English 207: Studies in Poetry

Dr. Morillo

Dr. Morillo's Office is Tompkins 270;     email = morillo@ncsu.edu   homepage=http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/m/morillo/public/index.htm
Office Hours=  M W 10-11:30; T 10:30-12 and by appointment

1. understand and engage in the human experience through the interpretation of literature
   
2. become aware of the act of interpretation itself as a critical form of knowing in the study of literature; and
3. make scholarly arguments about literature using reasons and ways of supporting those reasons that are appropriate to the field of study.

Course Objectives
By studying how poets see, think, and write about the world, you will be learning how to improve your thinking, reading, speaking and writing skills. The majority of the written work will be papers, some analytic and argumentative, others creative. There will be a midterm and comprehensive final.

At the end of the course students should be able to:

• apply to poetic interpretation the fundamentals of prosody, including rhyme, meter, and metaphor
• interpret a poem with increasingly precise language and appropriate textual or contextual evidence
  
• express the results of that interpretation in well-structured argument about specific poetic details
  
• use appropriate dictionaries and other reference resources
• be aware of the provisional nature of all interpretive claims, especially their own
  
•  recite a poem competently
  

How I Figure Your Grades
Percentages for each required graded category are figured via a percentage of a 12-pt. scale in which an A+ =12 and
an F=0 points. For example, a B+ on paper 1 would net you 9 x .10 or .9 points.  Or, a C on participation nets you 5 x .10 or .5, an A on the final nets you 11 x .25 or 2.75 points.
I then add up the percentage points for each required category to determine your grade from 0 to 12.  For example, an 8.2 final score = B for the class.

Participation includes your grades on periodic quizzes, and coming to class prepared, having done the readings and being able to talk and write about them intelligently.

You must complete all the required work to pass the class. No opting out of assigned work.  I will grade plus/minus.

Attendance: You are allowed 3 absences. If you are absent, unexcused, more than 3 times over the course of the semester, your absences will count progressively against your final grade,  Every 2 absences beyond the allowed 3 loses you a half letter grade from your final grade.

Instructor's policies on attendance, (excused and unexcused) absences, and scheduling makeup work. Also see the university Attendance Regulation (REG02.20.03)  to access university definitions of excused absences.

Plagiarism: Anyone convicted will receive an F for the paper, or the course at my discretion. And yes, I have caught people in the past--in this course, in fact.

Late Papers: Papers received ONE class session late will be accepted but docked a full grade. No late papers accepted after one class session late.

Disabilities:

"Reasonable accommodations will be made for students with verifiable disabilities. In order to take advantage of available accommodations, students must register with Disability Services for Students at 1900 Student Health Center, Campus Box 7509, 515-7653. For more information on NC State's policy on working with students with disabilities, please see the Academic Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Regulation (REG02.20.01)"

Academic Integrity Assumption
Universities are unique communities committed to creating and transmitting knowledge. They depend on freedom - individuals' freedom to explore ideas and to explore and further their own capabilities. Those freedoms depend on the good will and responsible behavior of all the members of the community, who must treat each other with tolerance and respect. They must allow each other to develop the full range of their capabilities and take full advantage of the institution's resources.

1 Honor Pledge: 
"I have neither given nor received unauthorized aid on this test or assignment." The syllabus may specify that the Honor Pledge be signed on each test or assignment or that it is the understanding and expectation of faculty that the student's signature on any test or assignment means that the student neither gave nor received unauthorized aid.

Required Print Texts--available now in the NCSU bookstore.

1.   Kelly, Joseph., ed. The Seagull Reader: Poems. 2nd ed.
       New York: W. W. Norton, 2001.    $21.15
     All readings from this Norton Anthology are indicated by page numbers in parentheses, after poem's title.

Recommended
   Lennard, John. The Poetry Handbook: A Guide to Reading Poetry for Pleasure and Practical Criticism.
          2nd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1996.    $18.95

 Required Online Texts
1.    How to Use the Oxford English Dictionary Online (Morillo)

2.   Guide to Prosody (Morillo)

metsims.htm

207pq.pdf

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