ENG 287: Beginning Workshop Poetry

Instructor: Patricia Murphy

Course Description : ENG 287, ENG 387, and ENG 487 are a series of Writing Workshops that provide a solid foundation in writing poetry. ENG 287 offers an introduction to terms and literary techniques. ENG 387 adds to that foundation, providing an opportunity to practice the craft of writing. ENG 487 builds on that mastery of the craft and allows students to explore individual voice.

Course Learning Goals : This is an Introductory level writing course that will help you become familiar with major concepts of poetry such as titling, speakers, characters, setting, theme, tone, structure, imagery, figurative language, and musical devices. We will study those concepts to help us respond to and interpret writing. This semester you will write 10 new poems. Then you will revise 5 of those poems and reflect on your writing process in a final portfolio due at the end of the course.

Required Text : I have had trouble getting all the bookstores to carry our book. Please call ahead to see if the bookstore nearest you carries it: Tempe: 480-965-3191, West: 602-543-6800, Poly: 480-727-1168, Downtown: 602-496-0347. If you are unable to locate the book at the closest campus, you should contact one of the other bookstores and have it transferred to your location. You can also order the book online.

Boisseau, Michelle, Robert Wallace, and Randall Mann. Writing Poems. 7th ed. Pearson: New York, 2008.
ISBN 978-0-321-47406-3

Writing Workshops : This course is a workshop where students turn in writing and receive constructive criticism from other students and the professor. Students then use that feedback to revise their work for a portfolio. The true purpose of The Writing Workshop is to gather with a community of writers to receive input on your work so that you may revise it and polish it for an audience. Therefore, do not submit work that you do not wish to revise or that you already feel is completed and you don't want to change. Instead, bring in the work you would like to discuss and improve. By doing so, you will benefit greatly from this community of friendly, interested writers. The Writing Workshop exists to give you feedback. You must enter the Workshop willing to listen to the advice, praise, criticism, and the suggestions of the other writers. It is a true privilege to have a group of people who are willing to give you such feedback. Many writers pay thousands of dollars for such a service. So please respect and enjoy this Writer's Workshop, and take as much as you can from each of the careful readers who will respond to your work.

Grading : Each time you have an assignment I update the grades in a Google Docs spreadsheet organized with your posting ID. Your Posting ID is a seven-digit number composed of the last four digits of your ASU ID number plus the last three digits of your Campus ID number, separated by a hyphen. Final grades are available after the end of the semester at my.asu.edu. I do not email final grades to individual students. Final grades will be based on the following scale.

Required Work : This course requires you to not only practice your writing, but also to practice your reading and revising as well. Your grade is based on 4 types of work: Reading, Writing, Workshop, and Portfolio.

Reading and Writing are due on Tuesdays. Workshops are due on Thursdays. The Portfolio is due at the end of the semester. Please see the schedule for exact dates and assignments.

Reading - Worth 20% of your grade. For 10 weeks you will be assigned a chapter or two of reading. You will compose a response to the reading and post it in the Reading Discussion Board. To receive credit your response must:

• meet the word-length requirement of 500 words
• use short quotes to support your response
• provide analysis (using literary terms) rather than summary (retelling)

Writing - Worth 20% of your grade. For 10 weeks you will be given an assignment to write a poem. It is very important to turn your writing in on time so that peers have time to respond. To receive credit your response must:

• be posted on time
• show a thoughtful response to the writing assignment

Workshop - Worth 30% of your grade. You will prepare written workshop responses for all of the people in your group. You will post all of your comments in one post in the Workshop forum in BB. To receive credit your response must:

• meet the word-length requirement of 500 words per post
• use short quotes to support your response
• provide analysis (using literary terms) rather than summary (retelling)
• offer suggestions for revision

Reading, Writing, & Workshop are graded out of 10 total posts.

Portfolio - Worth 30% of your grade. Revision is an imperative step for even the most experienced and skilled writers. Revision is especially important for student writers, since successful revisions show mastery of literary terms and techniques. For the Portfolio you will revise work you have turned in throughout the semester. Grades for the Portfolio are based on the quality of your revisions and your ability to describe why you made the changes you did based on literary skills. Please see the "Portfolio" button in Blackboard for complete instructions.

Office Hours: I teach all online and hold face to face office hours by appointment only. I am readily available through email at pcm@asu.edu 

Required Software : All students must have access to Microsoft Word. If you don't have it at home you can access it through myapps.asu.edu

Attendance : This class meets completely online. This course is not self-paced. There are set due dates. Work submitted after the due dates will not receive credit. Each missed assignment will result in an absence, and each absence will negatively affect your grade. If you miss more than 4 class assignments you will automatically fail the course. THERE ARE NO EXCUSED ABSENCES, even for emergencies or school activities.

Protecting Work: While there are many benefits that come with using technology to conduct the course, there can also be drawbacks such as system outages, hardware and software failures, and inexperience with systems. Technology failures are NOT an excuse for late or missing work. I do not expect you to be an expert with technology, but I do expect you to observe some common sense practices. I also recommend that if you are new to online courses or if you are unfamiliar with the software I suggest you view the online tutorials available through asuonline.

Late Work : Other students depend on you to post your work on time, and we often cannot proceed until all the work is complete. For that reason, the policies on late work are very strict. Late work will not receive credit unless you email me in advance of the deadline.

Plagiarism : To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not exclusively your own. Plagiarism of all or a portion of any assignment will be strictly penalized. Penalties can range from no credit for the assignment to failing the course. Repeated offenses can lead to your expulsion from the university.

Online Environment : You will need to pay attention to a few details in order for your work to be counted. For example, when you post your work online, you have to ensure that it shows up and we can access it or else you won't get credit. Get in the habit of checking your work to make sure it shows up as you intended. Also, be aware of how the things you're posting in online discussions come across--it's easy for something you meant humorously to be taken seriously in an online environment, so be careful. Above all, be kind towards and respectful of your fellow students. Any material that is viewed as obscene or profane will be removed from the board and you will not receive credit. Consider the class to be an academic audience.

The Public Nature of Writing and Confidentiality Issues : Part of becoming a good writer is learning to appreciate the ideas and criticisms of others, and in this course our purpose is to come together as a community of writers. Remember that this is a workshop, and you will be getting feedback from others. Avoid writing about things you may not be prepared to subject to public scrutiny or that you feel so strongly about that you are unable or unwilling to listen to perspectives other than your own.

Incomplete Grades : I do not offer incomplete grades.

Academic Integrity : All students are expected to abide by ASU's policy on academic integrity. Not doing so could result in failure in the course.

Accommodations for Disabilities : ADA Statement The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal antidiscrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. One element of this legislation requires that all qualified students with documented disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation please contact the Disability Resource Center at ASU Polytechnic located in Student Affairs Quad # 4 or call 480-727-1039 / TTY: 480-727-1009.  Eligibility and documentation policies online: http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/ed/drc/

Student Support Services
Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/services/

The Writing Center at the Polytechnic Campus: The Polytechnic Writing Center offers tutoring services to all students on any sort of writing project. Writing tutors can help with any stage of the writing process, including choosing a topic, brainstorming, clarifying a thesis, organization of ideas or paragraphs, grammar, citation styles, and more. The Center is located in the Academic Center Building on the Lower Level and will be open for the Fall 2008 semester beginning Tuesday, September 2. Tutors' availability will be posted on our website at http://studentsuccess.asu.edu/polytechnic/writingschedule . Although walk-ins are accepted, it is strongly recommended that you make an appointment. Please call (480) 727-1452 to schedule an appointment. Online tutoring is also available if you cannot come in. Visit the Writing Center 's website (http://studentsuccess.asu.edu/polytechnic /writing ) for more information.

ASU Libraries - offers 24/7 access to librarians through "Ask a Librarian" online chat and help by librarians in person at the Reference Desk during most hours the libraries are open. www.asu.edu/lib/ Polytechnic campus link: http://library.poly.asu.edu/

Counseling and Consultation – provides confidential mental health and career counseling services for all ASU students. http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/counseling/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/counseling/

Learning Resource Center – provides students with academic support services such as tutoring, peer advising, computer assisted instruction, and supplemental instruction. The LRC offers both free and fee-based services. www.asu.edu/vpsa/lrc/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/learningcenter/

Writing Center – provides on-site tutors to help students increase their confidence as writers and improve writing skills free of charge. www.asu.edu/duas/wcenter/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/learningcenter/WritingServices.htm

Career Services – offers assistance to students in choosing a major, setting career goals, interviewing and job hunting strategies. http://career.asu.edu/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/career/

Student Financial Aid Office – offers information and applications for student funding such as grants, loans, scholarships and student employment. www.asu.edu/fa/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.asu.edu/fa/ (same as general ASU site)

Student Health and Wellness Center – provides non-emergency medical health care to all ASU students regardless of insurance status. Most visits with a physician or nurse practitioner are free of charge, but fees will be incurred for x-rays, lab results, etc., www.asu.edu/health/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/students/health/

Student Recreational Center – offers individual and group fitness opportunities, as well as information on nutrition and wellness, and massages. Use of the general facilities (weights, circuit training and cardio machines) are free, other services (yoga classes, massages) are fee-based. www.asu.edu/src/ Polytechnic campus site: http://www.poly.asu.edu/pac/

Student Legal Assistance – provides legal advice and counsel free of charge to all ASU students in areas such as landlord-tenant law, credit reports and collection issues, taxability of scholarships and grants, etc. Notary service is also available at no charge. http://www.asu.edu/mu/legal/

EMPACT Crisis Hotline – offers free 24-hour support for mental health crises. Call (480) 784-1500 in the Phoenix area, (866) 205-5229 for the toll-free number outside of Phoenix , and (480) 736-4949 for the sexual assault hotline. All services are free and confidential. http://www.empact-spc.com/