ENG 310: Intermediate Creative Writing, Poetry Policies
Instructor: Patricia Murphy
Course Description : ENG 210, ENG 310, and ENG 411 are a series of Writing Workshops that provide a solid foundation in a single genre: either poetry or fiction. ENG 210 offers an introduction to terms and literary techniques. ENG 310 adds to that foundation, providing an opportunity to practice the craft of writing. ENG 411 builds on that mastery of the craft and allows students to explore individual voice. The ENG 210, 310, 411 sequence must be taken in order for each genre: poetry and fiction.
Course Learning Goals : This is an Intermediate level writing course with a prerequisite of ENG 210 in poetry. This is a rigorous course that builds on concepts you gained in your Introductory poetry course such as titling, speaker, characters, setting, theme, tone, structure, imagery, figurative language, and musical devices. We will continue to use those concepts to help us respond to and interpret writing. We will study poetry by contemporary authors. 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.
Since we are contemporary writers, we will mostly study the works of our contemporaries: authors publishing right now. You will read and write responses to work by Kim Addonizio, Ai, Julianna Baggott, Wendy Barker, Jim Barnes, Dorothy Barresi, Ralph Black, David Bottoms, Susan Brown, Lorna Dee Cerventes, LIsa Coffman, Wanda Coleman, James Cushing, Madeline DeFrees, Stuart Dischell, Norman Dubie, Denise Duhamel, Martin Espada, BH Fairchild, Beth Ann Fennelly, Tess Gallagher, Brendan Galvin, Sandra Gilbert, Sarah Grieve, Barbara Hamby, CG Hanzlicek, Joy Harjo, Robert Hass, Ginger Adcock Hendrix, Bob Hicok, TR Hummer, Laura Jense, Rodney Jones, Luann Keener, Galway Kinnell, David Kirby, Yusef Komunyakaa, Dorianne Laux, Denise Levertov, Philip Levine, April Lindenr, Robert Lowell, Suzanne Lummis, Archibald MacLeish, Sandra McPherson, Samuel Maio, Jacqueline Marcus, William Matthews, Thylias MOss, Carol Muske, Pablo Neruda, Sharon Olds, Michael ONdaatje, Alan Michael Parker, Stanley Plumly, Ezra Pound, Luis Rodriquez, Vern Rutsala, Michael Ryan, David St. John, Martha Serpas, Anne Sexton, Louis Simpson, Bruce Smith, Hannah Stein, Ruth Stone, Jeanne Murray Walker, Susan Wood, Charles Wright, Robert Weigley, and C. Dale Young.
Writing Workshops : I've been there. Back in the early 1990's when I was an undergraduate creative writing major, I was guilty of going into The Writing Workshop with a poem or story or essay I thought would blow everyone away. Once, in my sophomore year of college, I wrote a poem about buying a camera from an architect. I wrote the poem at around midnight in an inspired fit, and I made copies on the way to class, feeling certain that my peers and professor would receive the poem with joy and awe. Well, let's just say I left that workshop in tears. The poem was not clear. The poem was rushed. The poem did not make sense. Whereas I naively felt my poem was finished, the other Workshop members could easily see its flaws. Months later, when I was able to calm my emotions, I took the Workshop comments to heart. I revised the poem almost beyond recognition, and To Meet an Architect was published in a national literary magazine.
I am certainly not alone. Many students assume at first that the Workshop is an instant audience for completed work and that they will receive only applause and praise for their writing. That incident helped me learn that the Writing Workshop is not an audience, it is a tool. I learned to see the Workshop as a resource to help me reach my goals, not as a captive group who would immediately stand and applaud my efforts.
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.
Required Text : Our text can be found at all three campus bookstores: West, Tempe, and Poly. Here are the following customer service numbers: Tempe campus: 480-965-3191, West campus: 602-543-6800, Poly campus: 480-727-1168. If you are unable to locate books at the closest campus, you should contact one of the other bookstores and have them transferred to your location. You can also order the book online.
Clark, Kevin. The Mind's Eye: A Guide to Writing Poetry. Boston: Pearson Longman, 2008. ISBN: 0-205-49823-X
Required Work : This course requires you to not only practice your writing, but also to practice your reading and revising as well.
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. In order to receive credit your response must:
meet the word-length requirement of 400-500 words (or surpass it)
use short quotes to support your response
provide analysis (using literary terms) rather than summary (retelling)
Reading Responses are graded out of 10 total posts.
10 100% A 9 90% A 8 80% B 7 70% C 6 60% D 5 50% E Writing - Worth 10% of your grade. It is very important to turn your writing in on time so that peers have time to respond. A Writing Deadline of Thursday night gives peers three full days to post thoughtful responses by Sunday night.
Writing is graded out of 10 total posts.
10 100% A 9 90% A 8 80% B 7 70% C 6 60% D 5 50% E Workshop - Worth 30% of your grade. Unlike face to face workshop classes where students bring in work each week but only get feedback a few times a semester, this online section allows us to get feedback for every piece every time. To accomplish this we use a Group Workshop method. Twice during the semester you will be assigned to a group of students. You will reply to those students for 5 poems. In order to receive credit your response must:
meet the word-length requirement of 400-500 words per poem (or surpass it)
use short quotes to support your response
provide analysis (using literary terms) rather than summary (retelling)
offer suggestions for revisionPortfolio - Worth 40% 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 (see the full Portfolio assignment in the "Portfolio" area).
Important Dates: Point your browser to http://www.asu.edu/calendar/academic.html for additional dates.
Office Hours: Since this is an online course, I will not hold face to face office hours, but I am available by appointment. I check email once a day, Monday through Friday. I will answer questions through email usually within 48 hours except over weekends and on holidays. I am also happy to call you if you have a question. Simply email me your phone number and an appropriate time to call.
Attendance : This class meets online using myASU. The class asks you to complete the same work as other sections, but it has the added benefit of teaching you to communicate electronically with your teacher and classmates. This is an integral part of your grade. 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. You have 4 absences to use for emergencies.
Important Dates:
August 25-29: Late Registration and Drop/Add (in person)
August 25-31: Late Registration and Drop/Add (online)
September 22-29: Academic Status Report #1
October 22-29: Academic Status Report #2
October 31: Course Withdrawal Deadline (in person)
November 2: Course Withdrawal Deadline (online)
December 9: Complete Withdrawal Deadline (online and in person)
Point your browser to http://www.asu.edu/calendar/academic.html for additional dates
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. Here are some other tips:
. Never type directly into myASU. Type in Word and then cut and paste your work.
. Ctrl-S is your best friend. The more you save the less you lose. Make a habit of saving your work several times as you write.
. My degree is in English, not Computers, so there are many technical questions I am too dumb to answer. If you get stuck with a technical issue, call the computer help desk at 480-965-6500.
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. If you miss a deadline, contact me and I will help you.
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. Always check 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. This class is about discussing the writing, not the subject of the writing.
I have had several problems in the past with students posting obscene work. Please be sensitive to the needs of your peers, and treat our classroom with respect by refraining from posting explicit matierial.
Incomplete Grades : I do not offer incomplete grades.
Student Conduct: Students are required to adhere to the behavior standards listed in Arizona Board of Regents Policy Manual Chapter V Campus and Student Affairs: Code of Conduct), ACD 125: Computer, Internet, and Electronic Communications, and the ASU Student Academic Integrity Policy.
Students are entitled to receive instruction free from interference by other members of the class. If a student is disruptive, an instructor may ask the student to stop the disruptive behavior and warn the student that such disruptive behavior can result in withdrawal from the course. An instructor may withdraw a student from a course when the student's behavior disrupts the educational process under USI 201-10 http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/usi/usi201-10.html.
Grading Scale: I use the Gradebook function in myASU. Each week you will get a score for reading and writing grades based on a point system. To determine your final grade for the course, multiply each of your Required Work grades by its weighted percentage. The sum of these numbers equals your final grade. Final grades are available after the end of the semester at the Registrar's online site.
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/
Email Procedures: I cannot accept emails from non-ASU accounts. The best way for you to get around this is to get used to using your ASU email account. This is preferable for many reasons, including that your email address will be in the global address system so that anyone at ASU can reach you easily. However, if you still want to use an outside email, simply set up your ASU email to forward to your outside account.
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/
Help Wiki provides a frequently asked questions resource for technology users at ASU. http://wiki.asu.edu/help/
Information Technology on the Polytechnic campus: http://www.poly.asu.edu/it/
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/