English: Writing Poetry

This upper-level course for poets of proven ability employs a seminar/workshop format, with most classroom time devoted to manuscript discussion. May be repeated once for credit. Prerequisites: ENGL 1027, ENGL 1700, ENGL 1702, ENGL 1705, ENGL 1730, or ENGL 1740; minimum Sophomore standing.

Prereqs enforced by the system: ENGL 1700 or 1702 or 1705 or ENGL 1730 or ENGL 1740; Minimum Sophomore standing PACE students by permission and override

The chief aim of this course is to develop students’ fluency in both reading and writing verse. Since such literacy depends on students’ ability to recognize and manipulate the idioms of contemporary poetry, a crucial component of our task is to read, and analyze, a broad range of verse currently being produced in the US and across the world. Strong writers must first be deep readers. The first third of the semester will be devoted to developing fundamentals such as word, line, rhythm, forms. The course will then move thematically, exploring different traditions of 20th and 21st century American poetry. Topics may include but are not limited to: exile, documentary poetics, Black formalism, Indigeneity, prose poetry, the post-confessional, ecopoetics, experimental poetry. Structurally, the class will coalesce around seminar discussions, exercises, and workshop sessions, which will become more frequent as the semester progresses.

Students will turn in: poems or revisions weekly, responses biweekly, and a final portfolio. At least one individual conference is required; more are encouraged.