ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 1
Columbus State Community College
English Department
Spring Semester 2013
Course and Number: ENGL 2260: Introduction to Poetry Tuesday & Thursday 11:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m.
CREDITS: 3 CLASS HOURS PER WEEK: 3 PREREQUISITES: ENGL 1100 with a C or better
TEACHER: Kip Knott OFFICE HOURS: Tues. & Thurs. 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
ENGL 2260: Introduction to Poetry is a literature course (NOT a creative writing course) that will
introduce students to the critical process of reading and responding to poetry from a historical, cultural,
and gender-based perspective. Emphasis will be on traditional and nontraditional forms as well as
mainstream and marginalized writers. Students will become familiar with appropriate terminology and
will also encounter the poem as a whole piece of written discourse between poet and reader. Students will
therefore conduct an ongoing oral and written dialogue with the poet (Who is the speaker? Who is the
audience? What is the purpose?) and the poem (What is the message?). Students will articulate orally and
in writing their own ideas of interpretation based on a close reading of the text and an informed
perspective concerning the historical and cultural circumstances of its origin.
TEXTBOOK, MANUALS, REFERENCES, AND OTHER READINGS:
Meyer, Michael, et. al. Poetry: An Introduction. 7th Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2013.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, students should be able to
Demonstrate knowledge of the historical and cultural context which produces poetry
•
Demonstrate in discussion and writing the ability to analyze a variety of poems from historical, social, political,
cultural, philosophical and thematic perspectives.
Practice critical reading, writing, and discussion of poets, poetry, and literary movements
•
Demonstrate reading comprehension at the appropriate course level by discussing and writing about poetry.
•
Distinguish between the characteristics of literary movements in discussing and writing about poetry.
Practice techniques used to analyze a text
•
Synthesize, integrate, and connect information by writing essays using techniques of criticism and evaluation.
•
Evaluate and incorporate appropriate sources of literary criticism into a research paper.
Read a representative portion of American and world poetry
•
Discuss and write about selections of American and world poetry
Communicate effectively
•
Use the appropriate methodology and rhetorical devices to write papers that support a controlling idea and are logically
and soundly developed.
•
Work collaboratively by reading student papers and discussing suggestions for improvement (peer revision and editing)
and participating in discussion groups.
Demonstrate rhetorical knowledge
•
Write about literature using standard literary terminology and other literary conventions.
•
Write clearly and effectively in standard English appropriate to the audience and purpose by completing a series of
writing assignments.
Adapt composing processes to electronic environments
•
Demonstrate responsible and effective use of electronic source material.
• Use technological resources searching for and obtaining source materials for a research paper.
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 2
GENERAL EDUCATION GOALS:
1. Critical Thinking
2. Effective Communication
3. Community and Civic Responsibility
4. Information Literacy
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:
Lecture, class discussion, handouts, in-class writing responses, group work, response journals, audiovisual materials
ASSESSMENT:
Columbus State Community College is committed to assessment (measurement) of student achievement
of academic outcomes. This process addresses the issues of what you need to learn in your program of
study and if you are learning what you need to learn. The assessment program at Columbus State has four
specific and interrelated purposes: (1) to improve student academic achievements; (2) to improve teaching
strategies; (3) to document successes and identify opportunities for program improvement; (4) to provide
evidence for institutional effectiveness. In class you are assessed and graded on your achievement of the
outcomes for this course. You may also be required to participate in broader assessment activities.
STANDARDS AND METHODS FOR EVALUATION
UNITS OF INSTRUCTION/ COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
STANDARDS AND METHODS FOR
EVALUATION
Writing Project 1 – Explication
(polished word count = 1000 minimum)
75 pts. (15%)--Rhetorical knowledge,
development and critical thinking, organization,
conventions of style and usage
Writing Project 2 – Comparative Analysis
(polished word count = 1250 minimum)
100 pts. (20%)-- Rhetorical knowledge,
development and critical thinking, organization,
conventions of style and usage, documentation of
sources
Writing Project 3 – Major Research Project
(polished word count = 2000 minimum)
150 pts. (30%)-- Rhetorical knowledge,
development and critical thinking, organization,
conventions of style and usage, documentation of
sources
Proposal for Writing Project 3
(polished word count = 250 words)
25 pts. (5%)-- Rhetorical knowledge, development
and critical thinking, organization, conventions of
style and usage
Final Essay Exam
(polished word count = 1000 minimum)
75 pts. (15%)--Ability to demonstrate skills
acquired during the course
Attendance/Participation
75 pts. (15%)
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 3
You can earn a total of 500 points in this class. Here is the grade breakdown:
450-500 = A; 400-449 = B; 350-399 = C; 325-349 = D; Below 325 = E
COURSE POLICIES:
Course Presence: Because this course requires class participation, interpersonal interaction, and peer
review, students should attend all classes for the full class time. This course is NOT a correspondence
class. Students with more than the equivalent of one week of absence may find their grades seriously
affected; students with more than the equivalent of two weeks of absence may be in danger of failing the
course. Faculty are under no obligation to provide make-up assignments for students who have
missed class. Understandably, sometimes students miss class because of life’s circumstances. Because
faculty do not want to have to judge the validity of an excuse, there is no need to return to class with a
doctor’s excuse. If you are absent, your final grade may be affected since you may miss class directions
and instructions, and you cannot make up in-class work for which you are not present. Therefore, the
attendance policy is as follows: Each student is allowed one absence without penalty. Each absence
after the first absence, however, will result in a loss of 25 points from your total grade for the class.
Weather Conditions: In the event of severe weather or other emergencies which could force the college
to close or to cancel classes, such information will be broadcast on radio stations and television stations.
Students who reside in areas which fall under a Level III emergency should not attempt to drive to the
college even if the college remains open. Assignments due on a day the college is closed will be due the
next scheduled class period. If an examination is scheduled for a day the campus is closed, the
examination will be given on the next class day. If a laboratory is scheduled on the day the campus is
closed, it will be made up at the next scheduled laboratory class. If necessary, laboratory make-up may be
held on a Saturday. If a clinical is missed because of weather conditions: (insert department policy).
Students who miss a class because of weather-related problems with the class is held as scheduled are
responsible for reading and other assignments as indicated in the syllabus. If a laboratory or examination
is missed, contact me as soon as possible to determine how to make up the missed exam or lab.
Remember! It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with reading and other assignments when a
scheduled class does not meet, whatever the reason.
Financial Aid Attendance Reporting: Columbus State is required by federal law to verify the
enrollment of students who participate in Federal Title IV student aid programs and/or who receive
educational benefits through the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. It is the responsibility of the College to
identify students who do not commence attendance or who stop attendance in any course for which they
are registered and paid. Non-attendance is reported each semester by each instructor, and results in a
student being administratively withdrawn from the class section. Please contact the Financial Aid Office
for information regarding the impact of course withdrawals on financial aid eligibility.
Late Work: No late work is accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with me.
ADA Policy: It is Columbus State policy to provide reasonable accommodations to students with
documented disabilities. If you would like to request such accommodations because of physical, mental or
learning disability, please contact the Department of Disability Services, 101 Eibling Hall, 614.287.2570
(V/TTY). Delaware Campus students may also contact an advisor in the Student Services Center, first
floor Moeller Hall, 740.203.8000 – Ask for Delaware Campus advising, or www.cscc.edu/delaware, for
assistance.
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 4
Student Code of Conduct: As an enrolled student at Columbus State Community College, you have
agreed to abide by the Student Code of Conduct as outlined in the Student Handbook. You should
familiarize yourself with the student code. The Columbus State Community College expects you to
exhibit high standards of academic integrity, respect and responsibility. Any confirmed incidence of
misconduct, including plagiarism and other forms of cheating, will be treated seriously and in accordance
with College Policy and Procedure 7-10.
General Conduct: English 2260 is a course that requires in-depth discussions on topics that may, at
times, provoke strong reactions in students. However, this course focuses on ideas, not feelings. A certain
level of maturity and respect for the ideas of others (even when those ideas are different from one's own)
is an absolute requirement of this course.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism, such as borrowing passages or whole documents from the Internet or other
sources, and presenting another author’s actual words, ideas, organization, or conclusions as one’s own,
will not be tolerated. Students who borrow another writer’s material must document their sources
accordingly. Students who present as their own the material written by others will be reported to the Dean
of Student Life and penalized. A confidential record of the incident will be kept on file pursuant to the
Federal Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Because the penalty is severe, ranging from zero for
the assignment to failing for the course to academic dismissal, all students should avoid the slightest hint
that they have used borrowed material without giving credit.
MLA Format: The three writing projects, the proposal, and the final essay exam must be formatted
according to MLA guidelines. For more information about MLA format, click the button labeled "Purdue
OWL Links." Failure to follow MLA Guidelines will result in a 10% reduction of your grade for the
assignment.
Email Policy: Only emails sent from Columbus State email accounts will be accepted for this course, NO
EXCEPTIONS! You must include the course number (ENGL 2260) in the subject line of every email
that you send to me. Because I typically teach 6-7 different online courses in a given semester, I will not
respond to any email that does not include the course number (ENGL 2260) in the subject line.
Typically, I reply to emails within 24-48 hours Monday through Thursday; however, it may take me up to
72 hours to reply Friday through Sunday.
Technical Problems: If you encounter any technical problems that prohibit you from completing
assignments for this course, it is your responsibility to contact Tech Support 614-287-5050 in order to
resolve these problems.
English Department Services: The English department offers multiple free tutoring services that may be
beneficial to you. The Columbus Campus Writing Center is located in 102 Columbus Hall; visit
tutoring.cscc.edu to make an appointment. Services are also available at Delaware and at some regional
learning centers. The Online Writing Center (OWC) can be accessed by logging onto Blackboard using
your username and password and looking under "My Organizations." You can find hours and other
information about Writing Center services by visiting the English Department website
(http://www.cscc.edu/academics/departments/english/) and following the links for the Writing Centers.
Withdrawal from the Course: If you decide to drop this course, you must do so officially. Please refer
to the official college calendar for information about the last day to withdraw. Failure to withdraw
officially from a course will result in a failing grade recorded on your transcript. Schedule Adjustment
Forms are available from the Counseling/Advising Center or the Registration Office.
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 5
COURSE SCHEDULE
The readings listed here MUST be read BY the dates under which they appear.
WEEK 1
Tuesday, 1/15:
Course Introduction and Syllabus Review.
Thursday, 1/17:
Bring your favorite poem to class.
WEEK 2
Tuesday, 1/22:
Line Breaks
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--“Reading Poetry” (19-27) and “Some
Principles of Meter” (212-217)
Terms to know: meter, foot, line, caesura, end-stopped line, run-on line,
enjambment
Thursday, 1/24:
Line Breaks
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--“Some Common Poetic Forms” (236-237)
and “On Formal Poetry” (234)
Terms to know: stanza, couplet, heroic couplet, tercet, triplet.
WEEK 3
Tuesday, 1/29:
Figurative Language
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--“Images” (105-112), “Figures of Speech”
(130-136), and “On the Differences between Poetry and Prose” (128-129)
Terms to know: simile, metaphor, implied metaphor, extended metaphor,
controlling metaphors
Thursday, 1/31:
Figurative Language
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--“Other Figures” (136-140)
Terms to know: pun, synecdoche, metonymy, personification, apostrophe,
hyperbole, paradox, oxymoron
WEEK 4
Tuesday, 2/5:
Writing about Poetry
Reading: “From Reading to Writing” (57-64) and “Explication” (684-688)
Thursday, 2/7:
William Carlos Williams
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction-- “Poem” (106), The Red Wheelbarrow”
(273), “This Is Just to Say” (634), “To Waken an Old Lady” (142)
“from Book I, Paterson” (handout)
Video: Voices & Visions: William Carlos Williams
Writing Project 1 Due: Post Writing Project 1 as an attached .rtf file on
Blackboard in the “Completed Assignments” area of the course.
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 6
WEEK 5
Tuesday, 2/12:
Meter and Rhythm
Reading: Lecture Notes: "Meter and Rhythm" Poetry: An Introduction--“
Patterns of Rhythm” (211-217);
Terms to know: rhythm, stress (accent), meter, prosody, scansion, foot
Thursday, 2/14:
Meter and Rhythm
Reading: Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--“ Patterns of Rhythm” (211-217);
Terms to know: rising meters, falling meters, iambic pentameter, blank verse
WEEK 6
Tuesday, 2/19:
Sound and Rhyme
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction--"Sounds" (181-187); "Player Piano" (183).
Terms to know: onomatopoeia, alliteration, assonance, euphony, cacophony.
Thursday, 2/21:
Sound and Rhyme
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction-- "Rhyme" (189-193). Terms to know:
rhyme, end rhyme, feminine rhyme, masculine rhyme, internal rhyme, exact
rhyme, near rhyme, consonance.
WEEK 7
Tuesday, 2/26:
Library Instruction – Meet in the library (Columbus Hall) Rm. 302
Thursday, 2/28:
Poetic Forms
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Poetic Forms” (235-236; 238-242; 247252; 255-262)
Terms to know: form, fixed form, free verse (open form), terza rima, sonnet,
Italian sonnet, English sonnet, villanelle, sestina, elegy, ode, parody.
WEEK 8
Tuesday, 3/5:
Writing About Poetry
Reading: “From Reading to Writing” (57-64) and “Explication” (684-688)
Thursday, 3/7:
Langston Hughes
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction-Video: Voices & Visions: Langston Hughes
Writing Project 2 Due: Post Writing Project 2 as an attached .rtf file on
Blackboard in the “Completed Assignments” area of the course.
WEEK 9
Spring Break
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 7
WEEK 10
Tuesday, 3/19:
Open Form
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Open Form” (265-269); “from ‘I Sing the
Body Electric’” (266-267), “Alzheimer’s” (272-73), “Emily Dickinson’s
Defunct” (276), “Overalls” (278)
Terms to know: free verse
Thursday, 3/21:
Open Form
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“The Prose Poem” (269-270); “Shooting the
Horse” (270), “Lower the Standard” (282), “Order in the Streets” (285)
Terms to know: prose poem, found poem
WEEK 11
Tuesday, 3/26:
Robert Lowell
Video: Voices and Visions: Robert Lowell
Reading: Selection of Robert Lowell’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
Thursday, 3/28:
Robert Lowell
Reading: Selection of Robert Lowell’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
Proposal for Writing Project 3 Due: Post the Proposal for Writing Project 3
as an attached .rtf file on Blackboard in the “Completed Assignments” area
of the course.
WEEK 12
Tuesday, 4/2:
Sylvia Plath
Video: Voices and Visions: Sylvia Plath
Reading: Selection of Sylvia Plath’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
Thursday, 4/4:
Sylvia Plath
Reading: Selection of Sylvia Plath’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
WEEK 13
Tuesday, 4/9:
James Wright
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Mirror” (144); Selection of James Wright’s
poems (click the appropriate links on Blackboard)
Thursday, 4/11:
William Stafford
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Traveling through the Dark” (169);
Selection of William Stafford’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
2013-2014
ENGL 2260 Syllabus - 8
WEEK 14
Tuesday, 4/16:
Jane Hirshfield
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Optimism” (543); Selection of Jane
Hirshfield’s poems (click the appropriate links on Blackboard)
Thursday, 4/18:
Kevin Young
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Eddie Priest’s Barbershop and Notary”
(278); Selection of Kevin Young’s poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
WEEK 15
Tuesday, 4/23:
Natasha Tretheway
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“On Captivity” (273); Selection of Natasha
Tretheway’s poems (click the appropriate links on Blackboard)
Thursday, 4/25:
Billy Collins
Reading: Poetry: An Introduction—“Introduction to Poetry” (40), “Taking Off
Emily Dickinson’s Clothes” (95), “Nostalgia” (398), “Questions About Angels”
(401), “Litany” (403), “Building with Its Face Blown Off” (405)
WEEK 16
Tuesday, 4/30:
Performance Poetry
Viewing: Selection of Performance Poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
Thursday, 5/2:
Performance Poetry
Viewing: Selection of Performance Poems (click the appropriate links on
Blackboard)
Writing Project 3 Due: Post Writing Project 3 as an attached .rtf file on
Blackboard in the “Completed Assignments” area of the course.
FINALS WEEK
Thursday, 5/9:
2013-2014
Final Exam: 10:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.