Common Course Outline

Course discipline/number/title ENGL 2252: Writing Poetry

Catalog Description

Credits 3
Hours/Week 3
Prerequisites (Course discipline/number) None
Other requirements Noe
MnTC Goals (if any) Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature and Philosophy

Course Description

This course instructs students in writing and interpreting poetry. By experimenting with a variety of exercises, forms, and techniques, students learn to create, revise, and present their own poetry. Through group work, readings, and class activities, students also become more proficient in the explication, interpretation, and evaluation of poetry.

Date Last Revised (Month, year)

February, 2026

Outline of Major Content Areas

  1. The nature of poetry
  2. Drafting, developing, and revising poetry
  3. Workshop model: giving feedback and critique
  4. Closed (traditional) forms vs. open forms
  5. Narrator/persona (vs. author)
  6. Imagery
  7. Figures of speech
  8. Sound, rhythm, meter
  9. Pattern and form
  10. Interpretation and evaluation of poetry

Learning Outcomes (General)

The student will be able to:

  1. Explain how poetry differs from prose.
  2. Recognize how poetry uses language, sound, images, symbols, and form to convey its meaning.
  3. Use the creative writing process to draft, revise, and present original poems.
  4. Write and assess both “regular” and “free” verse.
  5. Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on reading other writers’ work critically and reflectively and responding orally and/or in writing.
  6. Locate, evaluate, synthesize, and apply ideas regarding the writing of poetry from diverse sources and points of view.
  7. Utilize key poetry techniques, including narrator, imagery, figures of speech, sound, and rhythm.
  8. Apply the elements of poetry in order to convey specific emotions, values and/or themes to a specific audience.

Learning Outcomes (MnTC)

Goal 6/The Humanities, the Arts, Literature and Philosophy

The student will be able to:

  1. Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within a historical and social context.
  2. Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.
  3. Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.

Methods for Evaluation of Student Learning

Methods may include but are not limited to:

RCTC Core Outcome(s)

This course contributes to meeting the following RCTC Core Outcome(s):

Communication
Students will communicate appropriately for their respective audiences.

Special Information (if any)

None