ENGLISH 283A: BEGINNING VERSE WRITING
Winter, 2024 Savery 136, MW 2:30-3:50,
Professor Feld
Office Hours: M-W 1-2:00 and by appointment
Office: Padelford B432, Office phone: 543-7899
email: aefeld@uw.edu
This class will start with an intensive study of the traditional elements of the craft of poetry: meter, line, stanza, form, the poetic conceit, metaphor, etc. We will then move on to study the elements of the craft of free verse, which we’ll find isn’t as free as one might think. This class will also progress in historical time: we’ll start working with some of the earliest English poetic forms and continue on to a study of contemporary poetry.
Required Texts:
A folder, writing paper and pen or pencils. Bring these to class every day.
Course Packets, to be distributed by the Professor. All course packets will be distributed in advance. On the days when days when course packets are listed in bold on the course schedule you will come to class having read all the poems in the packet.
One book of contemporary poetry either from the long list of contemporary poetry books, or from a book of contemporary poetry approved by the Professor. Most of these titles can be found in the UW libraries. Others may need to be purchased.
GRADING:
40% of your final grade will be based the final drafts of the persona poem, the ballad, the list/catalogue poem and the sonnet (10% each). You will receive a “final” grade for each poem handed in on its due date when I return the poem to you, with comments. Should you choose to revise the poem for your portfolio, due on Monday, March 12, the earlier grade will be replaced by the grade given to the poem in the portfolio.
10% of your final grade will be based on the free verse form explanations accompanying your persona poem and list/catalogue poem (5% each).
20% of your final grade will be based on the imitation Poem: 10% for the poem and 10% for the short (1-2 page, double spaced) essay accompanying the poem. For your imitation poem you will write three paragraphs describing/ explaining the craft elements of the source poem or poems which you are imitating and using in your own poem. As with the persona poem, the ballad, the list/catalogue poem and the sonnet, the final draft can be the poem (and paper) handed in on its due date, or a revised version for the portfolio.
10% of your final grade will be for the rough drafts of the ballad and sonnet: (5% each). Drafts will not be graded: you will receive the grade for bringing four printed copies to the class. Because these poems will be workshopped in class, in small groups, hand-written copies will not count. Because the revision process is a vital part of the work and play of writing a poem, the “final” (graded) versions of these three poems will not be accepted without having previously turned in, on time, the earlier rough draft.
15% of your final grade will be for the three in-class exercises: the lineation exercise, the topical ballad, and the homophonic sonnet (5% each). These will not be graded.
5% of your final grade will be based on class participation: showing up on time, with notebook and pen, prepared, having read the poems up for that day in advance and ready to discuss them, cell phones off and stowed away.
All final drafts of poems are due on Sundays, by noon, on the class Canvas.
SafeCampus is the central reporting office if you are concerned for yourself or a friend. We have trained specialists who will take your call, connect you with resources, and put safety measures in place to reduce the chances of violence occurring. We are available 24/7. Call 206 685-7233, email safecampus@uw.edu./safecampus. In urgent situations call 911.
PRIVACY/PLAGARISM NOTICE:
Poems turned into the workshop must never include or address any of your fellow workshop participants (including the professor), or comment on the nature of the assignment. As in all task-oriented communities, workshop members must respect the privacy of their fellow participants and the seriousness of the work at hand. ANY POEM THAT VIOLATES THIS RULE WILL RECEIVE A GRADE OF ZERO FOR THE ASSIGNMENT. You have the entire world to write about, except for what happens in this classroom.
Any student found to have plagiarized any piece of writing in this class will be immediately reported to the College of Arts and Sciences for review.
Covid Policy: if you are feeling at all sick, do not come to class. I cannot stress this strongly enough. If you contact me in advance (no later than an hour before class starts, meaning 1:30 at the latest) I can Zoom you into the class, which will allow you to observe, if not participate, in that day’s workshop, reading, etc.
CLASS SCHEDULE:
Week 1: Wed. January 3:
Wednesday: Class introduction: Syllabus, Poem #1, Persona Poem.
Week 2: MW January 8-10
Monday: In-class exercise #1, lineation, pattern/variation.
Wednesday: Poem #2, The Ballad, introduction to meter.
Sunday, 01/14: Poem #1, Persona Poem, due by noon on class Canvas
Week 3: Wed January 17
Monday: NO CLASS, MLK DAY
Wednesday: In-class exercise #2, topical ballads.
Week 4: MW January 22-24
Monday: persona poems read.
Wednesday: rough draft of ballad due: bring four printed copies to class.
Sunday, 01/28: Poem #2, The Ballad, due by noon.
Week 5: MW January 29-31
Monday: Poem #3, List/Catalogue Poem
Wednesday: Ballads read.
Week 6: MW February 5-7
Monday: Poem #4: The Sonnet.
Wednesday: In-class exercise #3: homophonic sonnet.
Sunday 02/11: Poem #3, List/Catalogue Poem, due by noon.
Week 7: MW February 12-14: Conferences
Monday: Poem #5, Imitation Poem
Wednesday: list poems workshopped.
Week 8: Wed, February 21: Conferences
Monday: NO CLASS: PRESIDENT’S DAY
Wednesday: rough draft of sonnet due: bring four printed copies to class.
Sunday, 02/25: Poem #4, The Sonnet, due by noon.
Week 9: MW February 26-28
Monday: workshop: list poems and sonnets.
Wednesday: workshop, sonnets
Sunday, 03/03: Poem #5, Imitation Poem, and Three Devices paragraphs, due by noon.
Week 10: March 4-6
Monday: imitation poems read.
Wednesday: Last Class. imitation poems, continued.
Monday 03/12/2023: Portfolios Due, by 5pm