Writing Imagery Poems

Base XP: 30

Write a minimum 10-line imagery poem on a topic of your choice. The poem needs to be an original poem, written for this assignment, NOT one that you have written previously!

Click here for the rubric that will be used to assess your poem.

STEP ONE: Pre-writing

• Spend some time thinking about what emotion or tone you want your poem to express. Think about what images are suitable to express the emotion. What images can you use to express your idea?

• If you are looking for inspiration, observe your surroundings carefully. There is poetry everywhere. You just need to find it.

STEP TWO: Create a metaphor

• Use imagery to create a metaphor. Use effective descriptive words and images to create a comparison which expresses your idea creatively. Think back to how Sarah Harmer and Langston Hughes used imagery to convey a deeper message (in the Reading Imagery Poems quest).

Click here for a planning sheet to help you organize your ideas.

STEP THREE: Edit your poem

• Poets choose words with extreme care. Make sure EVERY word you have written expresses exactly what you mean.

• Eliminate any 'extra' words. Words that are unnecessary and don't add to the meaning or descriptive quality of your peom can be removed.

• Edit your adjectives and adverbs. Choose the BEST descriptive word. Click here for a list of adjectives, or here, or use a thesaurus if you are stuck.

Optional Add-On: Write a short reflection commenting on your experience writing this poem. Was it easy? Challenging? Fun? Horrible? What did it teach you about yourself as a writer and a learner? Add 15XP

Submit your final poem, along with any drafts, planning sheets, and any reflections or things you noticed about the creative process here.