English 303 ELLIPSIS

Fall 2001 the class meets Tuesdays, noon to 12:50 in Ellipsis Office-(Conv 201)

Advisor: Natasha Sajé, Ph.D.

Office: Foster 405

Office Hours: Tuesday 1-2:00 p.m.; Thursday, noon to 2 p.m.; most Mondays 3:00-5:30 p.m.

Telephone: Office 832-2376 (also voice mail) Home 474-3579

email: nsaje@westminstercollege.edu

Editor: Sarah Lovato

Fiction Editor: Emily Workman

Poetry Editor: Michelle Kamerath

Business Managers: Sarah Wilcox and Jessie Travatt

Objectives: This course teaches students how to evaluate contemporary literature and how to produce a literary/arts magazine. The Ellipsis reading period is August 1-November 1, so this semester we will be concentrating on reading submissions. Please be aware that submissions come from all over the country, from all kinds of writers, and that the subject matter may not be what you are used to. You do not have to finish reading any submission that you find offensive or disturbing. We'll discuss in class how to weigh aesthetic merit versus subject matter. After the first few sessions, the class will break up into smaller groups led by one of the editors, to discuss poetry, fiction, and business matters in greater detail. This first half of the course we will also be updating the website/archive, and planning advertisements and barter agreements. The second half of the course next spring focuses on design, layout, art, and scanning the material into Quark, as well as updating the web site/archive, and publicizing the new issue. I will announce the key code to the Ellipsis office in class, but ask that you do not share it with anyone who is not enrolled in the class.

Requirements:

1. Attend and prepare for all weekly meetings, as directed by editors and advisor. The bulk of what we do and learn is in class, discussing what we like and what we don't understand in the submissions we read.

2. Attend additional meetings scheduled by the editor. Editors will delegate photocopying of submissions, so please volunteer for this task.

3. Solicit contributions from students and others as directed by the editor.

4. Attend at least one poetry reading during the semester. Write a one paragraph response to be handed in with your hours tally at the end of the semester.

5. Remain professional in working relationships with contributors, editors, and with each other. (We'll talk about what this means.)

6. Read submissions on your own time. Roughly one extra hour per week. When you find a submission you want the whole class to discuss, please put it in the "discussion box" and I'll make copies for class. Other work includes staffing Book Festival table, updating web page, finding comparable journals, designing posters, distributing copies, etc.

GRADES

Are on a "contract" basis as follows: Please keep track of your own extra hours by noting them in the log. You do not have to keep track of your class attendance; I’ll do that. At the end of the semester, you’ll hand in to me a “tally” of your hours worked.

For an A, you must attend at least 12 classes and do at least 15 hours of reading or other work.

For a B, you must attend at least 10 classes and do at least 12 hours of reading or other work.

For a C, you must attend at least 9 classes and do at least 9 hours of reading or other work.

For a D, you must attend 7 classes and do at least 7 hours of reading or other work.

Anything less=F

Schedule: Assignments are due on the date next to which they appear.

4 September

Introduction: What constitutes “good” poetry?

Four theories of art.

Take home one journal to analyze it—come prepared to talk about it next week.

6 September

Naomi Shihab Nye reads in Gore, 7 p.m.

If you are free at 5:30, come hear Naomi Nye talk about her poetry in E361 (Middle Eastern Literature)

11 September

Discuss handouts: Editors on Poetry (from Poetry Society of America journal)and essays by Chase Twichell and Sallie Bingham.

Club Fair 10:30-1:30 p.m. 12 September

18 September

Discuss submissions.

Book Festival table sign-up.

Make “submit” posters for campus—solicit art.

20 September (Thursday)

noon: lunch with Peter Davison (rsvp to me, please)

Peter Davison reads in Jewett, 7 p.m.

GREAT SALT LAKE BOOK FESTIVAL: we have a table—sign up for hours

Saturday and Sunday September 22 & 23

25 September

read submissions

2 October

read submissions

possible visit by Quarterly West editor

9 October

read submissions

11 October (Thursday)

Chana Bloch reads in Nunemaker, 7 p.m.

16 October

MID SEMESTER: YOU MUST HAVE HALF OR MORE OF YOUR HOURS WORKED BY NOW.

small groups

23 October

small groups

30 October

small groups

6 November

small groups

13 November

art session with David Baddley: meet in third floor converse art room

20 November

small groups

27 November

small groups

29 November (Thursday)

noon, lunch with Charles Simic rsvp to me, please

7 p.m. Charles Simic reads in Jewett, 7 p.m.

4 December

Last Day of Class: discuss “finalists”

12 December

Final exam period, noon-1:50 p.m.

We’ll take care of any last details, and you’ll tally your own final grades.