Creative Writing Unit 3, A Bit of Poetry

I am overwhelmed by the beautiful disorder of poetry, the eternal virginity of words. Theodore Roethke

Step 1: Journal
Spend about 20 minutes reading poetry. Any poetry. Then , choose one poem and respond to it in this journal. What is the poem about? What do you like or dislike about it? What makes this poetic? How is the poet playing with language?

Step 2: What is Poetry?

Take a moment and answer these questions on a word document: 1. What is poetry? 2. What is its purpose? 3. Why do people write it?
4. What is the difference between poetry and prose?

5. What does a poem look like? 6. How does one write a poem? 7. Who reads poetry?

Im sure youve encountered these questions in English class before. The more experience I get as a teacher and a writer, the longer, the more definite, and the more open my answers to these questions become. Now, save this document. You will re-visit these answers and build onto this document as you go through at the end of the unit.

Step 3: Playing with Language

Complete the Playing with Language: Comparison Poem and Playing with Language: Comparison Poem 2, A Portrait activities from the resource binder.

Creative Writing Unit 3, A Bit of Poetry

You may submit this activity electronically or hard-copy.

Step 4: The poetry within and around us

The following activities are a study in poetry, structure, and exercises to help you recognize the poetry within you and around you. Whether you are already a practiced poet or a beginner, these are designed to help you improve your understanding of poetry and enjoy it. Get the following activities from the resource binder. Follow the instructions on each one. The Full Picture writing from memory Personification and Common Objects Read What does a poem look like? Read The Audience: Public writing, Private writing. Poetic Conversations

Step 5: Revision.
Read, The Way I rewrite a Poem. Choose one poem from these activities to revise for a final work. Conference with your facilitator about your poem and consult the proof-reading and revising checklist. Then, revise this poem. Submit the first draft as well as the final draft (either electronically or in print). Step 6: Reflection. Revisit the questions from step 2. Has your understanding of any of these questions changed? Add to, subtract, or revise your answers to these questions. Then, submit them to the facilitator.

Submission Checklist: ___ Journal ___ What is Poetry revised questions/answers ___ Playing with Language, Comparison Poem Activity

Creative Writing Unit 3, A Bit of Poetry

___ Playing with Language, Comparison Poem, a Portrait Activity ___ The Full Picture Activity ___ Personification and Common Object Activity ___ Poetic Conversations Activity ___ One revised poem and previous draft(s)

___ Revision