Philyaw, DNHS American Literature

American Literature Poetry Notebook Assignment

With this assignment you will demonstrate your ability to comprehend and interpret poetry using self-selected texts (See English Language Arts Academic Standards Grades 11-12 on the Poetry Unit Description handout). See the attached grading sheet for grading rubric. Requirements: Cover page 10 poems by published authors 2 original poems by you Annotation and reflection on each poems

Directions: 1. Create a cover page with the following information centered: Title, Your name, Your teachers name, Your class and period, The date. Include background art or colorful illustration that reflects your ideas about poetry or a theme that you found important Select 2 of your poems from class writing and type them. Be sure each poem has a title and your name as author at the top of the page. Underneath each poem, in paragraph form, do the following: Explain what your purpose was in the poem. That is, answer the question, What did you try to accomplish?. Explain how you accomplished your purpose. That is, answer the question, What techniques or strategies did you use for your purpose? Explain what you like about this poem and why you like it. NOTE: You do not have to annotate your own poem. Just reflect. Select 10 poems by published authors preferable American -- to fit the following categories. Three of the 10 may be song lyrics and 1 may be from those that we read in class together. Type or photocopy each poem being sure to leave plenty of margin space. Be sure to label each with a title and author. Then do the following:

2.

3.

a.

Annotate the poem. Fill the margin space around the poem with
Notes about the story of the poem Definitions of unknown, unfamiliar words Illustrations of images that come to mind Labels of literary/poetic devices Notes about the speaker of the poem, including tone Notes about connections you made Notes about themes or big ideas Reflect on each poem. In paragraph form below/at the end of each poem answer the following questions: What do you like about this poem? Why do you like this? Why did you select this poem for this category? How does the poet accomplish this (i.e., fitting into the category)?

b.

FIND POEMS THAT Appeal to your sense of hearing Appeal to your sense of sight Appeal to your sense of touch Appeal to your heart/touch your emotions Appeal to your head/make you think with reason or logic Appeal to your character /make you believe he or she is a worthy person or make you connect to his or her values Appeal to your sense of humor Appeal to your sense of nostalgia (longing for the past)/recall a fond memory Makes a personal connection to you Has a literary or historical connection for you