Poetry Directions for Multigenre Project

Creative Writing

(On Thursday June 11, 2009 you will pass in three poems that are proofread, typed, and adhere to the directions.)

1. Metaphor Poem (begin in class on Monday, June 8)

· Start with your topic. Brainstorm aspects of the topic (for example, Fitz Henry Lane=schooners, house atop Harbor Loop, oil paint, scrutches, apple-peru, etc.) as well as feelings and concepts associated with the topic (for example, Fitz Henry Lane=luminism, beauty, realism, observation, etc.)

· Then create metaphors for items in either list. (From the F.H. Lane list of concepts: Luminism is a painting with a light bulb inside. Or, a bit more vivid: The sky in the painting swallowed a light bulb. From the F.H. Lane list of objects: Scrutches are legs Lane shed to sit and paint.

· String the metaphors together. Edit them. Revise them. Expand them. Contract them. Use your ear, your mind’s eye, and your sense of the language of images to guide your revision.

· Your poem should include at least seven (7) metaphors.

2. Spontaneous Poem (begin in class on Tuesday, June 9)

To activate your subconscious mind, do the following:

· Free write about your topic for five minutes. (This is stream of consciousness writing.)

· Pick ten vivid, interesting, revealing words from your stream of consciousness free-write.

· In five minutes write a ten-line poem in which each line contains at least one of the ten words and in which each of the ten words is used at least once.

· Make a title using a phrase from your stream of consciousness free-write.

· The point of this poem is to emphasize spontaneity, whimsy, seeming randomness, linguistic daring, absurdity, surreality, etc.

3. Formal Ekphrastic Poem (begin in class on Wednesday, June 10)

· Choose an object or work of art (a photograph, statue, song, film, poem, story, painting, etc.) related to your topic.

· Choose a form (tanka, haiku, acrostic, mesostic, double acrostic, sonnet, villanelle, limerick, sestina, etc.) and revise the rules so there are at least three constraints* (rules), or invent a form of your own with at least three constraints (rules).

· Use the constraints to write a poem in response to the object or work of art.

· In the title of the poem let the reader know what object or work of art you are responding to.

· In a note below the poem write down the three rules.

* Constraints can refer to rhythm and sound: rhyme scheme, alliteration, syllable count, stressed syllable count, etc. Constraints can refer to words and concepts: a particular word has to be in each line or stanza, a particular word cannot be used, a particular type of word (a color, a season, a name, etc.) must be used, etc. Other constraints: no words with the letter “e” or every line must have one word than the line previous or the words on the page must be arranged to look like the object being described.

Personal Experience Essay

Personal Essay (about an experience) Criteria

First draft due at the end of class on Wednesday, June 3
Draft returned in class on Friday, June 5
Final draft due by the end of the school day on Monday, June 8

* [Minimum requirement] Think of an experience (or experiences) related to your topic that you can narrate and reflect upon. This experience might be something you’ve done in the past or it might be something you’ve done recently

* [Minimum requirement] Write a personal essay that is around 300 words in length (twelve-point font, double-spaced.)

* [Minimum requirement] Give your personal essay an appropriate and imaginative title.

· Narration: Narrate a specific experience (along the way describe and reflect. Bring the experience alive and bring your thoughts & feelings alive for the reader. (Make sure there are transitions between sentences and paragraphs.

· Description: As you tell the story, describe the experience by presenting engaging, vivid sensory imagery (sight, sounds, textures, smells, and/or tastes). The descriptions will create a tone and mood. They will lead to thoughts and feelings about the images.

· Reflection: Reflect on the meaning of the experience to you. Reflect on what you have seen and felt. Develop these thoughts and feelings. Think about prior experiences, memories. Think about your research. Reflect on it all. Make meaning.

· Command of writing conventions: Proofread. Write properly punctuated and complete sentences. Choose words carefully; use them correctly; spell them correctly. There should be no run-on sentences and no homophone errors. If your essay contains dialogue, remember that each utterance should be given its own paragraph.

· Command of personal style: Philip Lopate says, “the hallmark of the personal essay is its intimacy. The writer seems to be speaking directly into your ear, confiding everything from gossip to wisdom....” I want to hear you—the thoughtful, observant, reflective you—on the page. The style of this essay should convey intimacy with the reader and care with language.