Instructor: Jennifer Whitaker / Office: 3313 MHRA / Mailbox: 3114 MHRA

ENG 106-07

Introduction to Poetry

Spring 2011 / TR 8-9:30 a.m. / MHRA 2211

Phone: 336.256.0483 / Email:

Office Hours: TR 11-12 (in person and IM), & by appointment

Course Description

In this introductory, yet intensive, course, we will embark on a study of poetry—first through careful analysis of individual poems coupled with lectures and readings on specific poetic elements, then using these skills in the analysis of a whole collection of poetry by a single author. We will use informal, semi-formal and formal writing throughout the course to collect our ideas, to focus our discussions, to engage with poems and collections of poetry, to understand poetic concepts and to see the way a poem’s structure informs its meaning. What fun!

Texts

All three texts are required for this class and may be purchased at the campus bookstore and online. Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online frequently offer discounted rates on their books, so it may be worthwhile to check there or other online booksellers. The exception is the Greensboro Review, which must be bought from the MFA office (info below). Get these books however you wish (short of committing a crime, etc); however, the day we will begin discussing each book is listed on the syllabus, and there is no excuse for not having your book and having read for all class discussions.

The Norton Introduction to Poetry, 9th edition. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. W. W. Norton (publisher). ISBN: 0-393-92857-8 (CD not needed)

Colosseum, by Katie Ford. Graywolf (publisher). ISBN: 978-1555975012

Copperhead, by Rachel Richardson. Carnegie-Mellon UP (publisher). Available for purchase in February. (info soon)

Student Learning Goals

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Identify and demonstrate understanding of varied characteristics of poetry

2. Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts

3. Use the study of poetry to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing

4. Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted

Attendance Policy

Because this is a discussion-based course, you have to be here in order to do well. You are allowed two (2) absences for whatever reason. After that, your grade will drop half a letter grade for each additional unexcused absence.

Upon the fifth (5th) unexcused absence, you will receive a failing grade for the class.

To have an absence excused, you need to talk with me either ahead of the absence or the day you return to class to see if it can be excused. (Documentation—a doctor’s note, court documentation, etc.—may be needed.)

If you miss class or have a question about an assignment for the next class, check Blackboard to see what is due, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions. “I wasn’t here last time” is not an excuse for not having your work done; it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and to turn work in when it is due.

Obviously, excessive tardiness will negatively affect your participation grade, as will leaving class early. Please arrive on time, stay for the entire class, and be ready to participate in discussions.

Class participation

Class participation is defined as not only being present in class, but also being alert, actively participating in discussion, and being prepared with all the day’s course material. In other words, if a person consistently sleeps through class or neglects bringing the required texts, it will reflect quite poorly in that person’s class participation grade. Plus, it will send a clear message to me that the person doesn’t care about his/her work in the class, and that’s bound to put me in a bad mood. Trust me—your thoughts are what make this class interesting.

Occasionally, there will be readings posted on Blackboard, and thus it is crucial that you have an active Novell account and print out/read (and be familiar with) the handouts before the class period in which they are to be discussed. I will let you know when these materials are posted on Blackboard, but it’s always a good idea to check your 106 Blackboard account frequently.

Lectures and Readings

Lectures will not be merely an overview of the assigned readings. It is important that you come to class prepared, and a thorough understanding of the readings on the day assigned will be pivotal to your success in the class. If you miss a class, be sure to catch up on the material covered in lecture through a trustworthy classmate or a meeting with me.

Late Assignment Policy

Late assignments will lose half a letter grade for each day they are late, to a maximum of six days, after which a grade of 0 will be received. Weekends count. No late papers will be accepted for the final exam.

Grade Composition

Weekly Responses:25%

Midterm Exam:25%

Final Exam:30%

Class participation: 20%__

Total:100%

You should check your UNCG email account regularly in case there are any last-minute announcements or disruptions to the schedule. I will respond to emails within 24 hours.

Academic Integrity Policy

You are expected to abide by the terms of the student code of academic conduct, available in your undergraduate bulletin or online at http://studentconduct.uncg.edu. I urge you all to examine this material, and consult me with any questions you may have about plagiarism and academic integrity before it becomes an issue.

Ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is not an acceptable excuse for plagiarism. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in an automatic failing grade for the assignment. The moment you feel yourself tempted to cheat, for any reason whatsoever, please, come see me or email me instead. We’ll also discuss this in great detail in class.

Student Counseling Center

If you have difficulty meeting the demands of this or any class because of personal or family problems, anxiety, or any other emotional distress, please contact the Student Counseling and Testing Center: (336) 334-5874. http://studenthealth.uncg.edu/ctc/.

Special Needs

If you have special needs, please let me know and contact the Office of Disability Services—334.5440.

The University Writing Center and Online Writing Center are available for all students at any point in the writing process. They’re quite nice and friendly, so take advantage of this free service. The Writing Center lets professors know when a student visits, and I will take note of your extra effort. The Writing Center is located in 3211 MHRA, and is open Monday, 2 February through Reading Day. Normal hours are Monday through Thursday, 9am-8pm; Fridays, 9am-3pm; and Sunday evenings, 5-8pm. For more information, talk to me, call the Center at 334-3125, or visit the website: www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter.

Major Assignments

Weekly Responses—Each week you’ll turn in a response (at least one typed, double-spaced page) on an assigned question or topic germane to the week’s focus. These responses will allow you to engage with and interrogate the elements of craft or subject at hand, and will ask you to respond in a cogent and thoughtful way, and to pull your thoughts together prior to in-class discussion. The topic and due date will be assigned in class, and the response is due to me through Blackboard’s digital dropbox by 8am on the due date. (SLO 1,2,4; LG 1)

Midterm— The midterm exam will ask you to respond in short-answer and short-essay format. The emphasis of the essay will be on synthesizing ideas rather than on regurgitation. More details to follow. (SLO 1, 2, 3, 4; LG 1)

Final—The final exam will be a take-home exam and will take the form of two essays. You will have topics from which to choose, and you will have approximately four week to work on the exam, during which time you may visit the Writing Center for feedback to help you do your best. (SLO 1,2,3,4; LG 1, 3)

Welcome to the class!

Class Schedule

This schedule is a general idea (subject to change) of where we will be during the semester and is subject to change. Note that the day on which the assignment is listed is the day the reading will be discussed.

Week 1: What Poetry is and How to Read It

TJanuary 11Welcome to class

Introduction: Syllabus

RJanuary 13Discussion: What is Poetry?; Hunter—“Reading, Responding, Writing” (pp. 1-16)

Week 2: Don’t Use That Tone With Me!

TJanuary 18 Hunter—Ch. 1 (Tone) and Ch. 2 (Speaker)

(pp. 27-37; pp. 68-92)

RJanuary 20Word Choice: Hunter—Ch. 4 (pp. 129-143)

Week 3: Word Choice! Imagery!

TJanuary 25Imagery: Hunter—Ch. 4 (pp. 153-172)

RJanuary 27Hunter—Ch. 4 (pp. 183-198)

Week 4: Symbols and That Thing Called Symbolism

TFebruary 1Handout

RFebruary 3Lyric and Song: Hunter—Ch. 5 (pp. 219-230)

Week 5: Song and Sound

TFebruary 8Lyric and Song cont’d.

RFebruary 10Sound and Music: Hunter—Ch. 5 (pp. 199-212)

Week 6: Rhythm: Where’s the Beat?

TFebruary 15Rhythm handout—in-class

RFebruary 17Class canceled; instructor at academic conference

Week 7: Form: Where structure meets function?—or a bunch of antiquated ideas?

TFebruary 22Internal structure: Hunter (pp. 231-242)

RFebruary 24 Stanza: Hunter—Ch. 7 (pp. 274-289)

Week 8: More Form!

TMarch 1 External form: Hunter—Ch. 7 (pp. 255-261)

RMarch 3Midterm Exam (in class)

Week 9: Free Verse—Breaking the Chains of Form—Or Is It?

TMarch 8Spring Break!

RMarch 10Still Springing!

Week 10: But Is It Poetry? More on Free Verse

TMarch 15The Whole Poem!: Hunter (pp. 290-301)

RMarch 17Free verse packet; assign final exam

Week 11: Tackling the Whole Collection!

TMarch 22Colosseum

RMarch 24Colosseum

Week 12

TMarch 29Colosseum

RMarch 31Colosseum

Week 13: Pulling It Together: How Collections are Built

TApril 5Copperhead

RApril 7 Copperhead

Week 14

TApril 12Copperhead

RApril 14Copperhead

Week 15: Finishing Up

MApril 19Colosseum/Copperhead

WApril 21Last Day of Classes; final exams due