Creative Writing: Poetry
Class Information
Instructor: Peterson, Katie
Time: T 12:10-3:00
Location: 120 Voorhies
Description
In this advanced course, students will write and revise original work, and critique the work of other participants. We will pursue the best poems we can by treating each other?s work to deep attention, revision, and recitation. For context and inspiration, we will read poetry and essays by poets living in, and writing in, California, beginning with contemporary writers (Tongo Eisen Martin, Diana Khoi Ngyuen) and moving back in time to Frank Bidart and Robinson Jeffers, among others. Each week, we will read one book and one essay, and each participant will write at least one poem.
The course has two objectives: the making of memorable poems by whatever means we might discover, and the creation a trustworthy and challenging community of judgment, support, and intellectual investigation. The small size of the course will ensure that students will have substantial opportunities to have their work discussed, and our methods for discussion will be shaped by student interest and the needs of the class.
Grading
Grading will be based on class participation (contributions to class discussions of assigned reading, participation in workshop conversation and critique, and written commentary on others? work) and on written work, which will include a portfolio of at least ten poems with a few revisions and a work in prose