Brand Spankin’ New Unit:
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How do poets express themes of self and identity?
How can I express myself through poetry… Do I dare?
What is poetry? What is a poem?
How do we make meaning of poetry? What strategies can we use to
understand poetry?
How do poets express themes in their work?
How does word choice help readers experience poetry? What devices
do poets use?
What are some different poetic forms and structures and how do they
affect meaning?
What makes a poet’s voice intense, unique and memorable? How
does performance affect the meaning of the written word in a poem?
How are song lyrics and poetry alike and different?
What is poetry? What is a poem? What do all poems have in
common?
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What is poetry? What is a poem?
• Anticipation Guide
• Definition of Poetry
• Poetry Splash
– Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins
– Individual Poems
• Culminating Project
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Final Project
1. Original Poetry Anthology
2. Single Poet Anthology
3. Multiple Poet Anthology
Create a poem anthology consisting of 8-12
poems (or songs). Connect the poems with and
overarching subject. The final project will
include visual representations, forms, themes,
identification of figurative language, and
interpretations.
*Extra credit will be given for anthologies with common themes.
Extra Credit will also be given for original artwork.
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Poetry Splash
Introduction to Poetry by Billy Collins
I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide
or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.
*This word or line is cool
! This is something important
? I don’t get it
I want them to water-ski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.
But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.
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Open your journals. On a clean page,
answer the following questions:
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
1. What did you like about the poem?
2. How did the poem make you feel?
3. Which words or phrase did you like?
What words or phrases needed clarification?
What surprised you?
What do you think the poem is about?
What might this poem be saying?
How can we define poetry?
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