ENGLISH 408, ADVANCED POETRY WRITING, T 2-4:30,



SYLLABUS, FALL 2017

ENGLISH 406, “Investigating the Poem, Tuesday, 4:30-6:50, THH 105, Professor Muske-Dukes

BOOKLIST:

THE WEATHER OF WORDS, “A Poet’s Alphabet”, Mark Strand

THE PENGUIN ANTHOLOGY OF 20th CENTURY POETRY, Ed. Rita Dove

+ Selected Handouts

“We skate upon an intense radiance we do not see because we see nothing else”. John Updike

 This is an intermediate workshop in poetry writing, with the goal of  discovering exactly what a poem is - of what it is made.  In our "laboratory" writing exercises and reading, we will be testing genre limits and checking out  different ways of thinking about and writing poetry, including poetry as detective work  and other exploration. Each workshop student will put together a presentation of a poet of choice  and each student will be responsible for assembling a portfolio of work over the course of the semester - including all writing exercises, assignments and all revisions.  Each student will also learn a poem by heart to share with the workshop - or to recite "privately".   We will discuss the revision process and its importance in completing the poem.

First week -- Introductions, Instant Bios. Workshop procedures, portfolios, copies, etc. Reading, presentations. (Each student will choose a poet to “present” during the course of the semester. Discussion.) Booklist – reading assignments. Poem to memorize over semester. First Assignment. (14 lines, 10 syll per line) Note: When I return a poem to you for revision, please try to give back to me in, by latest, ten days. Please type your name in the upper righthand corner of your poem and add the ASSIGNMENT designation – ORIGINAL or Revision ( #). Discuss Presentation format – important!

Second week – Discuss first assignment, poem’s structure, style. Portfolios now in hand? Set up Presentation schedule, discuss possible poets to present. Check Penguin anthology for possibilities.

Third week -- First presentation, discussion, handouts. Handout re forms and other notes. Second assignment -- Invent a Machine (if you wish, compose poem in a form of your choice – or write in free verse.) Can be “practical” or surreal – up to you!

Fourth week - Discuss. Poems. Second presentation. Discuss handouts. Memorized poems? Poem from the Penguin Anthology, Philip Levine, “You Can Have It” – imitate form.

Fifth week -- Discuss Levine imitation. Third presentation. Handouts. Questions re form in poetry! Revisions – look at? Suggested reading.

Sixth week – Continue to discuss. (catch-up!) Memorized poems? Fourth presentation. Yusef Komunyakaaa, “Facing It” - Penguin anthology. Imitate form.

Seventh week -- Discuss Komunyakaa. Fifth presentation. Memorized poems? Revisions? Portfolios.

Eighth week -- Discuss assignment. Sixth presentation? “Sestina”, Elizabeth Bishop,

Penguin Anthology. Discuss sestina form.

Ninth week -- Discuss sestinas. Begin reading “The Weather of Words”, Mark Strand

Tenth week – Discussion. Audre Lorde, “Power”, poem from Penguin anthology.

In imitating this poem, remember you are writing a poem based on a headline, a shocking event.

Eleventh week – Discuss poems. Other poems to be assigned: Marilyn Chin, “The Survivor”, Brenda Shaughnessy, “Postfeminism”, Sandra Cisneros, “Little Clown, My Heart”, etc.

Twelfth week -- Discuss Marilyn Chin or other poem. Portfolio?

Thirteenth week – Discuss finished portfolios – revisions and final copies.

Fourteenth week -- Portfolios due!

Fifteenth week – Last day of workshop: Party! – reading and presenting portfolios!

Carol Muske-Dukes, carolmd@usc.edu 213 740 2808 or 2824. Taper Hall, 40Office hours – Tu-Thu, 1-2 and/or by appt.

Statement on Academic Conduct and Support Systems

 

Academic Conduct:

Plagiarism – presenting someone else’s ideas as your own, either verbatim or recast in your own words – is a serious academic offense with serious consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the discussion of plagiarism in SCampus in Part B, Section 11, “Behavior Violating University Standards” .  Other forms of academic dishonesty are equally unacceptable.  See additional information in SCampus and university policies on scientific misconduct, .

 

Support Systems:

Student Counseling Services (SCS) - (213) 740-7711 – 24/7 on call

Free and confidential mental health treatment for students, including short-term psychotherapy, group counseling, stress fitness workshops, and crisis intervention.

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255

Provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Relationship & Sexual Violence Prevention Services (RSVP) - (213) 740-4900 - 24/7 on call

Free and confidential therapy services, workshops, and training for situations related to gender-based harm.

 

Sexual Assault Resource Center

For more information about how to get help or help a survivor, rights, reporting options, and additional resources, visit the website:

 

Office of Equity and Diversity (OED)/Title IX compliance – (213) 740-5086

Works with faculty, staff, visitors, applicants, and students around issues of protected class.

 

Bias Assessment Response and Support

Incidents of bias, hate crimes and microaggressions need to be reported allowing for appropriate investigation and response.

 

Student Support & Advocacy – (213) 821-4710

Assists students and families in resolving complex issues adversely affecting their success as a student EX: personal, financial, and academic.

 

Diversity at USC –

Tabs for Events, Programs and Training, Task Force (including representatives for each school), Chronology, Participate, Resources for Students

 

Here’s to a great semester! CMD

Academic Calendar 2017-2018

Fall Semester 2017 -----------------------------71 instructional days

Open Registration Mon-Fri -------------------August 14-18

Move-In Wed -----------------------------------August 16

Classes Begin Mon ----------------------------August 21

Labor Day Mon --------------------------------September 4

Thanksgiving Holiday Wed-Sun -------------November 22-26

Classes End Fri----------------------------------December 1

Study Days Sat-Tue ----------------------------December 2-5

Exams Wed-Wed --------------------------------December 6-13

Winter Recess Thu-Sun ------------------------December 14 – January 8

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