Comp/Lit 9: 1/26/2011

Introduction to Poetry

• Welcome to the Second Semester!
• When the students walked in, they were instructed (via the document camera) to sit in any seat that had a treat (cinnamon roll) at it, but not to eat it yet.
• We started the period with a grammar review, workbook pages 11-12.  We reviewed the definition of the words: phrase, clause, compound and subject.  Then the students completed the activity on page 12 where they needed to identify prepositional phrases, compound subjects and verbs.
• I then talked to then briefly about the service/research assignment for the semester.  The goal is to work with and research a group in our society that has experienced prejudice in some way.  More details will be coming soon.
• I passed out the new course calendar and the Introduction to Poetry Packet.
• I then told the students to prepare to eat their cinnamon roll bite, but as they ate it they needed to experience it in such a way that they could describe everything about it: taste, texture, etc.  Then the students shared out their descriptions
• I then asked them to write down all of the ingredients and the process by which the cinnamon roll was made.  I then asked them about the skills and knowledge that were required to enjoy/experience the cinnamon roll.  The conclusion was that not many skills other than utilizing the senses were required.  Then I asked them what type of skills and knowledge were required to craft/create the cinnamon roll.  The conclusion was that a more specific set of skills, tools and knowledge were required.  
• I then asked them why they thought we were talking about cinnamon rolls.  Most were not able to make a connection, so I explained.  In my opinion, not much is required to enjoy/experience poetry; however, to craft poetry a specific set of skills and knowledge are required.  Therefore, our mini poetry unit will be made up of times where we simply enjoy poetry and other times where we will be working to acquire the skills and knowledge to be able to craft poetry.
• And off we went...
• I had them brainstorm everything they know about poetry and as they shared out, I wrote their responses on the board.
• We then read the poem "Introduction to Poetry" by Billy Collins and completed the analysis chart in the poetry packet.  Each time We looked for a new device, I would define it and a student would read the poem again, so that we could here it aloud in another voice.
• We ended the period with an explanation of the two homework assignments (see below).
• Homework: Poetry Analysis Notes on one of the “What is Poetry?” poems (packet pg 17-20), pick one of the five poems and complete the analysis notes; Make a poster or power point slide for your assigned poetry term (packet page 9), the poster/slide must include the term, the definition, and an image or example; Think about a group to serve/research for the ENTIRE semester.