Daily Schedule

I try to adapt each schedule to a given section’s strengths and weaknesses so this schedule might (and probably will) change a bit as we move throughout the semester. Naturally, I’ll always inform the class of changes but it’s a good idea to check this schedule fairly regularly.  The workshop schedule in particular (starting around Week 9) is especially subject to change, depending on how long it takes us to get through a batch of poems.

Week 1:

Monday, Jan. 6: Introductions, go over the syllabus, read some opening poems (available here on the blog).

Wednesday, Jan. 8: Finish discussing the opening poems.

Friday, Jan. 10: Discuss “Bring Me the Rhinoceros.” Late Registration and Change-of-Course end.

Week 2:

Monday, Jan. 13: Watch The Buddha in class.  (Note: this documentary covers a lot of the basic principles of Buddhism and is a good crash course on the overall philosophy, but for something a bit more explicitly focused on "Zen," you might want to check out this film focusing on the late, famous philosopher, Alan Watts; it's pretty grainy and low budget but still worth your time if you mainly focus on Watts' entertaining and plainspoken lectures.  Here's another lecture worth listening to; this one also covers some of the differences between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism.)  

Wednesday, Jan. 15: Continue watching The Buddha in class.

Friday, Jan. 17: Finish watching The Buddha, if necessary. Discuss “Bring Me the Rhinoceros.” 

Week 3:

Monday, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  No class.

Wednesday, Jan 22: Discuss “Bring Me the Rhinoceros.” Reading Response #1 due in class, either printed or sent via email.

Friday, Jan. 24: Start discussing “One Hundred Poems from the Chinese.” 

Week 4:

Monday, Jan. 27: Discuss “One Hundred Poems from the Chinese.”

Wednesday, Jan 29: Your first poem is due in class.  Bring about 12 copies so you'll have enough for everyone. Finish discussing “One Hundred Poems from the Chinese,” if necessary. Reading Response #2 due in class,  as well, either printed or sent via email. Discuss the Salinger short story, A Perfect Day for Bananafish. No journal due over the Salinger story.

Friday, January 31: Start workshopping Poem #1.  On your own, you should start reading "Zen Confidential."  For this book, I encourage you to keep a meditation journal--that is, keep short but descriptive diary-like records of your thoughts on the book, as you try to apply its lessons to your daily life.

Saturday, Feb. 1: Listen to this lecture by Alan Watts.

Week 5:

Monday, Feb. 3: Continue workshopping Poem #1. 

Wednesday, Feb. 5: Finish workshopping Poem #1, if necessary. Start discussion of “Zen Confidential."

Friday, Feb. 7: Continue discussion of "Zen Confidential." Also, we'll discuss the short story, Bullet in the Brain, by Tobias Wolff. Time permitting, we’ll watch the short film adaptation. On your own, I'd like you to read Cathedral, a famous short story by Raymond Carver.  While neither Carver nor Wolff are officially associated with Zen, the ends of these stories manage to pretty much sum up the entire philosophy.

Week 6:

Monday, Feb. 10: Introductory haiku lesson. Time permitting, do some free-writing.  Finish discussion of "Zen Confidential," if necessary. Reading Response #3 (over "Zen Confidential") due in class, either printed or sent via email.  This response can be a formal analysis of the book or can be a more creative piece incorporating entries from your meditation journal.

Wednesday, Feb. 12: Discuss “Essential Haiku.”

Friday, Feb. 14: Discuss “Essential Haiku.”  Reading Response #4 due in class, either printed or sent via email. 

Week 7:

Monday, Feb. 17: "Bad poetry" activity.  Distribute copies of Poem #2.  Note: Poem #2 should be either a "western" Zen-ish poem of about one full page, or a page of 5-7 "eastern" forms poems. 

Wednesday, Feb. 19: Watch "Chop Wood, Carry Water" in class.  Start workshop, initially taking volunteers.

Friday, Feb. 21: Continue workshopping Poem #2. 

Week 8:

Monday, Feb. 24: Finish workshopping Poem #2, if necessary. In-class invention exercise that you can use for Poem #3.

Wednesday, Feb. 26: No class!  I’ll be out of town for a reading/presentation at the AWP Conference.

Friday, Feb. 28: No class!  I’ll be out of town for a reading/presentation at the AWP Conference.

Week 9:

Monday, March 3: Discuss the first half of “Folly" by Norman Minnick.

Wednesday, March 5: Continue discussing "Folly."  

Friday, March 7: Finish book discussion.  I’m hoping to arrange a class visit, if possible.  Reading Response #5 due in class, either printed or sent via email.  Sign up for conferences to discuss what you'd like to do for the Research Project (and show me a draft, if you like).

Spring Break: No class Monday, March 10, through Friday, March 14

Week 10:

Monday, March 17: Conferences in my office, RB 246!  I’ll want to discuss your plans for the Research Project.  I’ll also look at some of your poems, if you like. Course withdrawal period ends.

Wednesday, March 19: Conferences IN MY OFFICE, RB 246, instead of regular class.

Friday, March 21: Class visit from Norman Minnick. MEET IN RB 361 INSTEAD!  He will be coming at 2 PM, though, so I'd like everyone to be there at 2 PM if possible.  If you have a class or another obligation, that's fine; just let me know in advance, please.

Week 11:

Monday, March 24: Discuss “Haiku Anthology.”

Wednesday, March 26: Discuss “Haiku Anthology.” Reading Response #6 due in class, either printed or sent via email.  

Friday, March 28: Discuss “Sailing Alone Around the Room.”  Time permitting, we’ll watch some Billy Collins poetry videos.  Distribute copies of Poem #3.

Week 12:

Monday, March 31: Finish discussing "Sailing Alone Around the Room."  Reading Response #7 due in class, either printed or sent via email. Start workshopping Poem #3.

Wednesday, April 2: Continue workshopping Poem #3.

Friday, April 4: Continue workshopping Poem #3.

Week 13:

Monday, April 7: Finish workshopping Poem #3, if necessary.  Distribute copies of Poem #4. We'll do these in small groups so you only need to bring 5-6 copies.

Wednesday, April 9: Small group workshops of Poem #4. 

Friday, April 11: INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE!  (Obviously, depending on how many students opt for presentations instead of "traditional" papers, this and next week's schedule will be subject to change.) 

Week 14:

Monday, April 14: Presentations, if necessary.

Wednesday, April 16: Distribute copies of Poem #5.  Start workshop "cold," giving first impressions.

Friday, April 18: Continue workshopping Poem #5.

Week 15:

Monday, April 21: Finish workshopping Poem #5. Time permitting, optional revision workshop.

Wednesday, April 23: Optional revision workshop.
Friday, April 25: Optional revision workshop.

Week 16:

Monday, April 28: Last day of regular class. Shed tears and share much laughter.

Final: YOUR PORTFOLIO IS DUE ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, AT 2:15 IN MY OFFICE, RB 246!

What Should Be in Your Portfolio (which constitutes your Final):

-All FIVE original poems (labeled "original", even if you hand-write it on an old, marked up copy).
-AT LEAST three MAJOR revisions. 

-Additional revisions (labeled "major revision, extra credit" or "minor revision, extra credit" are allowed.
-Please place all revisions either before or after the originals. Portfolios can be turned in via hard copy or submitted electronically.


Ideally, I'd like ALL your poems to be revised in some way but I understand that sometimes, we have pieces that we just don't feel like tinkering with or revisiting.  If you're not sure how to revise, or you'd like additional feedback, let me know ASAP.