Module Information

Module Identifier
ENM6220
Module Title
Writing Poetry: Rhymes and Reasons
Academic Year
2019/2020
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Other Staff

Course Delivery

Delivery Type Delivery length / details
Seminar 1 x 2 Hour Seminar
 

Assessment

Assessment Type Assessment length / details Proportion
Semester Assessment Poetry Assignment  12 pages poetry portfolio  75%
Semester Assessment Critical Commentary Assignment  1 x 1500 word critical commentary on the poetry submitted, plus annotated bibliography (the bibliography is not included in the word count)  25%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmit failed or missing poetry assignment  Resubmit 12 page poetry portfolio  75%
Supplementary Assessment Resubmit failed or missing critical commentary  Resubmit 1 x 1500 word critical commentary on the poetry submitted, plus annotated bibliography (the bibliography is not included in the word count)  25%

Learning Outcomes

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

Demonstrate in both creative and evluative writing, an understanding of a range of poetic practices.

Demonstrate, in critical prose, an undeerstanding of their own writing processes.

Improve their work in response to criticism.

Aims

This module is to be expanded from five to ten weeks to fit the pattern used for MA literature modules. This will be done by splitting the existing theory / workshop sessions into separate seminars and workshops. This will increase contact time and allow a deeper exploration of the issues covered.

Brief description

The module will consist of five 2-hour seminars and five 2-hour workshops. In the seminars, students will be introduced to the history, theory and practice of five poetic modes. For the workshops, they will write poems in these modes, which will be discussed and subsequently revise for the assignment.

Estimated Student Workload:
20.5 hours contact time
80 hours preparation for workshops and seminars
100 hours preparation of portfolios

Content

Seminar 1. The Formal Poem.
Discussion will focus on the possibilities of an `outside-in' approach to poetry, which works from form to content rather than vice versa.
Workshop 1. The Formal Poem Students will produce poems for workshop using either a traditional form (sonnet, villanelle, blank verse etc), or less orthodox formal constraints (syllabics, half-rhymes, patterns of alliteration etc).

Seminar 2. The Imagistic Poem.
Discussion will focus on minimalist, image-based poetry and its roots in Imagism.

Workshop 2. The Imagistic Poem.
Students will produce poems for workshop based on images rather than narrative or argument.

Seminar 3. The Narrative Poem.
Discussion will focus on the narrative potential of poetry and the differences between poetic and prose narrative. The dramatic monologue will also be covered.

Workshop 3. The Narrative Poem.
Students will produce narrative poems for workshop.

Seminar 4. The Self-Reflexive Poem.
Discussion will focus on the postmodern interest in reflexive forms and its relation to critical theory.
Workshop 4. The Self-Reflexive Poem.
Students will produce poems for workshop which explore their own textuality.

Seminar 5. The Poetic Sequence.
Discussion will focus on the different sequential structures available to poets and the way individual poems can change when brought into proximity with others.

Workshop 5. The Poetic Sequence.
Students will produce short sequences of poems for workshop.

Module Skills

Skills Type Skills details
Application of Number N/A
Communication Oral: through workshop and seminar discussion Written: through assignment
Improving own Learning and Performance Through revision of work in response to workshop feedback
Information Technology Through Blackboard and wordprocessing skills
Personal Development and Career planning Through critical reflection and the development of transferable communication skills
Problem solving Through dealing with problems of writing and research
Research skills Through online research
Subject Specific Skills Creative writing (poetry), literary research and criticism
Team work Through co-operation in workshops and seminars

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 7