Poetry Week

Have a look at this if you didn't it in class. I find parts of this really inspiring, and parts of it really annoying... in fact that is how I feel about lots of poetry. I can't stay away, though... the "tightening" of ordinary writing and speech into poetic images and wordplay is too compelling. We'll can talk more about it on Wednesday.

Tue Dec 10
Poetic Terminology, with talk and examples of why poetry has an important, if odd, role in the life of any culture. Not everyone will become a poet, or become a student of poetry, but there is something powerful to be gained from the study and writing of poetry in high school. Consider this skill set:

• take powerful ideas and make them simple, beautiful, clear, and personal
• take many simple ideas and weave them together into complex yet recognizable creation (like the many threads that compose a tapestry, or the parts of a machine)
• play with language to reduce it to it's bare minimum (being exact with your ideas), and then build them back up to into inspiring expressions (showing depth of thinking)
• solving puzzles, finding plain and hidden meaning, examining words and ideas critically with the aim of a more thoughtful and interesting person

These skills can be gained from a number of pursuits, but they are all present in the study and writing of poetry.

Wed Dec 11
Make sure your Book Circle Self Evaluation is complete. After, we'll watch the Koyczan video (above). We'll be in the library next for a 2-day poetry assignment... the format is up to you, but you might want to start with a Word document and see what happens next:

• choose a theme that interests you
• collect (and reference) a number of poems that relate to your theme -- use books and websites to find them
• pick a few (two or three would be fine) to explore in more depth; re-read them a few times and ask what the poet is trying to express and what techniques they use to do this
• identify any poetic terms or devices that are used in each poem that you explore in depth
• summarize your thoughts about the poem, its meaning, and its use of language
• include at least one sketch, picture, or image that fits with the theme and poems that you chose
• write a poem (any style or form) on the theme you have chosen
• put this all together in a document or entry in your digital portfolio

Thu Dec 12
Follow-up -- more work in the library on the poetry assignment -- #giterdone

Fri Dec 13
Seminar: bring a favorite poem to read to the group, be prepared to offer your insight into what the poem means, and how it achieves it's meaning. Your reading and analysis should take no more than 5 minutes.

For Flex (the block you are not in Seminar): complete all work from this week (key ones are Book Response, due today, and the poetry terminology and library poetry assignment).  Keep in mind that the poetry assignment is due by Wed., Dec. 18th. A test of sorts on the novel and poetry coming on Tue., Dec 17th. Leave a comment here on this post with a brief description of what you did for flex activity today (required). Here's my contribution to the favourite poem category: http://thielmann.blogspot.ca/2013/12/domination-of-black.html check it out and leave a comment there, too, if you like (optional).

Mon Dec 16
Poetry Exercises (in class) and time to complete poetry assignment

Tue Dec 17
Poetry assignment due, short test on poetry, including the exercises from yesterday