tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11921782.post4156487619292142456..comments2023-07-30T07:20:00.952-05:00Comments on Say Something Wonderful: Help a Prof Out (1): Modern PoetryE. M. Selingerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00426524354823232002noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11921782.post-23536702241046432202010-06-24T11:41:33.764-05:002010-06-24T11:41:33.764-05:00When I took your graduate level class the iteratio...When I took your graduate level class the iteration of your syllabus was to read the anthology (Cary Nelson) cover to cover. It was at once a challenge, but also something I could sink my teeth into. <br /><br />Each week, being able to choose from the 100ish pages of reading the poems I liked, that spoke to me, and then focus on them was a wonderful freedom. You sent us out to play in a world of poetry and let us meander through, experimenting and picking up favorites along the way. <br /><br />The sense of accomplishment finishing the book and knowing I could speak on its contents was and is priceless. <br /><br />On the other hand, whatever the format, I think what students will also remember is what I remember: the process of learning you took us through. Regardless of the level of student (grad, undergrad, high school), you showed us how to access poetry and challenged the reasoning of poetry and why we read it. <br /><br />So I vote cover to cover even if the undergrads laugh in your face when you hand over the syllabus as I have faith you will draw them in. <br /><br />- Claireeven pretty girls need to readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05698847072110469355noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11921782.post-51520819316521276582010-06-24T06:38:33.886-05:002010-06-24T06:38:33.886-05:00It's funny you should say this, JG: one reason...It's funny you should say this, JG: one reason I've taught the course differently every time has been precisely to avoid that kind of boredom--boredom on my part that would (I've always feared) translate into boredom among my students.<br /><br />On the other hand, my comp-lit Love Poetry class settled into a routine (with minor variations) in the fourth or fifth iteration, and has been wonderful, even after.<br /><br />Maybe what I'm looking for isn't a single syllabus so much as a single structure--a "head" and set of chord changes, in jazz terms, which I can then vary, or even work against, without feeling quite so all at sea every quarter.<br /><br />Interesting! Thanks!E. M. Selingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426524354823232002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11921782.post-21287125668744654482010-06-24T03:26:20.562-05:002010-06-24T03:26:20.562-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jacobus Gideon Hanekomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01147988490512554953noreply@blogger.com