Studying poetry gives us insight into life; creating poetry deepens
our experience of life, compelling us to gauge our human dignity.
The sonnet has challenged and inspired poets for over 600 years;
studying how poets have experimented with this one poetic form will
enhance our understanding of the power and subtlety of language.
Every two weeks students will write their own sonnets, experimenting
with the form’s complexity and recording their artistic development
in a journal.  Students will present their work for class discussion,
and a web site will showcase each student’s poetry throughout the
semester.  The seminar culminates with the Poetry Notebook,
containing the student’s poetry and journal, as well as a critical
introduction written by another class member.  A formal poetry
reading and reception will end the semester’s work.