Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Intermediate Poetry Writing (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 3010-01

Course: ENGL 3010-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ENGL
CRN: 32264

Course Description

A creative writing course focused on technique and the development of poetic voice through the writing, study, and workshopping of traditional and contemporary forms. (Fall) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): ENGL 2320 - Prerequisite Min. Grade: C-

Required Texts

Making of a Poem

9780393321784

By Strand, Mark and Boland, Evan

Published by Norton & Company, Incorporated, W. W.

 

Essential Haiku

9780880013512

By Hass, Robert 
 Published by Harper Collins Publishers

Learning Outcomes

·       Write poems using evocative language free of clichés 

·       Edit and proofread your poems and papers for grammar, syntax, common usage, and punctuation

·       Produce a polished and cohesive body of work through the creation of a final portfolio

·       Demonstrate an understanding of both a traditional and contemporary approach to forms

The specific techniques we will cover will be the following:

·       The arrangement of poetic lines

·       The discovery of music in language through internal rhyme, slant rhyme, alliteration, assonance

The effect of imagery by using words that appeal to the senses

Course Requirements

1. Write 12 poems as assigned throughout the semester

2. Workshop according to the following format:
·       Participate in small group workshops through comments in class or on Discussion Board
  • Post 1 poem for Large Group "Discussion Board Workshop"
  • Submit your poem to the "Small Group Workshop" via Canvas online
     Submit your poems for Large Group "Discussion Board Workshop" to the Discussion board on the Tuesday before its due date 
3. Revise your poems throughout the semester and arrange them in a Poetry Portfolio in the following format:

  • Place 5 poems in the center of a pocket folder with fasteners.
  • Include in your portfolio a brief essay (min. 3 full pages) discussing the relationship between content and form in 3 of your poems. Include references to assigned readings and poetics.  Place this essay stapled together in the left pocket.
  • Exchange your portfolio with another person in the class on the due date.
  • Write a 3-5 essay about three of their poems.
  • Turn in their portfolio with your essay in the right pocket.
  • Turn in the other portfolio to me on the due date.
4. Research the History of Poetry and Poetic Forms

·       Answer assigned questions regarding poetic history and forms. These will be online submissions only. We will not discuss them in class. 

5. Do the following Experiential Learning projects. These projects may be outside of class. If you have a conflict, please let me know and I will set up an alternative assignment.

·       Attend a reading/presentation by a visiting writer

·       Attend one event for the Fall Creative Writing Conference 

6. Meet with me for two conferences during the semester. I encourage you to schedule additional conferences to discuss your poems, but these are the two that are required.

7. Give a reading of one poem from your portfolio during class as part of your final grade during our scheduled final time.

Course Outline

Unit I Closed Form Poetry: During this Unit, you will write poems in the following forms: The Haiku, the Sonnet, the Quatrain and the Terza Rima. We will study the components of the image, the line and the stanza as well as various theories of poetics. Learning the techniques in these key poetry forms will set the foundation for writing open form poetry. (Aug. 28-Oct. 2)

 
Unit II Open Form Poetry: In this Unit we will expand on the concept of form to explore "open form poetry" by writing an elegy, a pastoral, an ekphrasis poem, in addition to other assignments. The intent of these assignments is to encourage you to explore your voice as a writer by expanding your relationship with language. (Oct. 2-Nov. 6)


Unit III Workshops and Portfolio: In Unit III we will synthesize the concepts about poetry from Units I and II into a cohesive exploration of the nature of form in poetry. We'll explore the nature of form through Large Group Workshops and a final Portfolio.  (Nov. 4-Dec. 4)
 

Large Group Workshop:
Each student will post one poem on the Discussion Board before their scheduled Large Group Workshop. This should be a poem that you plan to include in your Portfolio. 
 

Portfolio:
Your Portfolio will be made up of your five best poems and a reflective essay about what you learned regarding form and your writing process. You will exchange your portfolio with another student in the class. You will turn in their portfolio to me  with a response essay discussing your observations about the relationship between form and content in their poems. We will meet as a class for a final reading, during which you will read one poem from your portfolio. 

Workshops:
 We will schedule two Small Group workshops and one Large Group Workshop for each student. Bring hard copies of your poems in class for the scheduled group workshops. Submit a poem to the Discussion Board on Canvas for your Large Group Workshop.
 
 
Conferences on your poems:
There are two required conferences with me during the semester; however, I will be happy to meet with you at other times as well. These conferences will take place in my office unless I state otherwise. The first conference will be based on the poems you have written up to that point. During the second conference, we will discuss the poems that might be included in your portfolio. 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work


Late Work

All of your assignments are to be submitted on Canvas by the start of class time. Please do not submit your assignments after class. Any assignments submitted after the deadline will be given half credit. I am sensitive to the fact that health issues may arise during this semester. If that is the case, simply send me a brief email informing me as such and I will work with you on extending deadlines.


Generative AI
This course assumes that work submitted by students—all process work, drafts, final versions, and all other submissions—will be generated by the students themselves, working individually or in groups. This means that the following would be considered violations of academic integrity: a student has another person/entity do the writing of any portion of an assignment for them, which includes hiring a person or a company to write essays, poems, drafts and/or other assignments, research-based or otherwise, and using artificial intelligence affordances like ChatGPT. (Excerpted from ChatGPT by University of California: Irvine Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation)


Since demonstrating your abilities to use language creatively that is indicative of your unique writing “voice” is a key part of the learning outcomes of this course, all writing assignments should be prepared by the student. Developing strong competencies in this area will prepare you for a competitive workplace. Therefore, AI-generated submissions are not permitted, will be treated as plagiarism. 


If you use AI on an assignment, you will fail that assignment without the option of resubmitting.

Attendance Policy

Attendance  
I allow two unexcused absences. If there is a situation or a health concern that is preventing you from attending class consistently, please speak with me about it. If you have FOUR absences that are unexcused and you have not spoken with me about your absences, your grade will be lowered by third and will continue to be lowered with each additional absence.

Course Fees

There are no course fees.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.