9th Grade Poetry Portfolio and Anthology
You will write eleven (11) original poems using the provided forms or poetic elements. You will also
read twenty (20) different poems and respond to them briefly in writing. The final product should be a
neatly organized and highly creative portfolio of the original poems and an anthology of readings,
enhanced with artwork.
This packet and your textbook will guide you through this process. The original poems do not have to
rhyme unless specifically required to rhyme. However, http://www.rhymer.com/ and
http://www.rhymezone.com/ are online rhyming dictionaries.
ACTIVITIES:
Handouts– You will receive handouts to complete. Include them in the portfolio.
Poem Performance part I, II, and III – You will memorize a poem and perform it for the class, you will read
one of your own original poems to the class, and you will also read one of your own original poems to five
different individuals. You will receive additional handouts for this assignment.
Readings & Response – In your textbook: Read at least fifteen (15) poems from the textbook. You are free
to decide which poems you want to read from the book. You will include these fifteen poems in your
anthology. At the end of each poem you will write 2-3 sentences stating what you liked about it and why.
Poems - You will write eleven (11) original poems using your choice of the provided forms or poetic elements.
You may only use a poetic form once.
Your portfolio must include:
1. A title page with your name, class, and date (10 points)
2. Eleven original poems, each one using a different form or literary element (10 points each poem=
110 pts total). You may do more for extra credit (up to 5 for 5 pts each=25 ExCr points)
3. All poetry handouts, completed. (10 points)
4. An anthology of at least 20 poems you have read, with at least 15 coming from the textbook. You must
include with each poem the title and author of the poem. At the end of each poem you will write 2-3
sentences stating what you liked about it and why. (10 points each)
5. A cover decorated with a picture, collage, or a drawing. (10 points)
Total points possible = 150
Organizational details:
1. A title is necessary for each poem.
2. You may have more than one poem per page, but write only on one side of the paper.
3. They must be neatly written in ink, or typed.
4. Illustrations help keep teachers awake. They are a welcome addition, but not required. Some would
give your anthology a touch of class (and maybe extra credit).
1
Readings & Response – In Glencoe Literature, your textbook, read fifteen (15) of the following
27 poems – you are free to decide which poems you want to read from this list. Read each poem twice:
once silently, and once aloud. You will include the poems in your anthology portion, along with title,
author, and 2-3 sentences sharing what you thought of the poem. If you have trouble writing your own
thoughts about the poem, you may wish to answer the “Responding and Thinking Critically” questions
that occur after most of the poems. If the poems you choose do not have questions at the end, you must
respond in 2-3 sentences.
“Grudnow” by Linda Pastan p.144
“Ali” by W.S. Merwin p.375
“A Friendly Welcome” by George Gordon, Lord Byron p.377
“who are you, little i?” by e.e. cummings p.526
“A Noiseless Patient Spider” by Walt Whitman p.534
“Haiku” by various poets p.568
“How Things Work” by Gary Soto p.578
“I Was a Skinny Tomboy Kid” by Alma Luz Villanueva p.582
“The World is Not a Pleasant Place to Be” by Nikki Giovanni p.587
“ ‘Hope’ is the thing with feathers—” by Emily Dickinson p.591
“I’m Nobody! Who are You?” by Emily Dickinson p. 592
“Defining the Grateful Gesture” by Yvonne Sapia p.598
“Sympathy” by Paul Laurence Dunbar p.602
“Remember” by Joy Harjo p.606
“The Secret” by Denise Levertov p.616
from “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe p.620
“Grape Sherbet” by Rita Dove p.624
“ ‘Good Night, Willie Lee, I’ll See You in the Morning’ ” by Alice Walker p.630
“Elena” by Pat Mora p.645
“My Mother Combs My Hair” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni p.650
“Lineage” by Margaret Walker p.660
“The Taxi” by Amy Lowell p.814
“Counting the Beats” by Robert Graves p.815
“Simile” by N. Scott Momaday p.862
“Ithaca” by C.P. Cavafy p.1024
“An Ancient Gesture” by Edna St. Vincent Millay p.1026
“Purchase” by Naomi Long Madgett p.1174
2