The "Race to the Finish"

 

English 9 classes to the computer lab for typing on poetry portfolio:

• "B" days  = Mon 7th and Fri 11th
• "A" days  = Tue 8th and Mon 14th

 

Poetry portfolio due by END OF CLASS

• "B" classes (periods 2 and 8) = Fri 11th
• "A" classes (periods 3 and 5) = Mon 14th

 

Click here for the POETRY PORTFOLIO CHECKLIST

 

Reading Qs for “Theme for English B” and “The Writer”

 

#1

	Details About Writing
Theme for English B	·        The professor seems to think that the process of writing just naturally happens – it flows, “comes out” of the writer ·        Later, the speaker says that he and Harlem hear one another, and his writing is affected by what he hears, so writing is influenced by our surroundings and experiences ·        Even later, the speaker suggests our writing is affected by our audience and the people we meet
The Writer	In the first half of the poem, the writing of the daughter is compared to the voyage of a cargo ship where the heavy cargo is all the life experiences of the writer The second half of the poem talks about writing by comparing the process to a bird trying to escape a room through a window; writing is full of wrong starts, pain, but finally triumph – like the flight of a free bird

 

#2 – The speaker in the poem is a Black college student who has been assigned a page that is “true.” He thinks he can’t know what’s “true” at such a young age (line 16-18); in line 20 he wonders who he is while “hearing” Harlem and NY; he wonders if his writing will give away that he’s Black (line 29); he feels he will change while writing – becoming less Black, and he doesn’t feel as free as the professor (line 40).

#3 – The speaker in the poem is a parent of a girl who is typing in a room; the parent pauses to listen. The speaker discusses the challenges of writing – the “heavy” cargo are all of our experiences we bring to the table and then writing is a painful process where thoughts and ideas seek escape onto the page.

#4 – In the first half of the poem the speaker likens writing to … In the second half of the poem, the metaphor compares the process of writing to …

#5 – The two poems both describe writing as a struggle. “Theme for English B” describes the struggle as … “The Writer” sees the struggle of writing as …

 

Thu-Fri, June 3-4

 

DUE TODAY:

Rough draft of poetry writing assignment #2

Reading questions for "Song of the Open Road" and "The Road Not Taken" (on 2-sided poetry handout)

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:

• Be typing reading questions, original poems, and the answers to questions I've asked about your original poems
• Read the two poems "Theme for English B" and "The Writer" as described on the handout, give the 5 questions a shot before class

FOCUS TODAY: Poetry writing, capturing tone

 

In the computer lab for MAPS testing, then work on poetry writing assignment #2

 

Tue-Wed, June 1-2

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing in writing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT:

• Poetry writing assignment #02
• Begin typing the poems you've written AND the reading question responses

FOCUS TODAY: theme, tone, form, rhyme scheme

 

First, a review of theme - paraphrase the definition in your own words, working from the formal definition found in the textbook glossary.

 

Working toward theme using "Song of the Open Road" on pg 289

Poem question #s 1, 2, 4, and 5 from 2-sided poetry handout 

 

Introduction of poetry writing assignment #02

 

Wed-Thu, May 26-27

 

DUE TODAY: poetry writing assignment #01 and the four accompanying questions (below)

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Read the "road" poems and work on the questions

FOCUS TODAY: Rhyme scheme, metaphor

 

Review of rhyme scheme, according to pg 291 "Literary Analysis"

Tracking the rhyme scheme in "The Road Not Taken"

Counting syllables in the lines of "The Road Not Taken"

Looking up page # references and definitions for rhyme scheme, free verse, metaphor

 

Exploration of metaphor as it relates to "The Road Not Taken"

Question: How is the speaker's choice at the crossroads a metaphor for something else?

 

QUESTIONS FOR YOUR ORIGINAL POEM:

Answer all questions below in full sentences. Ultimately, all final drafts of poems must be typed on tehir own sheet of paper. Responses to questions about the original poems AND poems found in the textbook will be typed. All poetry work will be submitted in a portfolio as a final project.

 

1. What is the TOPIC of your poem?
2. What is the THEME/MESSAGE about the topic that the poem supports?
3. In what FORM (free verse or otherwise) is your poem? WHY does the FORM you chose make sense for the poem's topic and theme?
4. What TONE do you want to give through the SPEAKER in your poem? Who do you imagine your speaker is? (Tone = attitude of the speaker toward the topic) 

 

Mon-Tue, May 24-25

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing in writing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Finish poetry writing assignment #01

FOCUS TODAY: MAPs testing in computer lab

 

Thu-Fri, May 20-21

 

DUE TODAY: 7 reading questions from "Young" and "Hanging Fire"

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Work on poetry writing assignment #01

FOCUS TODAY: Review of topic, theme, tone, form; poetry writing

 

Overview of poetry writing assignment #01 

 

Check your answers to “Beware: …” (4 questions) with a focus on #4 

Check your answers to “Young” and “Hanging Fire” (7 questions) with a focus on #6 and 7 

  

Before you leave, you must demonstrate progress on the poetry writing assignment by informing me of: 

• Your topic 
• Your theme (message about the topic) 
• Your poem’s form 
• Some words you will use to give away tone 

 

 

Tue-Wed, May 18-19

 

DUE TODAY: Questions 1-4 for "Beware: Do not read this poem!"

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Complete the 7 reading questions for "Young" and "Hanging Fire"

FOCUS TODAY: Speaker, tone, reading strategies

 

Together, the class will move through the two poems "Young" and "Hanging Fire."

 

Brainstorm: What are some problems and concerns young people have, generally? What do teens worry about?

Recall your brainstorm later, as you attempt to answer question #7 (Handout on poetry from the 9th grade textbook)

 

Both poems feature a speaker that is a young woman with problems. We will move through each poem tracking the problems and arrive at ideas concerning theme and tone. 

 

Fri and Mon, May 14 and 17

 

DUE TODAY: Nothing

HOMEWORK TONIGHT: Complete questions 1-4 for "Beware: Do not read this poem!"

FOCUS TODAY: Introduction to poetry; glossary of literary terms; how to read poetry

 

Handout on poetry from the 9th grade textbook

 

Poetic terms can be found in the book's "Glossary of Literary Terms" on page 1126 - here's an online glossary

 

Poetic FORM - definition retrieved from glossary

More strict forms of poetry require rules of rhyme and rhythm. They might have a set number of lines or stanzas, and syllables in lines

Free verse has no such rules, although it might include rhymes and stanzas

 

Rules for reading poetry

• Read slightly slower than normal speech
• Read paying attention to punctuation
• Pause slightly at commas
• Pause longer at periods and semicolons, as is normal
• Do not drop the voice at the end of lines - just pause slightly

 

“Beware: Do Not Read This Poem”

1.      The title is a kind of warning, but what does it make you curious about and want to do?

2.      Locate examples of unusual and unconventional spelling, punctuation, and language

3.      Students often say that poetry is “stuffy” and “formal.” How is the style of writing in this poem closer to how you might write a note or text a friend?

4.      How does the poem’s suggestion that you “not resist this poem” relate to the poem’s theme?