Teacher’s Name: Leslie Ross
Date: Friday
Title of Unit: Poetry
Title of Lesson: Modern American Poets
Previous Assignment: Sonnets
The students were asked to start the first eight lines of a sonnet for today’s class period.
Check for questions and student’s progress and then ask them to complete the sonnet to
be turned in the next class period.
Estimated Time: Review discussion- 5 minutes; Introduction- 10 minutes; Discussion
and start of project- the rest of class.
Objectives: The student will be able to:
 Identify terms as they are found in poetry.
 Summarize selected poetry.
 Write about poetry using poetry terminology.
 Produce research on a poet.
Materials: handouts of selected poetry, computer, printer, internet, library
Activities: We will review the poetic terminology that was discussed earlier in the week,
as well as the terms assigned for today: alliteration, assonance, rhyme, rhythm,
onomatopoeia, rhyme scheme, simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, and free
verse.
Handouts with the following poems will be given out: Selections by Robert Frost,
including “The Road Not Taken”, “Fire and Ice”, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy
Evening”. Selections by Carl Sandburg, including “Chicago” and “Grass”. “Elegy for
Jane” by Theodore Roethke, “Death of a Ball Turret Gunner” by Randall Jarrell.
We will be doing a project on Modern American Authors, which will include research
and a final project.
Evaluation: This will be the end project of the Poetry unit, and evaluation will be based
on the final project.
Assignment: At the end of the project, you will be required to turn in a packet, typed in
12-point font, preferably Times New Roman, which will include:
1. A summary or paraphrasing of the assigned poems.
2. A biography, in your own words, of one poet with your resources listed (any modern
American poet of your choice, approved by me).
3. 5 poems that you have collected from other sources, by legitimate poets
4. A poem of your own that you have written.
5. A copy of the poem you are going to read aloud, by the poet you have chosen.
6. A one page, typed, double spaced essay interpreting one of the poems assigned,
discussing it’s poetic elements.
The students will have two weeks to finish the project, with some in class time dedicated
to research, questions, etc. Presentations will be given during the following week.