Introduction to Poetry: ENG 106
Term: Spring 2012
Instructor: E. Benton
Section 04: MW, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Section 02: MW, 3:30-4:45 p.m.
Classroom: NMOR 330
Office: McIver 328
Office Hours:
MWF 12:30-1:30 p.m.
& by appointment
Email: eabento2@uncg.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The American poet William Carlos Williams once described a poem as “a machine made of
words.” In this course, we’ll take an in-depth look at how these machines work. We’ll study
verse forms as they were first invented and practiced centuries ago, and then we’ll also see
how traditional forms have evolved with contemporary interpretations. Some machines
such as sonnets, villanelles, and ballads work in tighter formats, and while others such as
the elegy, the ode, and the pastoral may follow looser structures. In addition, we’ll learn the
tools that poets use to create their formal and free verse machines. And throughout the
course, we’ll be open to a variety of subject matter as we study poems that operate in
narrative, dramatic, and/or lyric modes. The goal is that by the end of the semester, we’ll be
more equipped to understand, enjoy, and pick apart poems as we encounter them in
higher-level courses or through our own reading.
Introduction to Poetry (3:3) GE Core: GLT / Critical reading and analysis of British and
American lyric, dramatic, and narrative poetry. Attention to historical, cultural, and literary
backgrounds as appropriate.
Student Learning Goals (SLOs):
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the reading skill required for the student of literary texts.
2. Identify and/or describe some of the varied characteristics of literary texts.
3. Demonstrate orally, in writing, or by some other means, a fundamental ability to use
some of the techniques and/or methods of literary analysis.
4. Identify and/or describe some of the various social, historical, cultural, and/or
theoretical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted.
Required Texts:
 Essential Literary Terms: A Brief Norton Guide with Exercises, by Sharon Hamilton;
W.W. Norton; ISBN: 978-0-393-92837-2
 The Making of a Poem: A Norton Anthology of Poetic Forms, by Mark Strand & Eavan
Boland; W.W. Norton; ISBN-13: 978-0-393-32178-4
 From the Fishouse: An Anthology of Poems that Sing, Rhyme, Resound, Syncopate,
Alliterate, and Just Plain Sound Great, eds. Camille T. Dungy, Matt O’Donnell, & Jeffrey
Thomson; Persea Books; ISBN: 978-0-89255-348-8
 The Greensboro Review, Issue #90, Fall 2011
Must be purchased from MFA Writing Program office, MHRA 3302
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
Readings on Blackboard, as assigned.
Other Requirements:
 Access to Blackboard, UNCG email, word-processing software, and a printer.
 Access to an electronic device (computer, CD player, etc.) with audio capabilities.
 A folder to keep handouts, assignments, and readings.
 Notebook paper and writing utensil for notes, quizzes, and in-class assignments.
 Bluebooks for both exams. (Two total.)
Blackboard:
 You are required to print Blackboard readings and bring them to class. We
cannot have useful discussions of texts without the texts in front of us. I will not
have extra copies of readings assigned on Blackboard.

You are required to check Blackboard before every class. Any updates to the
syllabus or homework assignments will be posted to Blackboard. If you are absent,
it is your responsibility to check Blackboard and keep up with readings and class
discussions. Bring ALL daily readings (books & Blackboard print-outs) to class.

Most quizzes are administered through Blackboard. Check Announcements on
Blackboard for quiz notifications. Quizzes are timed at 10 minutes and must be
completed once started. If you have technical difficulties with Blackboard quizzes,
you must email me 2 hours prior to class and I will consider administering the quiz
via email or during my office hours.
Evaluation:
Participation & preparation
Recitation
Quizzes
Assignments
Mid-term exam
Final exam
GRADING
10%
5%
20%
20%
20%
25%
Grading Scale:
90-100 A
80-89 B
70-79 C
60-69 D
0-59 F
I utilize the full range of grades from A to F (including plusses and minuses), in keeping
with university grading policies. Your final course grade will be based on the following
components that make up our work for the semester. UNCG defines an A as excellent; a B as
good; a C as average; a D as lowest passing grade; and an F as failure. In adherence to this
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scale, you should understand that a C means you successfully met the requirements of the
course, not that you did poorly, which would be indicated by either a D or an F. Likewise, an
A or B indicate that you met and exceeded course requirements.
1. Preparation & Participation (10%): I expect you to come to every class prepared to
contribute something to the group. You should have the assigned text in front of you and
have read the material well enough to have passages in mind to discuss. I will call on
students to speak at random. Your active and regular attendance is important to our class
discussions and comprehension of materials.
PARTICIPATION RUBRIC:
A
B
C
D
F
Superior communicative skills; excellent preparation for class discussion; always
volunteers; student exemplifies mastery, rigor, and intellectual curiosity regarding course
readings and concepts while also introducing relevant independent insights to the
discussion; student demonstrates enthusiasm and takes initiative, particularly during
group activities.
Good communicative skills; solid preparation for class discussion; consistently
volunteers; student exemplifies interest and engagement regarding course readings and
concepts; student demonstrates positive attitude; makes meaningful contributions during
group activities.
Adequate communicative skills; fair preparation for class discussion; occasionally
volunteers; student exemplifies competence regarding course readings and concepts;
student demonstrates an inoffensive, but noncommittal attitude; sporadic contributions
during group activities.
Limited communicative skills; uneven preparation for class; rarely volunteers;
demonstrates indifference or irritation when prompted; inattentive during class; rare
contributions during group activities. [Performance may be marked by other flaws:
consistent tardiness; disruptive; cell phone use; etc.]
Weak communicative skills; little to no preparation for class; little evidence of reading
assignments (this can include not buying or printing the course texts or not making up
missed material); never volunteers, or doesn’t respond when prompted; demonstrates
potential hostility to discussion; irrelevant, distracting, or no contributions to group
activities; sleeps during class.
2. Recitation (5%): In a class during the first few weeks of the semester, you will be asked
to recite from memory one poem of your choosing from our textbook that has no fewer
than fourteen lines. Students who have not successfully recited a poem by Feb. 8, 2012 will
receive a zero for this grade.
3. Quizzes (20%): You will take approximately one short quiz a week. All quizzes are open
book. If you miss a quiz due to absence, you will receive a zero. Quizzes cannot be made up.
If you miss a quiz due to an emergency or illness, you will need to bring me documentation
before I will consider allowing you to take the quiz during my office hours.
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4. Assignments (20%): Occasionally, I will assign homework to be turned in at the
beginning of class or assignments to be completed during class. All written homework must
adhere to the Academic Integrity Policy and to the Submission Guidelines listed below:
Submissions Guidelines for Written Work:
These apply to any written homework assignments.
 Must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman or Cambria font.
 Formatted for 8 ½” x 11” paper with one-inch margins.
 All papers should be double-spaced.
 Include your name, ENG 106, Section number, and date in your paper’s heading.
 All work must follow MLA style guidelines. (see MLA STYLE).
 No late work is accepted.
Plagiarism & Academic Integrity:
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty,
trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating,
plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic
dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under
conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the
fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s
Academic Integrity Policy).
To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the
guidelines and list of violations at http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I expect you to abide
by the Academic Integrity Policy on all course assignments and tests.
Sanctions for Violating the Academic Integrity Policy: Any instance of plagiarism will
result in failure of the assignment and may result in failure of the course. A second offense
of any kind will result in failure of the course. Plagiarism cases will be reported to
University administration and will be thoroughly investigated, resulting in any (or all) of
the following: 1) failure of the assignment, 2) failure of the course, 3) suspension/expulsion
from the University, upon recommendation from administration. In my experience, most
students who violate the Academic Integrity Policy do it because they’re stressed and very
busy, and see this as an “easy out” to being overworked. It’s not worth ending your college
career over, so please don’t try it.
5. Mid-term Exam (20 %) and Final Exam (25%): Exams will include a combination of
multiple-choice questions, identifications, and short answers. Exams are not open book.
Each exam requires a bluebook.
CLASSROOM POLICIES
Attendance:
Daily attendance is a requirement for this course. Students are allowed a maximum of
three absences without a grade penalty. For every absence beyond those allowed,
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students will be penalized one-half letter grade. Students who have six absences will fail
the course.
Excused absences will be considered only with proper documentation (i.e., doctor’s note,
police report, etc.) If you plan to miss class because of a conflict that cannot be rearranged
(i.e. sports event, jury duty, etc.), you must notify me 48 hours in advance of your absence
via email: eabento2@uncg.edu.
Be on time to class. Your participation grade will suffer if you are perpetually late. Three
late arrivals (defined as coming in after attendance has been taken) will count as an
absence toward your total.
In addition, it is your responsibility to email a classmate or me about activities, notes, and
quizzes you have missed. It is also your responsibility to come prepared to the class that
follows your absence.
Religious Holidays: You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious
holidays, which do not count toward your total. If you plan to miss class because of
religious holidays, you must notify me 48 hours in advance of your absence via email:
eabento2@uncg.edu
Cell Phones:
Turn your phones OFF during class. Even phones on vibrate are disruptive. Your
participation grade will suffer if you are receiving calls, texting, charging, or using your
phone’s browser during class. If, on any given day, you need access to your phone for an
emergency, you must approach me about it prior to the beginning of class. If problems
persist after initial warnings, your final grade will be affected.
Laptops:
Laptops may be used only by students with a special need for purposes of note-taking or
other classroom activities. Students with such a need should make specific arrangements
with me prior to the second week of class. No student may use a laptop in class without a
prior arrangement with the instructor. See SPECIAL ACCOMODATIONS.
Respect:
Mutual respect is required for this class and for all related interactions with the instructor
and other students. This includes but is not limited to: texting (see CELL PHONES policy),
sleeping, speaking while the instructor or another student is talking, and/or using language
that is sexist, racist, or homophobic. If I deem any student disrespectful in my class, I
reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom, in which case you will receive an
absence.
Email Response Policy:
I will make every effort to respond to your email message within 48 hours. If I have not
replied to your message after 48 hours, please re-send the message. Please also mention
your course section in your email, preferably in the subject line.
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LEARNING SUPPORT
Special Accommodations/Disability Services: Students with documentation of special
needs should speak to me about accommodations as soon as possible. You must first
register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can
be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in
Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; email: ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center: The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and
competence of student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of any
writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to
offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their
questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. Appointments are
not necessary; consultations are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please visit the
Writing Center as often as you like. Take both your work in progress and all documentation
relating to the assignment (prompts, comments of prior drafts, research notes) and plan to
stay up to an hour. Located in the Moore Humanities and Research Building, room 3211.
www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter/
MLA Style
You are asked to follow the MLA format for style and citations. The Writing Center and
library have helpful links for information about MLA. The UNCG datebook also has a brief
overview of MLA style in the back as a handy reference.
The Learning Assistance Center: offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate
community and is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study
skills, contact Erin Farrior, Academic Skills specialist. Telephone: 334-3878; e-mail:
lac@uncg.edu.
Student Affairs: If you have a serious illness, family death, or family emergency that is
affecting your ability to attend class or complete work in a timely manner, then you should
notify your instructors and contact the Student Affairs Office at (336) 334-5514 or at 141
Mossman right away.
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CLASS SCHEDULE
(Subject to change at the instructor’s discretion. Changes will be announced in class and on
Blackboard. Weekly quizzes not listed; they will be announced in class and on Blackboard.)
COURSE READINGS KEY:
Bb = See Blackboard under Course Documents
MoP = The Making of a Poem Anthology
Fish = From the Fishouse Anthology
ELT = Essential Literary Terms
GR = The Greensboro Review
Section I: Formal Verse
M 1/9
Week 1
Course introduction & review of syllabus.
W 1/11
Readings:
M 1/16
MLK Holiday. No Class!
W 1/18
Readings:
M 1/23
Readings:
W 1/25
Readings:
MoP: The Villanelle (3-20); Fish: “The Place Above the
River” (Northrop, 214)
Terms:
ELT: Rhyme & End Rhyme (210-211), Tercet (228)
MoP: Villanelle, Stanza
Assignment: Write a 1-page history of your comfort level with reading
poetry. Feel free to discuss any poems or poets that have stood out to you
prior to joining this class, and/or your reasons for taking this course. E-mail
to eabento2@uncg.edu by 5 p.m.
Week 2
MoP: The Sestina (21-42); Fish: “Eve’s Sestina for Adam”
(Anderton, 199-200)
Terms:
MoP: Sestina, Envoi
Assignment: Recitations in class.
Week 3
MoP: The Pantoum (43-54); Bb: "She Put on Her Lipstick in the
Dark" (Dischell)
Terms:
MoP: Pantoum, Quatrain
ELT: Quatrain, Refrain (229-230)
Assignment: Recitations in class.
Fish: Chapter IV: Poems that Use Repetition Very, Very Well
(81-99); Bb: “Dead Girls” (Addonizio)
Terms:
ELT: Anaphora (64), Repetition, Order of Details, & Epiphany
(98-104)
Assignment: Recitations in class.
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M 1/30
W 2/1
M 2/6
Week 4
Readings:
MoP: The Ballad (73-100)
Terms:
ELT: Internal Rhyme, Rhyme Scheme, Perfect &
Imperfect Rhyme; MoP: Ballad
Assignment: Recitations in class.
Readings:
ELT: Prosody & Meter (198-207); MoP: Meter at a Glance (159160); Bb: Meter Basics & Examples
Terms:
(Terms in above, i.e. iamb, foot, tetrameter, pentameter, etc.)
Assignments: Recitations in class. Metrical exercises in class.
Week 5
Readings:
MoP: Blank Verse (101-120)
Terms:
MoP: Blank Verse, Iambic Pentameter
ELT: Blank Verse (234-239); Epic, Dramatic, & Lyric (13-14)
Assignment: Recitations in class.
W 2/8
Readings:
Terms:
MoP: The Heroic Couplet (121-135)
MoP: Heroic Couplet
ELT: Couplet (226-227)
Assignment: Final day of recitations in class.
M 2/13
Readings:
Terms:
W 2/15
Readings:
Terms:
Week 6
MoP: The Sonnet (55-72)
MoP: Petrarchan Sonnet, Shakespearean Sonnet, Octave, Sestet
ELT: Sonnet (231-234)
GR: “Sonogram” (Wohlfeld, 3), “Tri-Colored Heron” (Smith, 82);
Fish: “black spoon” (Dungy, 130), “Can You” (Barter, 209),
“Body Bags” (Turner, 217)
ELT: Simile & Metaphor (32-36)
Week 7
MoP: The Stanza (136-155)
MoP: Enjambment, Caesura, Stanza, Heterometric Stanza,
Isometric Stanza
ELT: End-stopped lines, Enjambed lines, Caesura (204205)
M 2/20
Readings:
Terms:
W 2/22
Review for Mid-Term in class.
Assignment: Write a 1-3 page close analysis of a poem in formal verse from
our MoP textbook. See Assignments on Bb for full guidelines. E-mail to
eabento2@uncg.edu by 2 p.m.
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M 2/27
Mid-Term Exam
W 2/29
Readings:
3/5-3/7
Spring Break. No Class!
Week 8
Bb: Imports & Exports: Haiku, Ghazal, Blues
Week 9
Section II: Free Verse & Shaping Forms
M 3/12
Readings:
Terms:
W 3/14
Readings:
Terms:
Week 10
Fish: Chapter V: Poems With Convincing Consonance & Chimes
of Internal Rhyme (103-119)
ELT: Free Verse (239-242); Alliteration, Consonance,
Assonance & Onomatopoeia (217-222)
MoP: Alliteration, Assonance
Fish: Chapter I: Poems that Make Various Sorts of Address (318); MoP: “America” (Ginsberg, 269-271)
ELT: Second-Person Point of View (120)
Terms:
Week 11
MoP: The Elegy (165-206); Fish: “My Sister, Who Died Young,
Takes Up the Task” (Pineda, 229)
MoP: Elegy; ELT: Imagery (83)
W 3/21
Readings:
Terms:
MoP: The Ode (240-255); Bb: “Ode to the Midwest” (Young)
MoP: Ode; ELT: Symbolism (86-89)
M 3/26
Readings:
M 3/19
Readings:
Terms:
W 3/28
Readings:
Week 12
MoP: The Pastoral (207-239); GR: “Pastoral Nightmare”
(Baxter, 92)
MoP: Pastoral; ELT: Theme & Tone (154-162)
Terms:
Bb: Ars Poetica; Fish: “Ars Poetica” (Levin, 227);
GR: “Paraclausithyron” (Glowacki, 80)
Bb: Ars Poetica; ELT: Personification (39-40)
M 4/2
Readings:
Terms:
Week 13
Bb: Aubade; Fish: “Aubade” (Flowers, 221-222)
Bb: Aubade
W 4/4
Readings:
Terms:
Bb: Ekphrasis; GR: “Mourning Brooch & Earrings, c. 1866”
(Auchter, 81)
Bb: Ekphrasis
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M 4/9
Readings:
Terms:
Week 14
Bb: Dramatic Monologue
ELT: Dramatic Monologue (15-16), Allusion (74)
W 4/11
Readings:
Terms:
Bb: Confessional
Bb: Confessional
M 4/16
Readings:
Week 15
remaining poems in The Greensboro Review
W 4/18
Readings:
remaining poems in The Greensboro Review
Assignment: Write a 1-3 page close analysis of a poem in free verse or a
shaping form from any of our textbooks or from The Greensboro Review. See
Assignments on Bb for guidelines. E-mail to eabento2@uncg.edu by 2 p.m.
M 4/23
Review for Final Exam
Final Exam Schedule:
Section 4:
Wednesday, May 2
Section 2:
Wednesday, May 2
Week 16
12 NOON–3:00 P.M.
3:30–6:30 P.M.
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