Overview
Purpose: The purpose of this assignment is for you to write and perform an original poem that tells the story of who you are (values, beliefs, ideas, skin color language, ethnicity, religion, economic background, etc.). You will need to memorize the poem to perform in class.
Steps to complete this assignment:
Written Assignment (The following 1-4 steps should be included in a separate Word Document (see attached example)
1. I Am Poem (10 Points): Write a simple "I Am Poem" by using filling out the template sentences below. This "I Am Poem" is perhaps familiar to you from when you were in K-12! While the template will push you into many directions, try to focus on 1 theme and develop it thoroughly.
I Am Poem I am _________________________________________________________(Two special characteristics) I wonder ______________________________________________________(Something you are curious about) I hear ________________________________________________________(An imaginary sound) I see _________________________________________________________ (An imaginary sight) I want ________________________________________________________(A desire you have)
I am _________________________________________________________(The first line of the poem repeated) I pretend _______________________________________________________(Something you pretend to do) I feel ________________________________________________________(A feeling about something imaginary) I touch ________________________________________________________(An imaginary touch) I worry ________________________________________________________(Something that bothers you) I cry ________________________________________________________(Something that makes you sad)
I am ________________________________________________________(The first line of the poem repeated) I understand __________________________________________________(Something you know is true) I say ________________________________________________________(Something you believe in) I dream ________________________________________________________(Something you dream about) I try ________________________________________________________(Something you make an effort on) I hope ________________________________________________________(Something you hope for)
I am ________________________________________________________(The first line of the poem repeated)
2. Shared Thoughts (5 Points): Share the best lines of your "I am Poem" with a loved one (friend, family, or other) and consider which lines they thought are most interesting. Ask them what theme is the most powerful and use this to focus on such theme in the next Enhanced I Am Poem. In at least 3 sentences, discuss what they thought was interesting. Enhanced I Am Poem (15 Points): Consider your loved one's interests in your poem and revise the poem by doing the following.
- Write a creative title for your Enhanced I Am Poem.
- Eliminate the beginning phrases from the first "I Am Poem" (e.g., “I am...,” "I wonder...," "I hear...," etc.) in your poem.
- Refer to our class lecture and Smith article on “How to Write Poetry: Key Tips” to incorporate any of the elements we studied to create a powerful and effective enhanced poem.
- Stick to one theme that was powerful from your first I Am Poem and enhance it further in this second version.
- Revise, extend, edit your poem to memorize and perform the poem orally to fit a 1-2 minute time requirement.
4. Blocking (5 Points): Refer to our class lecture and Smith article on “How to Write Poetry: Key Tips” and the tip on how to block poems. Block your poem by adding words and sentences that will show how you will deliver your poem. Your blocked words/sentences should be placed in parentheses, underlined, and highlighted.