CPW700

Introduction to Poetry: Page and Performance

This course is for poets early in their writing experience who would like to learn some basic performance skills that will help strengthen their writing and revising skills as well as their understanding of their craft.

In this course, you will write and revise three to five poems. You will receive feedback via class discussion from the instructor and other students. We will discuss performance approaches that suit your poetry, and you will perform your poems in the final class.

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This course is available at the following time(s) and location(s):

Section Session(s) Date/time Campus Instructor(s) Cost Registration
CPW700-VA11411 4 Van Betsy Warland $441 Register

What will I learn?

In this course, we will cover the following:

  • How to write and revise three to five fully realized and related poems for the page
  • How to turn these poems into a performance
  • How to most effectively to prepare and revise these poems for your performance (not just read them aloud)
  • How writing, revising for the page, then converting poems into a performance inform and improve the quality of the poem
  • How to practice and deliver your performance, and then give it to the class during the final class

How will I learn?

  • Presentation and discussion of concepts in class
  • Writing and revising your poems during the week
  • Assessment of your poems via class workshopping and student and instructor feedback
  • Weekly reading assignments
  • Watching poetry performances on YouTube

How will I be evaluated?

Your grade will be based on homework assignments, class participation and your performance.

Textbooks and learning materials

  • Handouts
  • Breathing the Page—Reading the Act of Writing by Betsy Warland (Cormorant Books, Toronto, 2010)

    This text is available at the SFU Bookstore, from the author/instructor, and in e-book format for Kobo and Kindle.