Intermediate Poetry (POE 200)

Description

An intermediate-level course designed for students of all ages who already have demonstrated experience with the practices of reading and writing about literature. This twelve-week class emphasizes actively reading and writing about poems of varying lengths. The texts of the course vary according to previous experience and goals but may represent lyric and narrative poetry, epic poetry, dramatic monologue, as well as a variety of formal and occasional poems. The class may be repeated with different texts until the student and teacher feel the established goals have been achieved. Pre-requisite: LIT 100 or permission of instructor.

Objectives

Specific needs of the individual students notwithstanding, all intermediate-level students will:

Understand the concept of genre and learn to recognize the structure and conventions of lyric and narrative poetry, epic poetry, dramatic monologue, as well as formal and occasional poetry.

Learn and recognize various literary terms, poetic forms, rhetorical devices, and figures.
Vocabulary list sent upon registration.

Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of prosody and scansion.

Discuss a text thoughtfully and comprehensively—either in speech or writing—applying many kinds of knowledge.

Analyze individual texts and compare texts.

Write a thesis-driven essay about a literary text or texts, using specific examples in the form of properly integrated quotations and using correct MLA citation style.

Methodology

Because the course focuses on reading and emphasizes thinking, writing, and (to an extent) speaking about literature, the class focuses on a variety of texts, and will include both written and verbal (by telephone, if not in person) exchanges of assignments and information.

The course may be built around a particular theme, concepts of genre, or approaches to reading. The reading list may include a range of texts from different time periods and cultures. A book list will be sent upon registration and may include:

a text about reading poetry
a text about writing about poetry
a text about critical approaches to poetry
a guide to critical terms
a writing handbook.

While every effort will be made to keep individual or groups of students studying the same material at the same pace, individual courses may include a literary anthology, separate texts, or some combination of an anthology and separate texts.

Depending on goals or themes, the syllabus may also include films or non-fiction essays.

Students should have access to a style handbook and dictionary, though these are not usually required as texts. The instructor will make resource suggestions as required.

Evaluation

In order to assess the retention of skills and knowledge, the course will include at least one test and a final exam. Exams will focus not just on the specific course texts but also on the ability to remember and apply the skills and concepts learned. The format of the test will be presented in advance.

In order to assess ability to write about literature using a range of skills, there will be at least two formal papers, a few pages each. Papers will be evaluated both for the quality of the ideas and the quality of the writing. Papers may be revised after initial instructor evaluation.

Typically the course will also include evaluation of one or more other forms of work. This may include reading responses, journals, spontaneous writing, exercises, and reports on community literary events.