Course Name: Exploring Poetry

Instructor: R. Savage-Owens

Credits: .5 Elective

Grades: 10-12

Course Description

This course concentrates on the analysis and study of poetry and its forms. Readings include work from diverse cultural contexts and original student writings. The course emphasizes discussion and student presentation of poetic analysis.

Essential Questions

What is Poetry? How has poetry developed as a genre over different historical periods and through different cultures?

Course Learning Goals

Students will:

  1. analyze literature through discussion and writing [Critical Thinking];
  2. demonstrate an understanding of such literary terms, themes, strategies, and issues as are relevant to the works being studied;
  3. express their understanding of the relationship between literature and the historical/cultural contexts in which it was written;
  4. read and analyze poems of various periods and representing various points of view, including gender, ethnic identity, and different cultures [Diversity]; and
  5. recognize and evaluate the elements that compose a poem, including the technical elements of poetry as they contribute to make meaning [Arts/Humanities].

Planned Sequence of Topics and/or Learning Activities

Course content includes, but is not necessarily restricted to, the study of diction, imagery, figurative language, rhythm, and sounds of poetry as demonstrated in both traditional and non-traditional forms and styles. The course also covers themes, concerns, and attitudes of poetry past and present. This course will include writing and performing poetry.

In addition:

Students enter the course both with and without training in verbal or written analysis of literature; therefore, a subsidiary set of objectives dealing with literary analysis may be imported as individual student needs dictate.

Reading remains the basic learning method available to students although various means of instruction are employed: Lectures, group discussion, mock trials, role playing, individual or group presentations to the class, media presentations, team teaching, library research, etc.

  1. Through reading, writing, discussion, and various class activities, students identify, explain, and analyze the following: formal elements of the literature, particularly images, image patterns, narrative strategies, diction, and structural divisions of the work; themes and thematic patterns; literary periods, movements, and terms as appropriate to the literature; viewpoint as influenced by a diverse range of cultural, ethnic, and gender perspectives.
  2. The writing assignments reflect the course goals that students can comprehend, interpret, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate the literature.
  3. Students may use various critical frameworks for the analysis of literature.

Assessment Methods for Course Learning Goals

To evaluate all learning goals and objectives, the depth and quality of student comprehension and critical thinking skills will be determined through analytical essays, exams, quizzes, journals, oral or multi-media presentations, class discussions, conferences with individual students, service learning projects, and other methods as appropriate to course content.

Reference, Resource, or Learning Materials to be used by Student:

The instructor may choose an appropriate anthology or individual texts including the Poetry 180 and Poetry Out Loud websites. While readings are at the instructor's discretion, selections must include a diversity of writers from international, gender, and minority perspectives, students-selected poetry, ands students own poetry.

Grades may be based on the following components:

60%

•Formal Writing Pieces (as determined by Plymouth High School Writing Guidelines) *Prewriting, outlines, drafts, and revision assignments fall under this category

•Tests and Quizzes

•Projects

•Formal Presentations

40%

•Class Work and Homework (reading responses, notes, language practice, etc.)

•Participation (Socratic Circles, Informal Presentations, Think, Pair, Share, etc.)