Course Syllabus

Course: ENGL 2270

Division: Humanities
Department: English & Philosophy
Title: Writing Poetry

Semester Approved: Summer 2019
Five-Year Review Semester: Summer 2024
End Semester: Spring 2025

Catalog Description: This course is an introduction to the writing of poetry. Students read and discuss exemplary models and compose a variety of projects of their own. Students study a range of poetic techniques such as imagery, metaphor, form, lines, and other techniques associated with poetry. It is recommended that students take ENGL 2250, Introduction to Creative Writing, before taking ENGL 2270. This course was formerly ENGL 2250.

Semesters Offered: TBA
Credit/Time Requirement: Credit: 3; Lecture: 3; Lab: 0

Justification: Creative writing is an extremely popular course for both majors and non-majors. ENGL 2250 will offer students an introduction to the craft of creative writing in multiple genres and will offer GE credit. ENGL 2270 complements that class by offering students a chance to delve deeper in how to write poetry.

This course is most like SUU's ENGL 2320 (Creative Writing in the Genres) and Weber's ENGL 2270 (Introduction to Writing Poetry). Students who succeed in ENGL 2250 commonly submit work to Weeds and/or join the editorial staff of Weeds. This experience can lead to similar work at senior institutions and be a gateway to graduate work, internships, and employment.



Student Learning Outcomes:
Students will understand the poetic techniques of figurative language, form, diction, and others in the context of the poetry of others.  Students will demonstrate their learning through written and verbal discussions of poetry assigned as course readings.

Students will understand the poetic techniques of figurative language, form, diction, and others in the context of their own writing.  Students will demonstrate their learning through their creative work, responses to peer comments, and reflection assignments.

Students will participate successfully in a classroom discussion of student writing, commonly known as a "workshop."  Students will demonstrate this by participating actively, knowledgeably, constructively, and politely in workshops.


Content:
The typical section of ENGL 2270 focuses on poetry and addresses imagery, metaphor, figurative language, form, lines, stanzas, and various mechanical issues. Students read a variety of published poetry and compose 8-15 complete poems along with a variety of drafts, journals, and analyses. The course is conducted as a series of lecture-discussions mixed with "workshops"--i.e. group analyses of student work.

Key Performance Indicators:
8-15 poems in addition to a variety of drafts, journal entries, and analyses of  50 to 60%

Online and/or class discussions  10 to 15%

Workshop participation 20 to 30%

Reflection activities 10 to 15%


Representative Text and/or Supplies:
Instructor's choice of poems and/or chapbooks, books, or anthologies.


Pedagogy Statement:
ENGL 2270 will be taught primarily as a workshop with students receiving and giving feedback to one another. The instructor will also give detailed feedback on creative writing assignments.

Instructional Mediums:
Lecture

Maximum Class Size: 15
Optimum Class Size: 15