Course Purpose: This course is an advanced writers' workshop, designed for those who understand the fundamentals of poetry and have a reasonable understanding of contemporary literature.  We will be building on the basic concepts and terminology learned in earlier creative writing class; taking this class without that background is like taking Calculus II without Calculus I.  A 200-, 300-, or 400-level literature survey course might also prove helpful in terms of general knowledge and texts to use by way of comparison.

It is assumed that all students attending this course have an active interest in improving their own writing and in creating a chapbook or full-length manuscript of poems.  Because of this, the course will be structured as a writing workshop, though significant portions of class time will also be reserved for an inquiry into the form and craft of published poetry.  In general, this class will require considerably more attention and effort than a poetic technique class, so be prepared to spend a minimum of seven hours each week (outside of class) working on your own writing, responding to student work, and reviewing published poems.  I strongly recommend students work on their own writing every day.  Previous students from my classes have eventually published their own work in journals, books, and anthologies, and gained successful entry into graduate writing programs.  A few have gone on to work at NY and/or university publishing houses in various capacities.

Because the best poems have an essence that can defy mere mechanical explications, a poem is always more than the sum of its parts (sometimes this approach can be like analyzing the parts of a plane to know how it flies while, at the same time, ignoring the significance of the feeling/experience of flight).  Both are important, so I encourage you to experience poetry in a way that is not only analytic (understanding based on the separation of a whole into its parts) but also synthetic (understanding based on the combining of the parts to understand the essence of the whole).

As with most writing courses, this class will rely on a combination of lecture and energetic class discussion.  Come prepared each day to talk about what you’ve read.  Your participation is essential.

Course Materials: (Required)  
Contemporary American Poetry: Behind the Scenes (0321095782) ed. Van Cleave
Poetry 180 (0812968875) ed. Billy Collins 

Recommended Books:
The Poetry Dictionary (1884910041) ed. John Drury
The Magical Breasts of Britney Spears (1597090670) by Ryan G. Van Cleave

Main Writing Assignments:
1) Attend two literary readings and write a one-page critical response to each.  At least one of these readings must include poetry.
2) Write and revise at least ten original poems from specific prompts.
3) Compile a midterm portfolio of your best creative and critical work done during the first half of the semester.  More details on this later.
4) Compile a final portfolio of your best creative and critical work done during the entire semester.  More details on this later, but the main part of this portfolio will include a poetry chapbook (15-25 pages of original work you've written, with 50% minimum being written during this semester).
5) Do two of the following: Option A: Write a thoughtful interpretation of any poem of a reasonable length, building up toward an original and well-defended argument about what you believe it means. You may also compare and contrast two short poems which treat a similar subject or employ a similar style.  Option B: Create a hypertext edition of one of your own poems (or if you discuss with me in advance, a poem written by someone else), providing links to analyses of diction, musical effects, imagistic patterns, and organization.  In short, you will be writing the texts for your reader to consult, not just link the poem to existing internet resources.   Option C: Create a multi-modal poem.  By this, I mean that the presentation of the poem (in any sense of that word) contributes to the overall meaning.  For examples of this, please examine the student poems from previous semesters featured on the www.ryangvancleave.com homepage. 
6) Maintain a reading journal in response to assigned readings over the semester.

Other Course Requirements:
1) Complete all the Main Writing Assignments listed above.
2) Participate fully (intellectually and verbally) in workshopping poems, including a written critique done before class that is given to the writer of the poem (a second copy goes to me).
3) Submit at least two pairs of new, original poems (4 poems total, minimum) for workshop feedback during the course of the semester.  You are responsible for photocopying and distributing poems on time.
4) Give two short (5-10 minutes) presentations on a poem of your choice from recent literary magazines that includes a handout of the poem itself and a brief but thoughtful discussion period led by you.  Q&A will follow.  This will provide "market research" for #6 below.
5) Read at least one of your own poems at one of the many literary events in D.C. or the surrounding area (approved in advance by me). 
6) Learn poetry submission etiquette and send out at least one batch (3-5) of your own poems for publication during the course of the semester.  ***We'll discuss this more at length after the midterm portfolio.***
7) Thoughtful, active, and responsible participation and citizenship, including oral discussion, preparation for class, and in-class writing.