Course Description

Poetry Workshop: Yes, You Can Write a Poem

If you can write a clear sentence, you might surprise yourself. In addition to reading and discussing poems by some of the best poets writing today, we’ll focus on the elements of craft that distinguish poetry from prose—form, imagery, meter, metaphor, and musicality. Assignments will include readings from the textbook and writing exercises to share with the class. No previous background in literature required.

Required Text

Susan Goldsmith Wooldridge, Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life with Words

Learner Outcomes

After this course, students will be able to

• Identify the elements of craft (rhythm, rhyme scheme, sound effects, imagery) in poems by established poets

• Recognize possibilities for poetry in everyday experience and observation, as well as in your own memories and imagination

• Approach revision more systematically

• Make poetry a priority in your life, by regularly carving out time in your busy schedule for reading, writing, and revising your poems

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Creative Writing Certificate : Elective Courses