This page has lesson plans for Unit 2 class sessions.
September 15 - October 10
(approx 12 sessions)
Essential Questions:
What is poetry?
Why study poetry? What does poetry have to offer for our lives?
Texts
We Borrowed Gentleness by J. Estanislao Lopez
Selected poems:
“Poetry” by Marianne Moore
“Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins
(see lessons below for others)
Selected Literary Reviews/Criticism:
Example one-paragraph poetry reviews and more one-paragraph poetry reviews in The Guardian
Selected Artwork:
"Untitled" (1956-1957) by Sonia Gechtoff - lines that look like hairs
Topics:
Form & structure - line length, rhythm, rhyme, pattern
line breaks, enjambment, stanza, spacing
patterns & structure: open form vs closed form
meter & rhyme: free verse vs blank verse (metered, unrhymed) vs formal verse (strict meter & rhyme)
Imagery
Word Choice
getting specific
nouns, verbs, adjectives
connotation & denotation
multiple meanings, nuance & complexity
Literal vs. Figurative
Metaphor, simile, personification
Contrasts - can be introduced through focus; tone; point of view; character, narrator, or speaker perspective; dramatic situation or moment; settings or time; or imagery.
juxtaposition
shift (in tone, mood, style)
Association, disjunction
Repetition, anaphora, epizeuxis
Motif
Sound devices - alliteration
Poet vs Speaker
Creative Writing Workshop
Literary criticism / review - interpretation essay
Unit Skills:
Use literary terminology to accurately describe the form and structure of a poem.
Distinguish between literal and figurative language in a poem.
Identify imagery and figurative language in a poem.
Identify and explain similes, metaphors and personification in a poem.
Identify and explain a juxtaposition and a shift in a poem.
Compose a poem using at least two poetic techniques.
Formative Assessment(s):
Journal Writing
Poetry Annotations
Poetry Review Discussion Board - find a poem you enjoy and write a one-paragraph review of it; share the poem and your review on the online discussion board - claim, evidence, commentary
Poem Draft - Group Share & Discussion
Poetry Cafe - Sharing & Feedback
Summative Assessment(s):
Assessment is focused on helping students develop:
critical thinking
creative expression
analytical writing skills
research skills
intellectual and professional communication skills
Visit the assessments page for more details.
Tuesday September 16
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Identify and discuss the four temperaments in writing: story, structure, music, and imagination.
Write a poem that reflects at least two of the four temperaments.
Journal Writing
Overview of The Four Temperaments
Mentor Text - poems from We Borrowed Gentleness by J. Estanislao Lopez
Journal Writing - experiment with two of the four temperaments as you write a poem
2.2: Poem with Imagery - due Friday 10/11
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Wednesday September 17
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write for at least 10 minutes in response to a prompt.
Identify and discuss the use of metaphor and imagery in a poem.
Imagery, Metaphor & Word Choice
We Borrowed Gentleness by J. Estanislao Lopez
"A Metaphor"
"Independence Day in West Texas"
"Little Words"
"The Contract"
"The Politics of Rivers"
"Let's Not Get Carried Away"
Practice: Dialectical Journal - identify and explain examples of metaphor, imagery & word choice and its influence on meaning and interpretation in a poem
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Thursday September 18
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Examine and discuss contrasts, juxtaposition, repetition and shifts in a poem.
Define and discuss the concept of juxtaposition.
Identify and explain an example of a contrast or juxtaposition in a poem.
Contrast, Juxtaposition, Repetition & Shifts
Poetry Annotation - choose a poem from We Borrowed Gentleness by J. Estanislao Lopez
"A Metaphor"
"Independence Day in West Texas"
"Little Words"
"The Contract"
"Promise"
"Let's Not Get Carried Away"
"My Uncle's Killer"
"Poem with Human Intelligence"
2.4 Poetry Annotation due Wednesday 10/16
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Friday September 19
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Read and annotate a poem.
Look up the definition of words you don't know and write the definition or synonym in the margin
Summarize each stanza
Identify literary techniques - imagery, metaphors, similes, shifts and contrasts
Write a one-sentence statement of the theme of the poem
Describe structure, diction (word choice), and syntax in a poem.
Discuss the theme of a poem and the poet’s use of literary techniques to achieve meaning.
Identify and discuss examples of imagery, metaphors, similes, repetition, shifts, contrasts and juxtaposition in poetry.
Read & annotate a poem
Assignment Turn-in - scan & upload your annotated poem
2.4 Poetry Annotation - due today by 11:59pm
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Tuesday September 23
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Examine the historical, social, literary, cultural, and biographical context related to a text, and explain how it influences meaning in the text.
Overview of Historical & Cultural Context
Read & annotate: “Sorrow” by Claribel Alegría in Flowers from the Volcano
Research context:
Historical & literary events & figures
Author's background
Author's literary career & writing process
Whole Class Discussion - Co-Creating a Poetry Interpretation Rubric
What makes a poetry interpretation engaging?
What questions can we ask of ourselves when we are revising and critiquing our own poetry interpretations?
Historical, Social, Literary & Biographical Context Notes
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Wednesday September 24
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Describe structure, diction (word choice), and syntax in a poem.
Discuss the theme of a poem and the poet’s use of literary techniques to achieve meaning.
Identify and discuss examples of imagery, metaphors, similes, repetition, shifts, contrasts and juxtaposition in poetry.
Share your writing on the class discussion board.
Describe your writing process and inspiration.
Give and receive specific, positive constructive feedback on classmates' writing.
“Sorrow” by Claribel Alegría in Flowers from the Volcano
Socratic Seminar Overview
Reading & note-taking
Instructions:
Read and annotate the following texts:
[Poem]
Poet bio/criticism
"5 Ways to Increase Your Poem's Chances of Publication" by Stephanie Katz
Come up with three discussion questions. Begin the discussion with an observation and/or question
Questions:
What details stood out to you in the text? Why?
start off with open-ended questions - for teachers, begin and end with "questions that relate more directly to students' lives so the entire conversation is rooted in the context of their real experiences"
Discussion expectations:
student-led discussion: establish norms for student discussion and participation
discuss (inquiry, responses that grow from the thoughts of others, communal spirit) NOT debate (persuasion, rebuttals, clear sides)
teacher keeps track of conversation participation (see comment-tracking form by Sarah Heim)
| = comment
? = question
+ = insightful comment or question
t = textual reference in comment
Reflection: Choose one of the reflection questions below to respond to:
Choose one question or point that was brought up in seminar that you would like to explore further. Write a paragraph answering the question or responding to the point that was made.
Self-assess: How did you do in today's seminar? What do you think you did well? What could you do next time to improve your participation? Answer in one paragraph.
Whole Class Discussion - Fine-Tuning Our Rubric
Review our poetry interpretation rubric. Did our discussions reveal any challenges or needs for clarification?
Do we need to adjust our poetry interpretation rubric for writing? Why or why not?
2.16 Poetry Discussion Audio Recording
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Thursday September 25
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
essay on Claribel Alegria's "Sorrow"
Whole Class Discussion - Co-Creating a Poetry Interpretation Rubric
What makes a poetry interpretation engaging?
What questions can we ask of ourselves when we are revising and critiquing our own poetry interpretations?
Whole Class Discussion - Fine-Tuning Our Poetry Interpretation Rubric
Review our poetry interpretation rubric. How can we improve it? Did the example reveal any challenges or needs for clarification?
Do we need to adjust our poetry interpretation rubric for writing? Why or why not?
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Friday September 26
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write a poem using a mentor text, dictionary and/or thesaurus.
Use a thesaurus to improve precision in word choice when writing.
Use precise diction, imagery, metaphors, similes, repetition and/or sound devices your own writing.
Type up your poem and work on revisions
Share and discuss your writing with a partner or small group.
Discuss the connotations, denotations and relationships between words and phrases.
Identify themes in your classmate’s poem.
Comment on diction, literary devices, contrasts and shifts in the poem.
Discuss structure/form, diction and writing style choices in your poem.
Generate and discuss questions before, during, and after reading.
Follow the instructions for sharing and discussing your work on NowComment
Personal Goal
Journal writing – poetry brainstorming & practice
Structure/form & diction
Whole Class Discussion - Co-Creating a Poetry Rubric
What makes a poem "work"?
What questions can we ask of ourselves when we are revising and critiquing our own poems?
Journal Writing - write a poem that includes a shift in meaning or tone
Poetry Workshop Discussion Board
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Tuesday September 30
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Personal Goal
Journal writing – poetry brainstorming & practice
Structure/form & diction
2.9 Author's Commentary due today in class
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Wednesday October 1
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Identify and examine common types of repetition including anaphora, epizeuxis, and motif.
Examine and discuss a shift in imagery, meaning or tone within a poem.
Write a poem that contains a shift in imagery, meaning or tone.
Write author’s commentary that includes an explanation of how the shift influences/contributes to the meaning/impact of the poem.
Mentor Texts:
"Pastoral" by J. Estanislao Lopez (We Borrowed Gentleness pg 72)
"Good Bones" by Maggie Smith
Write Poem
Whole Class Discussion - Fine-Tuning Our Poetry Rubric
Review our poetry rubric. Does this poem work? Use text evidence to explain.
Practice: Journal Writing - write a poem that includes a shift in meaning or tone
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Wednesday October 1
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Journal Writing for Blog Post
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Thursday October 2
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write a one-sentence thesis statement that addresses the prompt and presents a defensible interpretation of the novel.
Write an outline that clearly presents your line of reasoning, including relevant claims and text evidence.
Drafting a Thesis Statement
Line of Reasoning
Assignment Turn-in on Google Classroom
Whole Class Discussion - Fine-Tuning Our Poetry Interpretation Rubric
Review our poetry interpretation rubric. How can we improve it? Did our work today reveal any challenges or needs for clarification?
Do we need to adjust our poetry interpretation rubric for writing? Why or why not?
2.6 Poetry Interpretation: Thesis & Line of Reasoning - Draft your thesis and line of reasoning using the hand turkey slide.
Thesis: Write a one sentence statement of the theme of the poem.
Line of Reasoning: Make four separate points explaining how this theme is developed throughout the poem. Be sure to:
Mention literary techniques
Use evidence to support and explain your reasoning
Your thesis and line of reasoning will be graded according to the AP Literature Essay Writing Rubric. Turn in on Google Classroom today by 11:59pm.
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Friday October 3
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Write a one-paragraph literary interpretation that includes a claim, evidence and commentary.
Write a one sentence thesis statement that presents a defensible claim about your interpretation of the literary piece.
Describe structure, diction (word choice), and syntax in a poem.
Discuss the theme of a poem and the poet’s use of literary techniques (imagery, metaphors, similes, shifts and contrasts) to achieve meaning.
Write a paragraph using appropriate capitalization, punctuation, spelling, grammar, and transition phrases.
Literary Interpretation Writing - Thesis
Introduction to Lenses - Question
Poetry Online Discussion Board
2.13 Poetry Interpretation Essay due today in class
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Tuesday October 7
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Use a rubric to discuss and evaluate your own literary interpretation writing to determine the score your work should receive based on the thesis, line of reasoning (including claim, evidence and commentary), and sophistication.
Scoring Your Literary Interpretation Writing - FRQ Scoring Form
Revision & Editing
Whole Class Discussion - Fine-Tuning Our Poetry Interpretation Rubric
Review our poetry interpretation rubric. How can we improve it? Did our work today reveal any challenges or needs for clarification?
Do we need to adjust our poetry interpretation rubric for writing? Why or why not?
Practice: Use the rubric-based form to annotate & score your poetry interpretation essay
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Wednesday October 8 & Thursday October 9
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Use a rubric to discuss and evaluate your own literary interpretation writing to determine the score your work should receive based on the thesis, line of reasoning (including claim, evidence and commentary), and sophistication.
Scoring Your Literary Interpretation Writing - FRQ Scoring Form
Revision & Editing
Practice: Use the rubric-based form to annotate & score your poetry interpretation essay
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Thursday October 9
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Analyze a poet's use of similes, metaphors, contrasts, juxtaposition, repetition, shifts and pronouns in a poem.
Identify and explain how a given literary technique influences meaning and interpretation in a poem.
AP Classroom: Unit 2 Progress Check MCQ
2.4 Unit 2 Progress Check MCQ
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Friday October 10
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Identify and discuss examples of imagery, metaphors, similes, repetition, shifts, contrasts and juxtaposition in poetry.
Give specific, positive feedback on at least two other classmate's poems. presenting an insightful observation or interpretation related to your poem.
Reply to classmates on the discussion board
Identify and discuss literary techniques in the author’s poem.
Explain (translate) the literary technique → how does it work in this example?
Explain in detail how this example influences meaning and interpretation in the poem
Give specific, positive feedback on at least two other classmate's poems. presenting an insightful observation or interpretation related to your poem.
Try to include a claim, text evidence and commentary in your paragraph.
What words, phrases, lines stood out to you?
What did you notice in the author’s writing?
What do you like about their writing?
What does it make you think of? What does it make you wonder?
Poetry Cafe Open Mic!
Practice: perform a poem (your poem or one of your favorite poems) in front of the class
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Identify examples of imagery and motifs in a poem.
Explain how of images in a poem contribute to theme.
Write a poem that includes novel and imaginative imagery.
Write author’s commentary that includes an explanation of how an imaginative image influences/contributes to the meaning, impact and theme of the poem.
Overview of imagery, motif, and theme
Mentor text: "Ars Poetica" by Valzhyna Mort
Writing Prompt: Imagery & Imagination
Poem Draft
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Use precise language to identify and describe emotions.
Discuss the concept of allusions and context in literature and writing - historical, cultural, geographical, social, literary, and personal.
Read and discuss the historical, cultural, geographical, social, literary, and personal context of a poem.
Mental Health Check-in
Read & annotate poem
Poem Annotation
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Research a song or music album that interests you.
Read and analyze the tone, theme(s) and literary techniques in the lyrics in a song.
Read and take notes on a song and its historical, cultural, geographical, social, and literary/musical context.
Write a 3-5 paragraph music review that explores personal context, tone and/or theme, and historical, cultural, geographical, or literary context.
Create a presentation slide that you will use to format your music review.
Create your slide
Research song, music album and artist
Reading & note-taking: music reviews & context
Journal Writing - historical, cultural, geographical context paragraph
Creative Nonfiction - draft music review
Type & format your work on your slide
Music review draft
Sentence Structure Practice
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Share your essay with a partner and give positive, specific, and constructive feedback to one another.
Reflect on your progress on your personal goal this week.
Extra Credit: Reflect on your experience in English class so far.
Personal Goal Review
Sharing & feedback on music review draft
Individual writing conferences (as needed)
Reflection
Reflection
Sharing & Feedback on Music Review Draft
What imagery or sensory details stood out to you in the essay?
What context details did you notice?
What climactic moment and/or anecdote do you notice?
What themes were explored in the essay? In ___[essay title]_____, ___[student name]______ explores _____[idea statement]__________.
What questions do you have? What did you want to know more about?
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Read and discuss a poem.
Identify and discuss examples of imagery, metaphors, similes, allusions, shifts and contrasts in poetry.
Discuss structure, diction (word choice), and syntax in poetry.
Write for at least 10 minutes in response to a prompt.
Write a personal goal for the week.
Choose a poem to study
Overview of structure, diction, syntax & literary devices
Journal Writing - Write a poem
Journal Writing - Poem
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DATE
Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Respond to peers in writing in a professional and friendly manner.
Reflect on your work in English class so far.
Online Discussion Board
Reflection - Reflect on tone, theme(s) and personal context related to your poem.
Poetry Online Discussion Board - Reply
Reflection
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Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Choose a mentor text that you will use as a model or inspiration for your own poem.
Brainstorm ideas for themes that you would like to write about.
Read, annotate and discuss a poem (mentor text).
Discuss diction (word choice), sound devices and repetition in the poem.
Identify shifts, contrasts, and themes in the poem.
Describe the structure of the poem.
Write a personal goal for the week.
Journal Writing
Read & annotate poem
Structure & form in poetry
line breaks & enjambment
punctuation
stanzas
shift
contrast
Themes
Personal Goal
Read & annotate a poem that you will use as a mentor text
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Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Read, annotate and discuss a poem (mentor text).
Discuss diction (word choice), sound devices and repetition in the poem.
Identify shifts, contrasts, and themes in the poem.
Describe the structure of the poem.
Mental Health Check-In
Poetry analysis/interpretation essay
Read & annotate a poem that you will use as a mentor text
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Welcome back! My plan for today is to guide you to:
Practice reading your poem aloud to a group of people or record yourself reading it.
Discuss the idea(s) that you are exploring in your poem and what inspired you to write your poem.
Discuss structure/form, diction and writing style choices in your poem.
Writing Share and Discussion
Reflection
Journal Writing
Poetry Workshop Discussion Board
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AP Literature Skills Focus for Unit 2: Poetry
CHR 1.A Identify and describe what specific textual details reveal about a character, that character’s perspective, and that character’s motives
Which words, phrases, and details contribute to a character’s characterization?
How is a character described physically, emotionally, and/or psychologically?
Which aspects of a character’s background contribute to how the character perceives his or her world?
What drives the character to think, feel, and/or act in the manner he or she does?
STR 3.C Explain the function of structure in a text.
How does a text’s organization and arrangement of ideas and details in lines, stanzas, sentences, paragraphs, chapters, or other sections of text contribute to a text’s structure?
How does a poem’s rhythm and/or rhyme contribute to its structure?
What is the organizing principle in a section of text that makes it a cohesive unit?
What is the relationship of a section of a text to the text’s setting, character, plot, conflict, point of view, thematic idea, or other literary elements?
What is the relationship of a section of a text to other sections of the text?
What is the relationship of a section of a text to the text as a whole?
STR 3.D Explain the function of contrasts within a text.
What are some striking contrasts in a text?
How do you identify contrasts, shifts, and juxtapositions in a text?
How might a contrast indicate a conflict of values?
What ideas, traits, or values are emphasized in a contrast?
How does a contrast contribute to complexity in a text?
How does a contrast contribute to meaning in a text?
FIG 5.B Explain the function of specific words and phrases in a text. (word choice)
Which repeated sound, word, or phrase in a text emphasizes an idea or association, and what is the emphasized idea or association?
How do you trace a referent to its antecedent, and how might ambiguous referents affect an interpretation of a text?
How do the relationships between adjectives and adverbs and the words they modify affect a reader’s interaction with the text?
How does the use of hyperbole and understatement convey a particular perspective of their subjects?
How do words and phrases create ambiguous meanings and invite multiple interpretations of a text?
FIG 6.A Identify and explain the function of a simile.
Which two elements are being compared in a particular simile?
What is significant about the selection of the objects being compared?
How does a comparison through a simile contribute to meaning in the text?
FIG 6.B Identify and explain the function of a metaphor.
Which two elements are being compared in a particular metaphor?
What is significant about the selection of the objects being compared and their particular traits, qualities, or characteristics?
How does a comparison through a metaphor contribute to meaning in the text?
How might the figurative meaning of a metaphor depend on the context in which it is presented?
How does an extended metaphor continue a comparison in several portions of text?
How does a metaphorical comparison contribute to the figurative meaning of a character, conflict, setting, theme, etc.?
LAN 7.A Develop a paragraph that includes 1) a claim that requires defense with evidence from the text and 2) the evidence itself.
How do you analyze a text to develop a defensible claim about that text?
How do you develop a claim that requires a defense with evidence from the text—and is not simply an assertion of fact or statement of the obvious?
How do you develop a claim that you can defend with logical reasoning and textual evidence?
How do you develop a claim that acknowledges that contradictory evidence or alternative interpretations exist?
How do you develop a claim that articulates how a text explores concepts related to a range of experiences, institutions, and/or social structures?