio II according to feedback. Prepare materials for Portfolio II (see checklist)

*For first five minutes of class on Wednesday: Bring in a song/poem you want to share with the class to inspire our private writing (Hannah)

Wednesday 5/26

In Class: Workshop Day IV, if necessary; work period for Portfolio II.

Thursday 5/27 – Friday Schedule

In Class: Portfolio II due. Discuss final portfolio and checklist.

Assignment: Complete Focused Freewrite # 7: Part I: Examine closely the outside poetry collection you’ve chosen for the trimester.  What do you notice about how the book of poetry is organized? Are there clearly defined sections (defined by the poet with section titles, for instance)? What are the arcs, transitions, movements, shifts within the collection as a whole?  Is there a clear journey the collection follows, a clear story it tells (a beginning, middle, and end), a clear “thread”? Part II: Now, look back at all of your own writing this trimester. What do you want to showcase in your final portfolio.  What kinds of poems and range do you want to highlight? How might you organize this work? What journey/story/thread do you want your reader to take or follow in reading your final “collection” of poems? How do you want your final portfolio to begin and end? What additional poems do you need to write now to fit into this final portfolio collection and help complete this “journey”? Then: Write at least one of those additional poems for Tuesday 6/1.

Friday 5/28 – No Class

Monday 5/31 – No Class

Tuesday 6/1

In Class: Freewrite 7 due. Guest poet visits.

Assignment: Work on organizing and revising work for Portfolio III. Work on introduction to your final portfolio (see checklist for details).

Wednesday 6/2

In Class: TBD

Assignment: Complete Portfolio III. Prepare to read a selection of your work (5-7 minutes) at our scheduled exam time.

Thursday 6/3 — No Class

Friday 6/4 – Reading Day

Monday 6/7 — Wednesday 6/9: Exams

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