Poetry in the Classroom

Greetings, fellow poets! Your mission today is to post the poem you wrote about one of your classes. Remember to use concrete sensory images in your poem. Try to also use strong verbs and avoid cliches. Be sure to have your poem posted by Thursday so that your classmates can read all of the poems and comment about them on your blogs. Happy writing!

Poetry and You... Perfect Together

In class this week, we discussed the fact that connotation is the language of poetry. In essence, that means that each poem has its own personal meaning, both to the poet and to the reader. Sometimes, when all goes well, those meanings intersect, and the reader finds a poem he can relate to almost as much as if he wrote it himself.

Your mission today is to find two poems whose connotations you can understand, appreciate, and enjoy. Below you will find the links to several web sites where you can search for poetry. When you find your poems, copy and paste them into Word and print out a copy for yourself. (You will need them in class tomorrow.)

Next, post a comment to my blog that tells me which two poems you chose and why you chose them. Think about what the poem says and how it relates to your life. Does it touch your emotions? Does it amuse you in some way? What images does the poet use that clarify the subject or mood of the poem? Does the poem use any "musical language" that is appealing to the ear? You can address any or all of these things in your comment, which should be at least 100 words. And please... remember to proofread before you post.

Here are some links to explore as you search for your poem:

http://www.loc.gov/poetry/180/

http://www.bartleby.com/verse/

http://www.lovepoemsandquotes.com/

http://theotherpages.org/poems/

http://www.teenink.com/

Writing About Poetry

Let's talk about poetry. Some people love it. Some hate it. Some like to read it. Some like to write it. Some even fear it. But almost everyone has an opinion. In a well developed paragraph of at least 100 words, tell me your feelings about poetry. Then check out the comments that some of your classmates made. You may find that someone else feels the same as you.

Naughty or Nice

It's time for you to find out whether Santa thinks you've been naughty or nice this year. In order to obtain a bit of blogging extra credit, go to the web address below, then type in your FIRST NAME ONLY and take the short quiz to find out what Santa says about you. Once you have the verdict, copy and paste it into a comment to this blog and then elaborate on how Santa's verdict applies to your life this year.

Once again, your response should be posted to THIS BLOG as a comment. Try to make your explanation at least 100 words, but feel free to elaborate at length, as this extra credit post may gain you up to 10 extra points. (If you choose not to take advantage of this opportunity, you deserve coal in your stocking!)

Here's hoping you're not on the "Naughty List"!!

www.christmassantaclaus.com/naughty_nice.asp

Talking About the Movies

In your last post to this blog, you wrote about why you really enjoyed a particular movie. Many of you used excellent detail and examples to explain your choice vividly. Now it's time to check out your classmates' reviews.

1. Browse through the posts from the last assignment: Establishing Your Voice: Movies.

2. Find at least three people who wrote about movies that sound good and leave them a comment that tells them why their post caught your attention. (Remember, you will be graded on the content and quality of your comments!)

3. Post a comment to this blog telling me which three people you commented and why. Remember, this is a 25 point comment, so make your reasons specific... and proofread.

Who knows? If you find some good picks, you might even rent a video this weekend!

Establishing Your Voice: Movies

This month we will begin looking at some plays and movies as we try our hand at a bit of writing for the stage and screen. You have probably seen many movies that you have enjoyed, perhaps even ones you can almost recite from memory! For today's blog, consider a movie you have seen that has made a big impact on you. Don't worry if you think the movie is silly or weird. The important thing here is to start thinking about what makes you enjoy a particular movie.

In at least 100 words, answer some or all of the following questions about the movie: What characters in the movie do you like the most and why? Do you like them because of the way they talk or the way they deal with a particular situation? What do you like about the plot of the movie? Did it make you laugh or cry? Did it remind you of events or people in your own life? Have you seen this movie more than once? If so, what caused you to see it again? Can you remember where you were and who you were with when you saw it for the first time? Did your companions enjoy the movie as much as you did? Would you recommend this movie to a friend? To a stranger? Reflect on these ideas as you formulate a blog that communicates your feelings about the movie to others. Remember to use correct spelling, capitalization and punctuation.

Book Swap

In your last post to this blog, you wrote about why you really enjoyed a particular book. Many of you used excellent detail and examples to explain your choice vividly. Now it's time to assess your classmates' persuasive abilities.

1. Browse through the posts from the last assignment: Establishing Your Voice: Books.

2. Find three people who read books that sound interesting and leave them a comment that tells them why you thought their post was persuasive.

3. Post a comment to this blog telling me which three people you commented and why.

Hey... you might even want to pick up a book before the vacation next week!

Be Kind to Arachnids

As an extra-credit opportunity, you may post a poem, story, or any other piece of Creative Writing that celebrates Be Kind to Arachnid Week. You must post this writing by no later than Saturday, October 31 and can receive up to 10 extra credit points on your blog grade this quarter, depending on the quality of the post. Post your work right here as a comment to this post so that everyone can see it easily and enjoy your spirit and creativity.

To inspire you, here is the little ditty I composed in my journal.

The night was still in Spider Town
And Daddy Longlegs wore a frown.
"I wonder why," thought Dad aloud
"Arachnids don't attract a crowd.
We kill mosquitoes, flies, and bugs,
But no one seems to give us hugs."
Then suddenly, from up the street
He heard the sound of marching feet
And round the bend came quite a crowd
Whose singing was so very loud.
The spider song they all did sing
And each one wore a spider ring.
They all cheered Daddy, and his frown
Just disappeared... turned upside down!
So when you see a spider, sing!
You'll make it smile, and earn a ring!!!!