Students will analyze mentor poems from diverse poets to learn about literary techniques used in poetry and to find inspiration for their writing. Students will engage in the writing process by brainstorming ideas, drafting poems, participating in peer review sessions, and revising their poems to share. Students will also have the opportunity to experiment with poetry techniques and to write free-choice poems in their writer’s notebooks. Reflection is a key component of the course, and students will often reflect on their writing choices and their development as a poet.
In this course, students will explore three big ideas:
(1) What is the role of poetry in our lives and society?
(2) How do poets use literary tools to express ideas and affect their audience?
(3) What impact does the writing process have on our poetry and writing practices?
Throughout the course, students will investigate various purposes for poetry writing. In the first part of the course, students will explore personal purposes for poetry, such as sharing their voice, expressing emotion, describing a place, defining ideas, narrating experiences, and celebrating things they love. In the second part of the course, students will examine poetry’s social purposes, such as sharing experiences, observing life, connecting disciplines, exploring new methods, appreciating diverse voices, and creating change.
This course incorporates a variety of multimedia resources including written poems, poetry readings and performances, and writing tips and tools. Students will read poems, write their own poetry, and offer feedback to peers. Students will also engage in collaborative activities, including discussions and group projects such as collaborative poetry collections and shared poetry writing. Students will be evaluated on their poetry analysis, writing process, writing products, and reflections.