Writing Workshop

Focus Question – how do poets express themes of self and identity?

• “I’m Alive, I Believe in Everything” by Lesley Choyce  http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/choyce_im_alive_i_believe_in_everything.html
• “On Turning Ten” by Billy Collins http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-turning-ten/
• “Self-Portrait at 28” by David Berman  http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/self-portrait-at-28/
• “Heredity” by Thomas Hardy http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/heredity-2/
• “Conceit” by DH Lawrence
• “Lost” by David Waggoner http://www.panhala.net/Archive/Lost.html
• “My Life” by Joe Wenderoth  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/079.html
• “I’m Nobody” by Emily Dickinson  http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/15392
• “Ode to Family Photographs – Will you Know Us?” by Gary Soto http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/19710
• “Alone” by Maya Angelou http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/alone-6/
• “I Am” by Voltaraine De Cleyre http://judithpordon.tripod.com/poetry/voltaraine_de_cleyre_i_am.html

After reading each of the above poems, grab a buddy and complete the table answering questions about 5 poems of your choice.  I would choose the 5 poems you understand the best.

Personification is language that gives human characteristics to inanimate objects or ideas.

• The raindrops kissed my face.
• The road beckoned me to follow.
• My mother’s quilt hugged me with her love.

Complete each of the following with an original personification.  Try to think of something that no one else in the class will write.

1.  The car
2. The computer
3. The warm sun
4. The moon
5. The paper clip
6. Fire
7. The window of an old house
8. The rain
9. Anger
10. The tree

Step-by-step instructions:

1.  Tape the poem that you selected to the middle of a larger piece of colored paper
2.  Annotate around the poem in neat writing:

• Underline or circle important words and define
• Write thoughts, conclusions, or comments with arrows connecting to the poem
• Write questions
• Draw a picture of a vivid image or words the poem evokes.
• Comment on words or phrases you particularly like

3.  Identify the THEME of the poem.
4.  Write a brief summary explaining what the poem means to you.

Again, here’s the list of poems to choose from:

• “Mentor” by Thomas Murphy  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/163.html
• “Wheels” by Jim Daniels  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/021.html
• “The  Meadow” by Kate Knapp Johnson http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/033.html
• “In the Well” by Andrew Hudgins http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/041.html
• “Otherwise” by Jane Kenyon  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/050.html
• “Lesson” by Forest Harner http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/059.html
• “I’ve Been Known” by Denise Duhamel http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/065.html
• “My Life” by Joe Wenderoth http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/079.html
• “Hate Poem” by Julie Sheehan http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/127.html
• “Before the World Intruded” by Michele Rosenthal http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/148.html
• “Kyrie” by thomas Transtormer http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/166.html
• “End of April” by Phillis Levin http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/178.html

A SIMILE is a comparison between two unlike things using the words like or as.

Examples:

from the book Active English by Karla Hardaway

• Her bangs looked like broken spokes in a wagon wheel.
• The scream pierced like a splinter under a fingernail.
• The room was a s cold as an executioner’s heart.

from me!

• His smile was like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
• Her eyes were like the sea during a tempest – fiery and blue.
• His questions were like an attack  of mosquitos after a long winter of starvation.

from Active English by Karla Hardaway:

Complete some similes.  Do not use trite comparisons like “pretty as a picture” or “cold as ice”.  Try to think of something that no one else in the class will write!

1. The pencil sharpener sounded like . .. .
2. The baby’s face looked like . . .
3. The whistle of the train sounded like . . .
4. His arms were as ____ as _____.
5. The bells were as ___ as ____.
6. The canyon looked like . . . .
7. The dress fit like . . . .
8. The words pierced like . . .
9. The child’s eyes were like . . . .
10. The door squeaked like . . . .

Read all of the following poems and select one to analyze:

• “Mentor” by Thomas Murphy  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/163.html
• “Wheels” by Jim Daniels  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/021.html
• “The  Meadow” by Kate Knapp Johnson http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/033.html
• “In the Well” by Andrew Hudgins http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/041.html
• “Otherwise” by Jane Kenyon  http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/050.html
• “Lesson” by Forest Harner http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/059.html
• “I’ve Been Known” by Denise Duhamel http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/065.html
• “My Life” by Joe Wenderoth http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/079.html
• “Hate Poem” by Julie Sheehan http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/127.html
• “Before the World Intruded” by Michele Rosenthal http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/148.html
• “Kyrie” by thomas Transtormer http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/166.html
• “End of April” by Phillis Levin http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/178.html

Write a personal narrative about a place.  Use sensory words, imagery, figurative language to help readers visualize and gain a sense of that place.  Remember narrative means story, tell us about your first visit, or repeated visits or how the place makes you feel, or . . . . The only other requirement is to use language that can easily be read aloud.

Here’s the link to the web site:

http://www.bestoftheroad.com/education/#content=2&modal=NONE

 When you have finished your essay (revised, proofread, peer reviewed), post it to blog by making a comment to this post.

Please write a brief paragraph describing your writing.  This should be typed in italics and e-mailed to me.  The writing needs to include some highlights about the story with the intent of encouraging someone to read it – like a teaser trailer or back of a book sort of thing.  Also include whether the story is fiction, non-fiction, romance, adventure, etc.

Use the links to the right to read each student’s writing.

Student’s please write a paragraph of response.  This should include 4 – 6 specific things you liked.  For example, I really liked the end.  The words ” insert quote from writing ” seemed to tie things together nicely.  The end lingered, too, I found myself thinking about your story after I had finished.  You could also make a polite suggestion for a change.  But, even more informative to the author, ask a question or two or three.  Some of the writings have holes in the narrative – asks what happened to such and such a character, or what’s with a particular object.  Give feedback that will inspire the author.

Peer Review – remember the writing is ultimately your own!  This means, listen to your peer reviewer, but choose whether or not to make the changes.

Conferences with me – you only get one!  But you can conference with a peer as many times as you need.