Laura T. Smith: Teaching

E314L Reading Poetry (34380)
Spring 2008
Instructor: Laura T. Smith
T/Th 3:30-5:00 FAC 7
Computer-assisted instruction
Office Hours: TBA
contact: laura.smith@mail.utexas.edu

Texts:

Carson, Anne. Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse. New York: Random House, 1998. ISBN: 037570129X.



Gibaldi, Joseph, ed. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition. Modern Language Association, 2003. ISBN: 0873529863.


Parini, Jay, ed. The Wadsworth Anthology of Poetry, Shorter Edition. Boston: Thompson, 2006. ISBN: 1413004741.

Coursepack available at Speedway Copy in Dobie Mall

Course Website: http://instructors.cwrl.utexas.edu/smith


Goals:

While this course offers a range of readings in English-language poetry from the 16th century to the present, its primary goal is to introduce you to methods of inquiry in the field of English. To this end, you will:

• Read and analyze poetry,
• Write critically about literature,
• Conduct library research,
• Practice critical techniques and analytical methodologies used in the English major, including formalist, historicist, cultural, and theoretical approaches to reading literature,
• Edit and proofread your own writing as well as that of your peers.

Coursework and Grading:

Late papers will be penalized 5% per business day. Informal Writing will not be accepted late. There will be no make-up for quizzes or in-class work, such as the recitation or presentation. I do not accept papers by email, except in exceedingly rare circumstances, such as your having been quarantined with a rare flu in West Texas. You are welcome to turn papers in at my office, PAR 406, on non-class days. If you do so, send me an email so I know it’s there and can confirm receipt.

Attendance: Attendance, preparation, and participation are crucial components of this course. If you must miss, let me know ahead of time, if possible. You may miss two classes during the semester without penalty. Additional absences may result in deductions from your participation grade, and more than four absences (that’s two weeks of class) will result in failure of the course.

Writing: You will write three formal papers of varying lengths this term, based on either an assigned topic or topic of your own devising (which you have discussed with me ahead of time). You will also be doing informal writing( via individual blogs) and peer review throughout the semester. Your formal papers will require multiple drafts and substantial revision. Please turn in all drafts (including peer review drafts) with your graded submissions. Papers will not be accepted without accompanying materials.

Alternative Assignments: As an advocate of innovative or “experimental” writing practices, I am a believer in the development of new forms, including new forms of critical analysis. Therefore, for either paper 2 OR paper 3 (not both), you may complete an alternative writing assignment. In the past, students have composed delinearized, hypertext essays using wiki software (which is free, easy to learn, and available online). I have also received collaborative essays authored by two students and other creative works of analysis. These approaches are often harder and take longer than the traditional essay, but they present worthwhile challenges and possibilities, particularly for the student who has been successful with the traditional essay. If you are interested in trying an alternative assignment, speak to me well ahead of the paper due date.

Format of Papers: All papers must be word-processed. Please double space your papers, use a standard font (such as Times New Roman), and standard (one-inch) margins. See MLA Handbook for full details about format and documentation style. For papers with multiple drafts, please staple your final draft on top of accompanying materials. I ask you to make one deviation from standard MLA format: don't put your name anywhere on the front of the paper. Instead, just hand-write it on the back of the packet. This ensures greater anonymity when I’m grading papers.

Research: Along with critical reading practices, you will be expected to use sources and basic research tools in at least one of your papers. We will discuss the best methods for locating and making use of secondary sources in English/literature papers. You must provide full MLA-style documentation for all sources you cite, and in some cases, you may also need to provide photocopies or printouts from cited materials.

Computer Use and Availability: Please familiarize yourself with the class website and check your email regularly. I will send out class emails through Blackboard. (Make sure you have a current email address registered with Blackboard.) It is your responsibility to receive communications I send. I will post assignment information, helpful links, and other resources on the course website. Parlin 102 is a CWRL-supported student computing lab with shiny new computers and free printing FOR CWRL COURSES ONLY. Please make use of this resource!

Technology Policy: You will use technology frequently in this course, mostly for completing out-of-class assignments. Although I am assuming that you have some basic knowledge of computers, such as how to use the keyboard and mouse and how to navigate the web and check e-mail, most things will be explained in class. If you don’t understand what we are doing, please ask for help. You are free to use the computers prior to class, but please log off the computer when class begins.

Warning about personal technologies, i.e. cell phones, Blackberries, texting, i-pods: This is a discussion- and participation-driven class. If you are distracted by personal technologies during class, you will be marked absent, which, after all, you basically are.

Office hours: Please come to office hours. Introduce yourself, tell me about your prior experience with poetry, your experience in the class, your thoughts about the readings, or any problems you are having with the coursework. Feel free to come by to bounce around paper ideas even if you haven’t started writing yet.

Religious holy days: A student who misses classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the observance of a religious holy day should inform the instructor as far in advance of the absence as possible, so that arrangements can be made to complete assignments.

Scholastic Honesty: Turning in work that is not your own, or any other form of scholastic dishonesty, will result in a major course penalty, possibly failure for the course. A report of the incident will also be made to the Office of the Dean of Students, and filed in your permanent UT record. For complete information about plagiarism and collusion, see the link to “Statement about Scholastic Responsibility” at the top right of the course website.

Writing Center: I strongly encourage you to use services offered by the Undergraduate Writing Center, FAC 211, 471-6222: uwc.fac.utexas.edu and the Learning Center, JES A332A, 471-3614: www.utexas.edu/student/utlc.

Students With Disabilities: The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TDD.