Second creative submission and critiques.

Each member of the class will submit for critique at least 20 but not more than 60 lines of poetry, either a single or multiple poems.   The submission must be made to all members of the class by e-mail (you will receive a class e-mail list) at least two full days--that is, by 9:00 a.m.--before the scheduled workshop (see the schedule below). 

While all members of the class will read each submission and be responsible for discussion of each piece, each member of the class will also be responsible for providing a primary and a secondary critique of another member's work.  See the detailed assignment below:

The Critiques.   The critiques consist of detailed notes on the original manuscript plus a formal written critical evaluation of the work.  They should be written in an analytical prose style appropriate for an academic paper.  Each primary critique should evaluate and provide detailed commentary on the effectiveness of elements of prosody--style, rhythm, stanzaic and line forms, tone, imagery, and, finally, the total effectiveness of the work--remarking on both strengths and weaknesses of the poem(s) and making specific suggestions for revision.  Critiques do not have to be organized in the order listed above.  Let the poetry itself determine the order of importance in which its elements are addressed.  The primary critique should be one to two typed, doubled-spaced pages in length.  The secondary critique, which can focus on a single element of the poetry, should be a half page.

Critiques, and all discussion of a student-author's poems, should always address the text, never the author. Critiques sharpen the thinking of the reviewer and aid the writer only when they are honest and respectful.  Students will read their prepared critiques to the class to spark further discussion of the poems under consideration.  The primary critique should be about seven minutes long; the secondary critique should be two to three minutes long.  Authors must be present but may not join in the discussion of their work unless invited to do so by the instructor.

Students must provide two copies of the critique:  one for the student author and one for the instructor.  In addition, they must provide for the instructor one copy of the original poem(s) with their critical remarks on the text.  The original goes back to the author, of course.

A word here on manuscript format: All poems and critiques must be typed and double-spaced and printed in 12 point Times New Roman or Courier font.  In addition, all manuscripts should observe the standards of academic and business practice, with one inch margins all around.  All pages after the first should be numbered in the top right corner.  Poems must have a title and byline centered at the top of the first page (no cover page is required). For example:

<>Ruins
   by
  Randy Hendricks

Critiques should begin with the following information centered at the top of page one:

Critique of "title of poem(s)"
by
name of poet
Prepared by name of reviewer

An additional word on standard English.  While in poetry as in fiction the element of voice may demand some variation from the rules of grammar and diction, only writers who are masters of the rules can break those rules effectively.  In short, realistic dialogue or 1st person narration are certainly allowed in the stories written for this class, but such techniques must justify themselves.  Mechanics, grammar, sentence coherence and the larger matters of organization and coherence in a composition do count in this class (of course these latter elements take quite different forms in fiction, poetry, and academic prose).

<>3200 Creative Writing  Second Workshop Schedule, October 31-November 7

October 31

Authors                                   Primary                       Secondary

Jeffrey                                      Charles                        Melissa King

Jessica                                      Melinda                        Melissa Lively

Timothy                                    Lauren                          Ify

 

November 2

Authors                                   Primary                       Secondary

Brandy                                     Jeffrey                          Scott   

Cassandra                                Jessica                          Melinda

Donald                                     Timothy                        Lauren

Charles                                   Melissa Lively               Damaris

 

November 4

Authors                                   Primary                       Secondary

Ify                                            Brandy                         Timothy

Melinda                                    Damaris                        Donald

Melissa King                            Scott                            Cassandra

 

November 6

Authors                                   Primary                       Secondary

Lauren                                      Donald                         Charles

Melissa Lively                           Melissa King                Jessica

Damaris                                    Ify                                Brandy

Scott                                        Cassandra                    Jeffrey