Tomorrow we'll begin presentations. Bring:

• a copy of lyrics annotated with literary devices and rhyming

• copy of the song (CD or a YouTube link for me to pull up - BLEEPED IF NEEDED)

• TP-CASTT answered (see below) 

 

Introduction to Poetry - Billy Collins

I ask them to take a poem
and hold it up to the light
like a color slide

or press an ear against its hive.
I say drop a mouse into a poem
and watch him probe his way out,
or walk inside the poem's room
and feel the walls for a light switch.

I want them to waterski
across the surface of a poem
waving at the author's name on the shore.

But all they want to do
is tie the poem to a chair with rope
and torture a confession out of it.
They begin beating it with a hose
to find out what it really means.


Title: Before reading the poem/looking closely at the song, think about what the title could mean. Predict what the poem/song is about.
This poem must be about poetry in some way. It's probably about what you need to know to understand the basics of poetry.

Paraphrase: In your own words, paraphrase or summarize what what happens and what is said in the poem/song.

The poet wants his students to experience poetry to enjoy it and take their time with it. However, they instead attach the poems for information rather than reading for enjoyment and meaning.

Connotation: What literary/poetic devices are in the poem/song? Imagery,
Collins uses a simile and many metaphors to show how he wants the students to gently approach poetry and then how they attack it instead.

Attitude: Tone - how does the singer/poet feel about what they are writing about (frustrated, calm, angry, happy...)
Collins feels hopeful that the students will enjoy poetry more, but amused and slightly frustrated that they insist on struggling with it.

Shift: Are there any changes in time, tone, or speaker?
Collins' tone shifts when he goes from talking about how he wants students to interact with poetry to how they actually do.

Title: Were your predictions true? Any new meanings of the title that you now see?
Collins' title refers to the name of a class, which is appropriate because it's about what he hopes his students will get out of learning poetry with him.

Theme: What insight about life does all components of TP-CASTT create?
Students should enjoy poetry rather than being frustrated by not understanding it fully.


Today: TP-CASTT one of Rudy Francisco's poems (Love Poem, Immortality, Your God) and turn in. Get started on your analysis of the song you picked.

5-11

Rudy and Imani - Your God
Rudy - Your God 0:10

5-10

Studio recording
Live Performance with Imani

Quickwrite:
How is it different to listen to a song on an album or a song live? Which do you prefer?

As we listen to the studio recording, circle images/descriptions. We're going to discuss what those images say about 'Your God' and the overall message Rudy is trying to convey after we listen.

How is listening to a studio recording different from the ones we've seen so far?

Live performance: This has two people performing at once, so the first time we watch, think about how that affects the poem's power/message.

Watch again with specific jobs at the bottom of your sheet.

Did you enjoy watching two people perform together? Or do you prefer one person performing at once?

5-9

Agenda:

1.      Think first… If you had to pick one way to experience a slam poem, would you prefer to watch the performer or read along as you listen?

2.      Paragraph frame:

·         I prefer to listen to a poem while (reading along/ watching the performance) because ____________. For example, in “Immortality,” ________________.

1.      Brainstorm songs that you may want to present about. Write as many possible songs as you can in 5 minutes (can look up on iPod). Songs lyrics are more important than sound and they need to be…

·         One you enjoy the meaning of or want to know the deeper meaning of.

·         Contains literary devices or some figurative meaning you can explain to the class.

2.      Share! Then grab a netbook and look at the lyrics of the songs. Look for the one with the most literary devices (refer to your worksheet).

3.      Tomorrow, we will look at another Rudy Francisco poem: one live version and one studio recording.

5-8

Agenda:

1.      Review Sarah Kay

·         What images did she use?

·         Why does she write?

2.      Quickwrite

·         To begin thinking about these differences, respond in paragraph form to:

Think of one of your favorite songs that you know the lyrics to well. The first time you paid attention to the lyrics, or even looked up the lyrics, how did your experience of the song change? What did you notice that you didn’t before?

3.      Immortality – how does watching a performance differ from just reading it on the page?

5-7

Do Now: Get out a piece of paper and think of fun, appropriate stories to tell me about prom!

Agenda:
Prom? Other fun this weekend?
Quickwrite
TED talk by Sarah Kay
Research song lyrics for project.

Essential Questions: What is the difference between slam poetry and spoken word? Why do poets write and perform poetry?

Quickwrite: Can list or bullet answers, but need to be full sentences.
If you have a daughter or son in the future, what are five things you would want them to know about life?

5-3

When you think of a poetry reading...  Does it look like this?

Chicago origins 

"The points are not the point, the point is poetry." - Alan Wolfe

"By marrying poetry with competition, slam has allowed non-traditional avenue for experiencing poetry in a live prime-time setting."

National Poetry Competition

San Diego

Rudy Francisco

Immortality

Love Poem