Poetry Writing: Experimenting with Form and Technique

Overview

During this course, learners will be given the opportunity to learn about poetic forms, and to experiment with poetic techniques, responding to a range of different prompts, and drawing inspiration from published texts. The course will finish with a look at opportunities for publication, and advice on submitting work to magazines and competitions.

There will be three live online Teams sessions during the course, offering a chance to meet each other, to ask questions, write together and discuss example texts. The final week will include a celebration of students’ work. Students will be encouraged to share their own work and participate in discussions on Blackboard. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard the tutor will be on hand via email to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. They will also participate in the weekly online discussions.

Programme 

The course will be delivered via online lectures as well as live online Teams which offer a chance for learners to meet each other, to ask questions, write together and discuss example texts. The final week will include a celebration of students’ work. Learners will be encouraged to share their own work and participate in discussions on Blackboard. Alongside the learning materials on Blackboard the tutor will be on hand to answer any queries and provide guidance throughout the course. They will also participate in the weekly online discussions.

We will focus on generating poems from a wide range of prompts, reflecting on word choice, fresh language, extended metaphors, endings, line breaks, titles, and the use of traditional forms such as the sonnet and the villanelle. We will get to grips with the editing process, exploring a range of different revision techniques.
We will discuss and seek inspiration from several contemporary poets, including Zaffar Kunial, Kim Moore, Jane Yeh, Gustav Parker Hibbett, Kathryn Bevis and Caroline Bird, as well as some of the poetry greats, such as Dylan Thomas and Elizabeth Bishop.

Learning Outcomes 

On completion of this module, students should be able to:  

1. Produce a portfolio of poetry, assembled over the course of the module.
2. Employ a range of poetic techniques, such as figurative language and sensory detail.
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the interplay between form and content in poetry.
4. Demonstrate an ability to experiment with various aspects of language and form in their writing.
5. Begin to edit or revise their work, and to reflect on and discuss their writing process. 

Assessments 

1. 1. Written Portfolio - 100%

Reading Suggestions

Reading suggestions will be offered throughout the course. 

Entry Requirements

This course is for everyone. No previous experience is needed and there are no formal entry requirements.

What Do I Need?

As this is an online course, you would need the following:

• Internet access
• Access to a laptop or computer with a web camera and microphone; the use of headphones might also be of benefit
• Use of the Chrome web-browser where possible.