The poetry section of this course will emphasize the "how to" (production) of poetry. The course is open to those both familiar and unfamiliar with contemporary poetry. We will try out writing in a range of forms but the focus will be on improvisational and experimental methods for generating new writing. The class is designed to be useful to both those who write poetry all the time and to those who have yet to write a poem. The only requirement is to be willing to explore new possibilities for writing. We will write together in class regularly. We will workshop our poems. And at the end of this section of the semester, you will turn in a chapbook of your work as your final project.

English 313 comes in two parts, an eight week segment during which students focus on writing fiction, and an eight week segment during which students focus on writing poetry. Depending on the section, students will find themselves starting with one genre or the other; the professors switch at the mid point of the term.

REQUIREMENTS:
· regular e-mail postings of responses to poems
· at least one poem a week
· a final chapbook project
· in class participation
· regular attendance