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Forms of Poetry
Writing 3325 / Fall 2004
Instructor: Terry Wright
Office: Thompson 316
Office Phone: 450-5108
Email: terryw@uca.edu
Web Page: http://faculty.uca.edu/~terryw/
Office Hours:
Monday: 11:00-12:00
Wednesday: 11:00-12:00
Friday: 11:00-12:00
Other times are available by appointment.
Course Description:
Using a fine arts model, this is a studio-designed, workshop-based course
in examining the various forms of poetry. The literary art of poetry will
be explored with an emphasis upon the study of prosody and metrics, as well
as the diversity traditional and contemporary poetic forms. Other topics will
include the interrelationship of poetic freedom and poetic form and the uses
of enabling poetic constraints -- like the sonnet, the sestina, the renga,
the blues, the chance and random systems pioneered by the surrealist movement,
and contemporary movements in poetry (the language school, the new formalists,
performance poetry, digital innovations, and so on). We will examine why certain
forms are popular at certain times, what these forms enable the poet and the
reader to do, how poets adopt or change the forms they inherit, and how their
uses and transformations of these forms both reflect, construct, and subvert
their cultural and social identities.
Texts and Materials:
You will need to purchase one book: An Exaltation of Forms, edited
by Annie Finch and Katherine Varnes (University of Michigan Press, 2002).
Other assignments will be in the form of hand-outs. You will also need a spiral-bound
notebook (or laptop), a pocket folder, and access to a computer or typewriter.
Course Format:
Class is both a discussion forum and a process workshop. Some classes will
be open discussions about the forms and concepts being examined on a given
day. Other classes will be workshops. At various times throughout the semester,
I will ask you to submit drafts of original poetry. These poems will be exercises
in the various poetic forms we have studied. Worksheets for the class will
be distributed via email. This kills fewer trees and makes the Writing and
Speech Department's copy budget more manageable. You are responsible for printing
each worksheet and bringing it to class. If your submission cannot be reproduced
in email or Microsoft Word, then give me a hard copy to reproduce for the
class. I will try to reproduce several copies of each worksheet for "emergencies."
I will establish an email list for the class to keep you abreast of submissions
and other class activities. I will set up a threaded discussion forum and/or
chat room for the class, if there is any interest in using such an online
forum. Always bring your notebook to class; you never know when I'll be spontaneously
moved to just write. Several films/audio tapes may be used, and some web sites
will likely be explored.
Course Policies:
It is important that you understand you will receive a grade for the class--and
not strictly for your work. This is a critical distinction. 50% of your final
grade will be determined by the creative work you submit at the end of the
semester. Your final project will be to put together a roughly 10- page portfolio
of original work. The remaining 50% of your grade will be determined by a
response paper and by your actively being a contributing member of the workshop
and class discussions.
Other Expectations and Qualifiers:
* Obviously, your regular attendance and critical feedback are crucial for
a healthy and successful workshop. Every class you miss deprives other writers
of your insights, observations, revisions, and suggestions. Feedback to writers
can take different forms. If you are comfortable speaking out in class, you
can use discussion as a way to provide constructive criticism. If you prefer
not to talk in class, you can provide writers with written (including email)
or taped comments. Of course, combinations can be used, too. The main point
here is that you must react in some fashion to the work of other workshop
members, and you must provide some samples of your own work for group discussion.
Your final portfolio and active class/workshop participation are non-negotiable
matters, and both criteria must be met in order to receive a passing grade
in the course. You could be a budding literary giant, a Shakespeare in the
making, but if you are slack in meeting the outlined criteria, you will probably
receive an unsatisfactory grade for the course. I will very likely give you
an X grade at mid-term, but I will also schedule a conference with you around
that time to discuss your progress and standing in the course. Please feel
free to come by my office at any point in the semester to confer about any
aspect of the course.
* I expect you to be kind, tolerant, helpful, and understanding to others
in the workshop. The Golden Rule of Creative Writing (Critique unto others
as you would have them critique unto you) rules here. However, I also expect
you to be candid, honest, and constructively critical. No one enjoys having
his or her soul stomped on, but I also suspect most of you would welcome some
straight-forward and close scrutiny of your work that goes beyond the familial "that's-nice-dear-but-what-does-it-mean" school. Ideally, a workshop
should strive for a "help but do no harm" balance.
* You may work in mixed media, if you wish. That is, parts of your final poetry
project can be combined with other art forms and disciplines. These might
include visual art, music, dance, video, web design, comics, and other forms.
* I expect you to attend class on a regular basis - especially since part
of your grade depends on you being an actively engaged member of our community.
* As a parent, I understand the constraints and pressures on working, student
parents. You may bring children to class as long as they are not disruptive
- and as long as you understand the material being discussed on a given day
could contain adult themes.
* Do not bring pets to class.
* I expect polite class decorum. Please refrain from talking or other noticeable
distractions. Please turn off cell phones, pagers, and other electronic devices.
Inclement Weather Policy: It is the policy of the University of Central Arkansas to usually not close because of bad weather. However, if getting to class involves a reasonable risk of personal injury or damage to property, you should use your own discretion about the feasibility of attending classes under such conditions. I commute to class and have a child in public school; therefore, if the public schools close and the roads are not passable, you can generally assume that I will not be having class.
Sexual Harassment Policy: Sexual harassment by any faculty member, staff member, or student is a violation of both law and University policy and will not be tolerated. Please read pages 41-43 of your Student Handbook for the policy, definition, and procedures concerning sexual harassment.
Disability Policy: The University of Central Arkansas adheres to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you need an accommodation under this Act due to a disability, contact the Office of Disability Support Services at 450-3135.
Other Policies: You should familiarize yourself with all academic policies in your Student Handbook, including policies on plagiarism/academic dishonesty.
Special Problems: If, during any point of the semester, you find that personal problems are keeping you from completing your course work, you may find it beneficial to visit the counseling center. All students are entitled to free, confidential, professional counseling. Contact the University Counseling Center (Bernard Hall 313) at 450-3138.
An online copy of this course description can also be viewed on my web site. In fact, you are reading it right now.
