The web is full of the written words, sights, sounds, and backgrounds of poetry. There are glossaries, anthologies, blogs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, biographies, and archives--in fact just about anything you may wish to pursue. During the semester, we'll use web resources frequently. It will be important to discriminate among sites, since not all are trustworthy, interesting, or helpful. Below is a list of sites you might find particularly useful.
MAPS: This invaluable resource is the companion to the anthology of poems we will use this semester. It contains individual sites for each author whose writings are included in the anthology, giving us instant access to historical documents, additional poems, critical commentary, time lines, photographs, artwork, and sound files. Use it in tandem with the anthology to prepare for class.
EPC: This is the electronic poetry center, run out of the Poetics Program at the University of Buffalo. It contains a deep collection of resources, including information about authors, an anthology of e-poetry, links to poetry presses, journals, and blogs, and much else of interest. Bookmark it and browse.
PENNsound: This is an astonishing resource for all who are interested in the sounds of poems. It contains MP3s and other downloadable sound files of individual contemporary authors, archival readings, poetic events, interviews, radio programs, webcasts, and other rich collections of data. Download poems to listen to on the bus, while you workout, or with friends. Check it periodically to see what's new.
Academy of American Poets: In addition to biographies, sound files, poetic news, and a poetic calendar, this site, maintained by one of the major resources for American poets, contains spotlight essays, poets, and poems that change weekly. There's even a store with books, collectibles, CDs & DVDs.
Dictionary of Literary Biography: Available to UI students through library information services, this dictionary contains biographical, bibliographic, and critical essays on poets. It will be an excellent resource for further research in this and other classes. To get there quickly, type the title into the Search field. You will need your HawkID and password to access the material.
A Guide for Writing Research Papers: This site presents a clear and concise set of instructions for writing a research paper. It includes format, quotation procedure, a guide to citations, and a section on grammar and writing.
The Elements of Style: William Strunk, Jr.'s classic reference book is intended to help students in courses that combine the practice of compositionwith the study of literature. It gives in brief space the principal requirements of plain English style and concentrates attention on rules of usage and principles of composition that most commonly give writers trouble. "Make definite assertions. Avoid tame, colorless, hesitating, non-committal language," he writes, and he doesn't violate his own rule.
To come.