English 10, Creative Writing
Spring 2002, T/TH 10:30-12:00, Bennett 321
University of Pennsylvania
Instructor: Kathy Lou Schultz
klou@english.upenn.edu

Introduction to Poetry and Prose: Re-envisioning Personal Narratives

This course will provide an introduction to a wide variety of forms of poetry and prose, and encourage students to experiment with them in their own writing. The forms of poetry we will consider will range from traditional forms such as the sonnet, to "open" forms such as an experimental book-length poem and a "hybrid," cross-genre piece that includes visual components. We will read prose forms such as the memoir, the personal essay, the short story, and the novel. We will seek to understand what constitutes a "personal narrative," and how writers convey them. What makes up a story and how do you tell a good one? What tools does the poet have to investigate personal material? The course will take the form of a reading and writing seminar; therefore, consistent class participation is essential.

Texts to purchase (Available at the Penn Book Center, 130 S. 34th Street):
Bastard Out of Carolina, Dorothy Allison
Dictee, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha
Crabcakes, James Alan McPherson
The Granite Pail: The Selected Poems of Lorine Niedecker (Expanded Version), Lorine Niedecker
This Boy’s Life, Tobias Wolfe
(All other required texts will be handed out in class.)

Grading:
Class participation (participation in discussions, being prepared by having done the reading, participation in in-class exercises, listserv responses, willingness to ask well-informed questions, attendance)=40%

Writing assignments (improvement throughout the semester, breadth, depth, clean and error-free copy, willingness to "stretch," overall quality)=30%

Final project (10-12 pages of work that has been revised throughout the semester)=30%

Attendance Policy:
One absence is allowed without affecting your grade. After this, each unexcused absence will lower your participation grade by 1/3, e.g. if you originally were to receive an A, your grade will lower to A-, then B+, etc. Being late to class more than two times will result in a decrease in your grade in the same manner.

Written Work:
All written work is due at the beginning of the designated class period (10:30) or it will be considered late. For each additional day that the piece is late, 1/3 of a grade will be deducted (e.g. A- to B+). I will not accept work that is not printed in the specified format and stapled.
WEEK 1
Everything Old is New Again: The Sonnet, Part 1
Tuesday, January 8 — Introduction

Thursday, January 10—Reading: Handout on versification

WEEK 2
Everything Old is New Again, The Sonnet, Part 2
Jan. 15—Reading: Sonnets (Hacker, Berrigan, Mayer)

Jan. 17—Writing Assignment #1: A sonnet in one of the three traditional forms (Italian/Petrachan, English/Shakespearean, or Spenserian). Hand in one clean copy and one copy on which you have scanned the poem’s meter, and marked the forms (e.g. quatrain, turn, sestet, tercet, etc.).

WEEK 3
This Condesory: Lorine Niedecker
Jan. 22—Reading: The Granite Pail, all of "My Friend Tree"

Jan. 24—Reading: The Granite Pail, all of "North Central"

WEEK 4
Rewriting Gender/Rewriting Genre: Harryette Mullen
Jan. 29—Reading: All of Trimmings

Jan. 31—Writing Assignment #2: A prose poem.

WEEK 5
The Book as Poem/The Poem as Book: Lyn Hejinian
February 5—Reading: My Life

Feb. 7—Reading: My Life

WEEK 6
Short Takes: The Personal Essay and the Short Story: Joan Didion, Sherman Alexie
Feb. 12—Reading: Didion, "In Bed;" Alexie, "The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven"

Feb. 14—Writing Assignment #3: "The first place I remember living." Up to 5 pages. Any genre.

WEEK 7
Let me tell you a story, The Memoir, Part 1: Tobias Wolfe
Feb. 19—Reading: This Boy’s Life, pp. 1-75

Feb. 21—Reading: pp. 76-154
Assignment: Bring two photographs to class.

WEEK 8
Tobias Wolfe (cont.)
Feb. 26—Reading: This Boy’s Life, pp.155-228

Feb. 28—Reading: pp. 229-288
Writing Assignment #4: A short story (approx. 5 pages) based on the in-class photograph assignment.

WEEK 9
Documentary Evidence: Theresa Hak Kyung Cha
March 5—Reading: Dictee pp. 1-89 (History, Epic Poetry, Astronomy, Tragedy)

March 7—Reading: pp. 90-179 (Love Poetry, Lyric Poetry, Comedy, Choral Dance, Sacred Poetry)
Assignment: Bring "documents of my life" to class.

SPRING BREAK

WEEK 10
Fractions of the Self, The Memoir, Part 2: James Alan McPherson
March 19—Reading: Crabcakes, pp. 1-141

March 21—Writing Assignment #5: Piece based on "documents of my life." Any genre.

WEEK 11
James Alan McPherson (cont.)
March 26—Reading: Crabcakes, pp. 142-280

Forms of the Novel: Dorothy Allison
March 28 —Reading: Bastard Out of Carolina, Chapters 1-7

WEEK 12
April 2—Reading: Bastard Out of Carolina, Chapters 8-13

April 4—Reading: Chapters 14-22
Writing Assignment: Bring copies of your work for everyone (18) for the workshop.

WEEK 13
Prepare written comments on each person’s piece, following the handout on workshopping.
April 9—Workshop (Group 1)

April 11 — Workshop (Group 2)

WEEK 14
April 16—Workshop (Group 3)

April 18—Class Reading/Party (Invite your friends!)
April 25—FINAL PROJECT due in my mailbox, 4th floor Bennett Hall, BY NOON.