Spring Break -- Poetry Portfolio
PreAP English 2
Directions: You are to pick FIVE of the following to complete. They will be graded on following the
instructions as well as grammar and spelling. Feel free to make your portfolios fancy, but plain will work
too.
In addition to the FIVE poems you will write, you must also include TWO poems you love, like, or
connect with that you find either in books, or on the internet. (I love poetryfoundation.org. They even
have an app!) The poems must be by published authors, not individuals who post their creations to the
web. Include a MLA citation for each found poem.
Since April is National Poetry Month, when we return from break, we will have a poetry reading. Each
person is REQUIRED to share ONE poem, whether it is ONE of the FIVE you created, or ONE of the
TWO you found.
Total Points Possible: 50
Bio Poem
Suggested supplies: picture of self (perhaps as a baby), colored paper
Line 1:
Line 2:
Line 3:
Line 4:
Line 5:
Line 6:
Line 7:
Line 8:
write your first name
4 words that describe you (adjectives)
write “son/daughter of…”
write “who loves….”
write “who fears…”
write “who wants to see…”
write “resident of…”
write your last name
Headline Poem
Supplies: newspapers, scissors, glue stick, colored paper (optional)
Step 1: Cut out 20-30 words or phrases (more words than phrases) from one issue of a
newspaper.
Step 2: Spread out pieces and play, moving pieces around to form some sort of
sentence/poem whether it makes sense or not. You do not have to use all that you cut
out.
Step 3: Place words on colored paper, add punctuation, endings (plural, tense changes,
etc.)
Acrostic Poems
Suggested supplies: colored paper
Step 1: Pick a word (your name, school, food, etc) and spell it vertically down the left side of
the page. Your word must be longer than 5 letters.
Step 2: Make a poem about that word using more than one word per line.
The Good Old Reliable Cinquain
A cinquain is a type of poem that only contains five lines. Yes, it's short. There are three different
types of cinquains. Some are harder than others, but they are all similar. They are called Simple
Word Cinquain, Regulated Word Cinquain, and Formal Cinquain. Write one cinquain from
each of the three categories. Must do all three for full credit.
Structures for Simple Word Cinquain:
Line 1 : One word (subject)
Line 2: Two Words
Line 3: Three Words
Line 4: Four Words
Line 5: One word (can be same as line one or use synonym)
Structure for Regulated Word Cinquain:
Line 1: One word that names a thing
Line 2: Two words that describe the thing in line one
Line 3: Three words that describe an action related to thing in line one
Line 4: Four words that express a feeling about the thing
Line 5: One words that sums up the poem
Structure for Formal Cinquain:
Line 1: Two syllables
Line 2: Four syllables
Line 3: Six syllables
Line 4: Eight syllables
Line 5: Two syllables
The “Five W’s” Poem
Each line of the poem answers one of the five W questions (who, when, where, what, and why).
Each line may be a word, or a phrase, or a clause but must be consistent in choice throughout the
five lines. The order of the questions may be changed to suit a purpose, or to give a more succinct
meaning, or to impart a more exciting climax. Please title your poem.
Rx Poem
Line 1: topic
Line 2: a verb
Lines 3, 4, and 5: three prepositional phrases, telling where or how the topic occurs
(one on each line)
Line 6: the word “like”
Lines 7, 8, and 9: three similes, one on each line
Line 10: an –ing verb
Line 11: completion of thought.
Thesaurus Poem
Supplies: thesaurus, colored paper (optional)
Step 1: think of an object
Step 2: Write the word “This” on the first line.
Step 3: On line 2, write one word that describes how your object sounds. Use a thesaurus to find a
synonym for that word.
Step 4: On line 3, write one word that describes how your object looks. Again, use a thesaurus.
Step 5: On line 4, write one word that describes how your object feels. Again, use a thesaurus.
Step 6: On line 5, write one word that describes how your object tastes. Again, use a thesaurus.
Step 7: On line 6, write one word that describes how your object smells. Again, use a thesaurus.
Step 8: On line 7, write the word “as” and what the object reminds you of.
Step 9: On line 8, write the name of the object you are describing.
List Poem
Step 1: Choose a title for your list poem. Ideas include: Things I Don’t Understand, Things
That Drive Me Crazy, Ice Cream Flavors, Fashion Do’s and Don’ts, Things in Teacher
Heaven, Things that Repeat Themselves, etc.
Step 2: Brainstorm a list of things serious and not so serious, real and made up, that fit
under that title. A list of 20 items is a good start.
Step 3: Transfer your list into a poem. Cut any words or phrases that are not interesting.
Keep in mind that poems sometimes have rhythm and sound effects. Consider placing one
of your items in a surprising place for effect.