TWSA260

Poetry 2

What is outside the formal properties of the poem? More forms! As writers, we bring forms of attention, memory, imagination, and ideas to the crafting of our poetry.

In this intensive course, you will study how poetic language emerges between what you personally bring to your poetry and the traditional and radical histories of poetry as an artform. Combining big ideas with granular sensory details, this course will help you think about and play with your perceptions as you explore multiple ways to create and edit your work.

If you are comfortable with the fundamentals and are looking to push your poetry further, this course offers readings, discussions, writing exercises and a workshopping environment where you can experiment and dig deeper in a supportive community of other writers.

Workshopping and feedback: This course includes instructor feedback on weekly assignments. You'll also submit two pieces for workshopping and receive written feedback from your instructor and other students. In turn, you'll provide feedback to your classmates, and benefit your own writing by seeing feedback on others' work.

Overview

Location: Online
Format: Self-paced within deadlines set by instructor
Duration: 10 weeks
Tuition: $628.95

You may also be interested in:
The Writer's Studio

Upcoming Offerings

Start Date
Schedule
Location
Instructor
Cost
Seats Available
Action
Start DateThu, Feb 20, 2025
Schedule
  • Thu, Feb 20 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Feb 27 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Mar 6 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Mar 13 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Mar 20 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Mar 27 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Apr 3 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Apr 10 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Apr 17 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Apr 24 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorKevin Spenst
Cost$628.95
Seats Available25
ActionRegister
Start DateThu, Oct 9, 2025
Schedule
  • Thu, Oct 9 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Oct 16 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Oct 23 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Oct 30 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Nov 6 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Nov 13 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Nov 20 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Nov 27 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Dec 4 (self-paced all week)
  • Thu, Dec 11 (self-paced all week)
LocationOnline
InstructorKevin Spenst
Cost$628.95
Seats Available25
ActionRegister

What you will learn

By the end of the course, you will be able to do the following:  

  • Employ personas, objects, dreams, memories and chance to push your poetry in new directions
  • Understand how politics, spirituality, critical theory, philosophy, and language play out in your writing, and how your own experiences affect your writing choices.
  • Discuss your own work in relation to its influences and inheritances and use this practice as a way to inspire and fine-tune your writing.
  • Give effective public readings.

How you will learn and be evaluated

  • Read weekly modules
  • Complete additional weekly reading (if assigned)
  • Complete a writing assignment each week for feedback from the instructor
  • Participate in weekly discussions based on readings and activities
  • Read and provide feedback on other students’ work each week
  • Submit two pieces of your own writing for feedback from the instructor and other students

This course is graded using a competency-based grading scale

Who should take this course?

To get the most out of this advanced course, you should have the following experience: 

  • Completion of an introductory poetry course
  • Familiarity with the workshopping process (both giving and receiving feedback)

Learning Materials

Course fees do not include textbooks. We encourage you to purchase from your local independent bookstore or the sources listed below.

Required textbooks:

Sol, Adam. How a Poem Moves. ECW Press, 2019. ISBN-10: 1770414568, ISBN 13: 978-1770414563. Available for purchase from publisher.

Taylor, Rob, et al. Best Canadian Poetry 2019. Biblioasis, 2019. ISBN-10: 1771963301, ISBN 13: 978-1771963305. Available for purchase from publisher.

Technical Requirements

For online courses, you will need a computer with audio and microphone that is connected to the internet. Canvas is the online system that will be used for the course. For more information and online support, visit Online Learning.