Springfield College in Illinois

Springfield College in Illinois

Spring 2007 (Session A) Ted Morrissey (CV)

Room D225 “Office”: D225

Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m. 5:45, after class, or by appointment

tmorrissey@sci.edu H: 496-3012 (before 9 p.m. please)

morrissey@wcusd15.org W: 566-3361 (daytime, W’ville HS)

ENGLISH 217-70—CREATIVE WRITING/POETRY

I. Course Description: English 217 Creative Writing/Poetry is a course in which students will understand the structure and elements of poetry and the writing process, produce fully developed works of poetry, and demonstrate an understanding of the critical terminology of the creative writer. A minimum of 200 finished lines of original work will be produced. Prerequisite: ENG 111 with a grade of C or better. IAI EGL 922.

II. Textbook:

Boisseau, Michelle, and Robert Wallace. Writing Poems. 6^th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2004.

Available at SCI’s bookstore.

IV. Goals, objectives and outcomes:

A. Goals:

To understand the structure and elements of poetry and the writing process.
To produce fully developed works of poetry.
To demonstrate an understanding of the critical terminology of the creative writer.
To practice standard English for editing and proofreading.
To examine outlets for creative writing (i.e. publication), both traditional print and electronic.

B. Common Student Learning Objectives:

CK-1 Content Knowledge (Lifelong learning): Know and apply the central concepts of the subject matter
CK-1 Content Knowledge (Lifelong learning): Use current research to support assumptions and beliefs
CS-1 Communication Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership): Communicate effectively in oral and written forms
PS-2 Problem-Solving Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership):Seek information and develop an in-depth knowledge base, grounded in research
SR-2 Social Responsibility (Service and Leadership): Make ethical and informed decisions
GP-1 Global Perspectives (Diversity): Recognize the importance of diversity of opinion, abilities and cultures.

C. Course Based Student Learning Objectives: Students who have successfully completed ENGLISH 217 will be able to . . .

1. Find ideas for poetry and develop those creative ideas via drafting and revision. (CK-1, CS-1)
2. Manipulate poetic elements to achieve a desired effect. (CK-1, CS-1)
3. Analyze and discuss the elements of poetry as they are manifested in their own and others' creative writing. (CK-1, PS-2, GP-1)
4. Use terminology associated with creative writing, especially poetry. (CK-1)
5. Successfully participate in "workshop" sessions with their peers. (CK-1, SR-2)
6. Locate possible publishing outlets for their creative work. (CK-1, PS-2, GP-1)
7. Understand basic differences between creative and expository writing. (CK-1, CS-1)

V. Teaching Methodology:

The classroom is considered a discourse community in which students collaborate in the learning process. Students will be involved in peer work, group discussions, pre- and rewriting activities, and conferencing. There will be intervention in students' creative writing process, and response to student writing, by both the instructor and other students. To be successful, students must come to class prepared, which means having all reading and writing assignments done before they are due. Note: "Creative Writing: Poetry" is not an "easy" class. Writing quality poetry is every bit as challenging as writing quality essays. Moreover, even though there is a strong emphasis on writing in creative writing, analytical reading is also a major part of the course. To be an effective writer, you must be an effective reader.

VI. Course Requirements:

Attendance: As in every other class, absences will negatively affect your grade. To avoid class disruption, students must be seated by 6:00. Arriving between 6:00 and 6:05 will be considered a "late" (three lates equal one-half hour absence); between 6:05 and 6:30, one-half hour absence; between 6:30 and 7:00, one hour absence; etc. Missing an entire class session equals 4.0 hours. Missing six hours is an automatic F, regardless of a student's current grade.

Your goal should be to attend all classes and to have an absence only when it is a true emergency. If you know you are going to be absent (or late), you should contact me as early as possible. This will not "excuse" the absence, but it is considered the appropriate behavior in college. College is like a job in this respect: If you were going to miss work, you presumably would call your supervisor in advance -- you would not simply fail to come to work, then wander in the next time you were scheduled (if so, you would not be scheduled a next time).

You are responsible for making multiple copies to share with the instructor and your classmates when the syllabus requires it; and, by the same token, if you are absent on a day when you are to distribute your work, it is your responsibility to get the copies to your instructor and your classmates. Failure to do so will result in your receiving a zero for the assignment. If providing multiple copies of your work is a problem, speak to me in advance (NOT the evening they are to be distributed).

Behavior: Be attentive to the instructor and your classmates. Private conversations and jokes are rude and disruptive. Turn off your cell phone too.

Work:

1. Completion of all assigned readings and writings according to given deadlines.

2. In-class and out-of-class assignments (including at least 200 lines of poetry).

3. Participation in peer activities, sharing of written work, and group discussions.

4. Active involvement in mechanics of all writing projects, including posting responses to the turnitin.com discussion board.

5. Conferences regarding writing assignments.

6. Completion of Portfolio-in-Progress, and final Portfolio.

VII. Evaluation Criteria:

There are numerous required activities for this course, and not all of them will be graded. Work (generally described as "homework") that does not receive a numerical score, may be given one of three grades: A check mark indicates an assignment was completed in an acceptable and timely manner; a plus signifies that an assignment was completed with special thoroughness and accuracy; a minus signifies that an effort was substandard. Each check is worth one point; a plus 1.5 points, and a minus .5; the total will be multiplied by an appropriate number determined by the instructor to establish a homework grade. Students are expected to complete all assignments, graded or not.

Points will be deducted for issues of misspelling and nonstandard mechanics according to the SCI English/Speech Department Guidelines for the Evaluation of Formal Composition (unless the departures from standard written practice are knowingly done for creative effect).

Late projects will not be accepted, and each will be scored as a zero. Assignments are due even if you are not physically in class.

Plagiarism -- presenting the ideas or words of another as if they are one's own -- is literary dishonesty and will not be tolerated. Nor will others forms of academic dishonesty be tolerated. In creative writing, "poetic license" does allow for some use of others' work, but such use is very limited and you should discuss with me in advance any time you are tempted to employ such license. If the instructor deems that the plagiarism is a willful attempt to cheat, the student will receive a zero for the paper with no opportunity to revise, and the SCI administration will be notified.

Final Grade will be based on a percentage of the total score: A- to A+ = 90 to 100%; B- to B+ = 80 to 89%; C- to C+ = 70 to 79%; D- to D+ = 60 to 69%. Note that plus and minus will be affixed to the letter grade as deemed appropriate by the instructor based on various factors, including attendance, work ethic, attitude, and overall participation.

Incomplete grades: According to the SCI catalog, students requesting an incomplete grade for a class must have completed at least 75% of the course work. It is my policy that students must make a request to me in writing no later than one week before final exams explaining in detail why they cannot finish the remainder of the coursework. Acceptable reasons are student illness requiring bed rest or hospitalization, major family crisis, or circumstances beyond the student’s control. I will only issue an incomplete grade at my discretion.

Directions for Written Work:

Keep all assignments, formal and informal, prewriting, revisions, and final drafts until final grades are received.

Out-of-class Requirements:

1. Typed (printed) in 12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
2. Submitted to turnitin.com
Class ID: 1737309
Enrollment Password: english21770

Three Keys to Success:

* Attend all classes and be on time.
* Turn in all assignments on time.
* Ask for help when you need it.

One or More of the Following Will Lead to Failure:

* Miss class and/or consistently be late.
* Fail to turn in assignments or to turn them in on time.
* Not asking for help when you need it.

VIII. Weekly Assignments: (Note: Syllabus is subject to change. All page numbers refer to Writing Poems)

Week 1

Jan. 11

Before the first session:
* Read Ch. 1 (1-26)
* Do activities 1 & 8 (19-20)
* Select two poems from “Poems to Consider” and write a half- to one-page response to each poem – What is the poem about? What do you like/respect about the poem? How does the poet achieve certain effects? (If you are familiar with turnitin.com, post your responses to the class discussion board – we will go over this process in class if you aren’t already familiar with the website.)

Course Introduction / Reflection on readings / Discussion / Quick Response

Week 2

Jan. 18

Before class:
* Read Ch. 10 (237-61)
* Do activities 3, 4 & 5 (254-55)
* Select two poems from “Poems to Consider” and write a half- to one-page response to each poem – What is the poem about? What do you like/respect about the poem? How does the poet achieve certain effects? Post your responses to the turnitin.com discussion board.