Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Poem Prompt; First Poetry Workshop

Today, please complete the poem prompt and assignment in the first 15-30 minutes of class. With the last 5-10 minutes or so, save/print your work and type/print any poetry you want to share with your workshop groups in period 8.

POETRY PROMPT:

An ANALOGY is a comparison between two things. When we compare two DIFFERENT things we create a metaphor. If we compare using the words "like" or "as" (adverbs) to soften the comparison, we create a simile. If an object stands in for an abstract idea we get a symbol. If a person stands in for an abstract idea we create an allegory.

Task: write a poem that compares two things in a creative or unexpected way. To start, choose a feeling or abstract idea. Then compare this feeling/idea with a concrete and specific noun. See models for an example. If you finish before the time is up, try to write a second or third poem.

"Your Arms are Stronger than the Words" by Katy Montgomery
Your arms are stronger than the words of the Gettysburg Address.
Yet soft and warm as clothes in a dryer.

And your eyes--bluer than Boston in a World Series,
Deeper than the stack of papers on my desk.

Your voice rings like the phone in the middle of dinner,
It bubbles in me like milk blown through a straw.

How much do I love you?
More than a fire loves oxygen.
More than the mailman loves Sundays.
More than the Rabbit loves Trix.
Conducting a Writers Workshop

Workshopping a written piece is an important step in getting feedback about your writing. If a workshop group is knowledgeable and skilled, they can help a writer grow immensely in a short period of time. Our goal is to craft our writing to make it the best that it can possibly be.

Follow these steps to complete your workshop:
1. Get into your workshop group (see below for groups)
2. Each contributing writer should take turns reading their work out loud to the rest of the group.
3. The group should listen and read silently while the writer reads his/her poem
4. As the writer reads his/her poem, the workshop members should highlight or mark specific words or phrases or lines that he/she liked on the poem draft copy.
5. Consider the basic questions and techniques of poetry...(structure/form, persona/speaker, POV, setting, theme, message, tone, mood, voice, meter, line, imagery, diction, characterization, conflict, cadence groups, sound techniques, etc.) Give the writer a WRITTEN critique of their poem based on the questions on the handout under "workshop discussion questions". See the response sheet given to you today. THIS CRITIQUE response will be turned in to me first, and then I'll hand it over to the writer. Write your corrections/comments on the poem draft copy.
6. When everyone is finished writing, open the discussion to the writer’s specific questions. Writers should help this along by jotting down and asking some questions that they want to know about their work. For example: Did you understand the message of my poem? What are some ways in which I can improve or strengthen my poem? Is the persona's voice clear and well defined or developed? Does the setting of my poem distract you as a reader? Do you have some suggestions with this line that I am having trouble with?, Etc.
7. After you have discussed the writer’s work, please return your marked poem draft copies to its writer.
8. After the group has finished helping the writer, please continue around the group to help critique the other writers who submitted material as well.
9. Continue this until the entire group has had a chance to participate in the workshop.
10. When everyone has had a chance, writers may talk to each other about new ideas and share other writing they have written (in their journal, portfolio, or etc.) You may even try writing a group poem.
You will be graded on the following during workshop: 
A. Participation: offering a poem draft to be critiqued; critiquing another author's work.
B. The written critique response.
C. The author's revision. Your group will be graded together on the IMPROVEMENT from draft one to draft two or more.

Workshop groups:
Group 1: Thiery, Jahni, Imani G., Carly
Group 2: Shayozinique, Imani M, Isaiah
Group 3: Grace, Nikki, Gena, Kayli
Group 4: Ben, Frances, Branden, Evan
Group 5: Ethan, Nathan, Damarys
Group 6: Alexis, Diamond, Khamphasong
HOMEWORK: None. Write a poem if you'd like.

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About this course!

This course stresses understanding the characteristics & techniques in the literary genres of fiction, poetry, and dramatic writing. This course will continue to build on students’ reading and writing skills begun in previous creative writing classes. Readings and discussions of works by major writers in the field will be examined as inspiration and models of fine writing. This educational blog is designed for the use of the students at the School of the Arts in Rochester, NY.