Summer 2012

English 247, 248, 249 Writing Poetry I II III

Pat Andrus, Instructor

pandrus@bellevuecollege.edu

(Contact me via this email ONLY if our class site mail is down.)

TEXTS:  Barbara Drake:   Writing Poetry, 2nd. Edition!

              Natalie Goldberg: Writing Down the Bones

A backup (flash drive, etc.) and 2 notebooks, reserved for your work for this course

COURSE GOALS

This course will focus on writing poetry. In order to do this, you will read the work of established poets, follow the assignments in Writing Poetry, go on ‘art dates’ (see weekly assignments), attend a poetry reading, revise poems, and critique the work of your colleagues, who, in turn, will also respond to your writing.

The specific goals of this course are to acquaint you with the craft of poetry through the work of established poets, your own work, and by reading and critiquing. It  includes the belief that the imagination is a vital life force.  Hence many of the exercises will also be intended to get your creative juices going, to bring you into that world, your world, of the imagination, and its power. This should particularly be true with your exposure and involvement with Goldberg's writings.

This course also assumes that poetry is a serious art form that requires knowledge, courage and discipline, and that it is best learned with the help of a supportive, receptive audience. Like all creative work, writing poetry is fun, exhilarating, and ultimately life enhancing. My hope is that you will come away from this course with a new appreciation for the art of poetry and a new awareness and delight in your own writing skills.

CLASS FORMAT AND EXPECTATIONS

This is an interactive, workshop class. Commitment to completing the class work is the foundation of a supportive, serious learning community. Although the on-line format allows you to work at times that are convenient for you, in order to earn credit, all assignments must be completed according to class schedule.

Detailed weekly assignments, with all instructions, will be posted on the home page (you can click on "Course Content" under Course Tools). You must complete all work in order to qualify for course credit

GRADES WILL BE BASED ON:

1. Completed weekly reading and writing assignments including the posting of a poem you write each week for your writing group members.

2. Art Dates.

3. Critiquing of other students’ work in your writing group.

4. DETAILED Weekly Self-Evaluations.

5. Final self-evaluation for the course.

Grading System: 15 points/week = 90 points (this includes the weekly assignments, writing group work, art dates, and self-evaluations detailing ALL activities/assignments for each week).

Self-Evaluation for the course = 10 points

Active participation and completion of assignments is critical and essential beginning the first day of the quarter in order to achieve a passing grade.

Although grades for any assignments submitted in after their due dates will be lowered considerably, in order to obtain any credit at all for the course, all work must be completed no later than Wednesday, August 8.

Final Grades

A = 94-100

A- = 91-93

B+ = 88-90

B = 84-87

B- = 81-83

C+ = 77-80

C = 70-76

C- = 66-69

D+ = 62-65

D = 56-61

F = 0-55

Computer Skills:

You need to know the basics:  Navigate around the web, be able to use Explorer and Navigator browsers (or Mac equivalent), mail your work with attachments (and open up others) in our own site mail, AND HAVE ACCESS TO AND USE WORD, NOT WORD PAD.  The important thing is to know when you or your computer is lacking in something (or your provider), or when the server Blackboard is at fault.  Finally, ALWAYS have a backup system for saving any assignments you submit in just in case your server is down, your computer broken, etc.  Here is the Distance Education link and number for questions you might have during the quarter: landerso@bellevuecollege.edu (Phone: 425-564-2438 or 1-877-641-2712...toll free)

ONLINE ETIQUETTE:

1.  Be honest but courteous in your postings, responses, comments, feedback.  Remember that unlike a traditional classroom, we don't have the other ways of communicating including the whole world of body language, of speaking and seeing and listening in person.  We just have our screen and our words.

2.  Rude or disrespectful comments directed either to other members of the class or to the instructor are not acceptable.

3.  If you feel a student has attacked you or treated you without respect, do not respond.   Instead, contact your instructor and she will handle the matter.

4.  Consider this class like a community where we learn from each other in a supportive, academic, and creative environment.

5.  Please refer to the Arts & Humanities Policies for all subject policies.  The address is http://bellevuecollege.edu/artshum  When you get to this point, click on Student Information.  Under that, click on Student Procedures and Expectations.

6.  Always respond to questions your instructor asks you in an email you have received via our own class mail.  ALWAYS check your mail upon entering the class site.