LA 201 Poetry Unit

LA 201 – Poetry Unit

Poetry Unit: Creating Your Own Chapbook

Throughout the next few weeks, we will be reading and writing poetry. You will be responsible for successfully demonstrating your understanding of the poetic devices studied in your own collection of poems, also known as a chapbook.

Assignment Specifics:

-  Each day the class will learn about a new poetic device, learn about a new poetic form, and examine examples.

-  Many evenings you be assigned to write your own poem that demonstrates that day’s poetic topic, following the guidelines listed below

-  At the beginning of each class, poems that were assigned the night before will be collected. These poems do not need to be typed. As long as each poem meets its listed criteria (below), the poem will receive full credit.

-  At the conclusion of the unit, the class will use a computer lab to type all poems into final drafts and compile chapbooks (a book of poetry by one author)

Poetry assignment criteria:

£ FOR Wednesday, March 3rd ………………………………………...………………. Found (Magazine Word) Poem

§  Will be the cover of your chapbook

£ FOR Thursday, March 4th ……………………… . . ……………………..…………………………. Rhyming Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Rhyme

§  Connects to “We Real Cool” on textbook page 598

§  Must be at least 10 lines

§  Must follow a decided rhyme scheme

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Friday, March 5th ……………………… . . ……………………………………………. Meter/Rhyming Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Meter

§  Connects to “Shall I Compare Thee…” on textbook page 561

§  Must be 14 lines

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Tuesday, March 9th ……………………… . . ……………………………...……………………. Imagery Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Imagery

§  Connects to “Since Feeling is First” on textbook page 552

§  Must be 12 lines

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Wednesday/Thursday, March 10/11th (BLOCK) ……… …………………………. Extended Metaphor Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Metaphor

§  Connects to “Mother to Son” on textbook page 508

§  Must be 8 lines

§  Must contain at least three similes or metaphors –OR– entire poem must be an extended metaphor

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Wednesday, March 17th …………………………………………………………….…… Song Lyrics Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Music as Poetry

*** Enter in the competition(s) for FIVE BONUS POINTS

§  Must be at least 12 lines

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Thursday, March 18th ……………………………………….………….…… Acrostic with Onomatopoeia

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Onomatopoeia

§  Connects to “Sea Fever” on textbook page 592 and other in-class examples

§  Must be at least 10 lines

§  First letters of all lines must spell an actual word or phrase

§  Must include at least on example of onomatopoeia

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Friday, March 19th ……………………………………………...………………….…… Personification Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Personification

§  Connects to “Heart, we will forget him” on textbook page 569

§  Must be at least 12 lines

§  Must personify at least one object

§  Can be on topic of your choosing

£ FOR Monday, March 22nd …………………………………………………..………………..….....……Parody Poem

§  Prior Class Period Topic: Parody

§  Must be at least 15 lines

§  Must mimic a poem we have read in class – OR – another song/poem of your choosing

*** PLEASE NOTE: If you are parodying a song/poem we did not read in class, you MUST provide me with the original version as well

£ FOR Tuesday, March 23rd ……………………………..…………………….……….………Your Poetic Self (prose)

§  Must be a well-crafted paragraph that answers the following questions:

o  What is poetry?

o  Where do you see poetry all around you? (Give at least three examples)

o  Do you fit one of the “poet stereotypes?” Why or why not? How would you define yourself as a poet?

o  When do you see yourself writing poetry in the future? Explain. (Honesty is okay; however, if you say “I’ll never do this again unless another teacher makes me,” explain why. Also, “because it’s dumb” isn’t an explanation J)

Grading Rubric:

TOTAL: ______/ 100 Grade: ______