"We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
Read the following quote by Professor John Keating from the movie Dead Poets Society. What do you think it means? Why? Min. 50 word response for full credit. Please read and reply to at least one other person's response. Feel free to find and include a quote that you think summarizes the value of poetry.
"We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.”
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Check out Cinquain.org website to learn about cinquain poems and the many variations of this form. Practice writing some cinquain poems of your own. Experiment with your subjects and word choices. When you compose a quality cinquain that you like, post it as a reply to this blog so we can read your poem.
SNOW Look up… From bleakening hills Blows down the light, first breath Of wintry wind…look up, and scent The snow! by Adelaide Crapsey 1) Watch the sensory details tutorial video 2) Work on your descriptive sketch 3) exchange with someone 4) find 3-5 words in your writing that are vague and replace them with sensory words (i.e. thesaurus) 1) Print three copies of the character sketch. Turn one in to me and give one to your subject. Keep one for your CW binder.
2) Get the packet about descriptive writing and the five senses. Read it. 3) Descriptive writing picture prompt activity. 4) Exchange and revise Sonnet poems - writing a sonnet can be challenging, so here are a few links to guide you along. You can post your sonnet as a reply. Sonnet poetry links: Sonnet Central - a collection of sonnet poems Sonnet building step 1 - gathering data Sonnet poetry defined by Poets.org Sonnet 29 Pride & Prejudice clip FYI - poem about spring Submit your mask inspired poem as a reply to this post. Follow these links for sample poems and videos. We Wear The Mask poem Mask poem Identify - student short film Plastic - short film We Wear the Mask Maya Angelou reading Your assignment is write a free verse poem inspired by the "Blackened" presentation. The poem does not have to be about the presentation, simply inspired by it. Review the characteristics of a free verse poem. Your poem must be posted by the end of class. From The New York Times: The Learning Network (March 27, 2014) ~ It’s been a long, cold winter, but there is no more reliable sign of spring on The Learning Network than our annual found poem contest. What is a found poem? A good nutshell description would be “poems that are composed from words and phrases found in another text.” So here it is...your assignment for April is...you guessed it! You will be required to create and submit your found poem to the NY Times Found Poetry Student Contest. Follow this link for contest overview, rules, submission instructions, and a collection of found poems from past winners. You must also submit your found poem to this blog as a reply. Good reading and good luck AHS Creating Writing students. FYI...you can access article for free without a digital subscription by accessing the NYT Learning Network - follow this link. Assignment: Please read the following short story and finish it. Add your own climax and falling action. Your writing should be at least 750 words. Post your work as a comment or print a copy and turn it in. DUE 1/10/14
The Gold Wrapping Paper Once upon a time, there was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. This particular year a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family's only roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. As money was tight, he became even more upset when on Christmas Eve he saw that the child had used all of the expensive gold paper to decorate one shoebox she had put under the Christmas tree. He also was concerned about where she had gotten money to buy what was in the shoebox. Nevertheless, the next morning the little girl, filled with excitement, brought the gift box to her father and said, "This is for you, Daddy!" As he opened the box, the father was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, now regretting how he had punished her. But when he opened the shoebox, he found it was empty and again his anger flared. "Don't you know, young lady," he said harshly, "when you give someone a present, there's supposed to be something inside the package!" FINISH THE STORY |