Today’s Prompt

What is your favorite word? Write it on the card. Then write a poem, story or essay that uses that word in some way.

The Writing Process

So, what is the writing process?

Pre-writingDraftingRevisingProofreadingPublishing

Workshop Days Starting next week, once a week we will have a full workshop day.

You must come prepared with five copies of your piece. This is a grade.

Those class days will look like this: Splendid Writing (15 minutes) Small Group Workshop (60 minutes)

Each student will bring one piece they are working on that they would like peer feedback on. Students will read their piece to the group and then the group will offer their comments on the work. Each student in the group will be given equal time, probably about 15 minutes each, so that it is fair.

Whole Class Share (15 minutes) Students may volunteer to read their work to the entire class.

Now, let’s practice the writing process.

Pre-writing: 10 minutes

Drafting: 15 minutes

Workshop with your table: 20 minutes (each person gets about five minutes)

Revising & Proofreading: 10 minutes Apply the changes suggested by your peers. Re-

write it neatly.

Publishing: 10 minutes Turn it in to Ms. Rolfe and/ or share with the class.

(optional)

Pre-Writing: Poetry Poker!

1. A dealer is chosen.  2. The dealer deals out five cards to each person face down. The rest of the deck is placed face down in the center. 3. Each person looks at their cards to see what phrases and images can be created from their word cards. You are allowed to change the form of the word to make it fit in a sentence. You are also allowed to insert helping verbs, prepositions (in, of, during, about, etc.), articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions. 4. You will have an opportunity to choose some new words. Each person may opt to discard up to three word cards. They place the discarded cards face down next to the deck. They then select new replacement cards from the deck. Play continues with the rest of the players. When the deck runs out, shuffle the discard pile, place it face down, and select from that. Go around the circle once. If a player likes their cards, they may say "Pass." 5. Once everyone has had a chance to change cards, it is time to put the words into a poetic line. Write the first poetic line on your paper and share with the members of your group. Use as many of your word cards as possible. 6. Play at least 4 more rounds. After each round, write your new poetic line beneath the previous one. 7. When you have completed five poetic lines, try to rearrange the lines into a poem and create a title. This is your Poker Poem!  

Ms. Rolfe’s Poker Poem

Sway, clash, firelight, deep, forever

They thought they’d clash forever– swaying in deep firelight

Praise, dream, love, forget, dreadful

They thought they’d clash forever– swaying in deep firelight

Praise dreams and forget dreadful love

Romantic, woman, sour, glory, light

They thought they’d clash forever– swaying in deep firelight

Praise dreams and forget dreadful love

Sour women aren’t lightened by romantic glory

breakfast, uncommon, birth, war, children

They thought they’d clash forever– swaying in deep firelight

Praise dreams and forget dreadful love

Sour women aren’t lightened by romantic glory.

Children at breakfast are at war with their uncommon births

Wild, alone, pleasure, hidden, creativity

They thought they’d clash forever– swaying in deep firelight

Praise dreams and forget dreadful love

Sour women aren’t lightened by romantic glory.

Children at breakfast are at war with their uncommon births

Wild pleasure is hidden in creativity when you’re alone.

Pre-Writing: Poetry Poker!1. A dealer is chosen.  2. The dealer deals out five cards to each person face down. The rest of the deck is placed face down in the center. 3. Each person looks at their cards to see what phrases and images can be created from their word cards. You are allowed to change the form of the word to make it fit in a sentence. You are also allowed to insert helping verbs, prepositions (in, of, during, about, etc.), articles (a, an, the), and conjunctions. 4. You will have an opportunity to choose some new words. Each person may opt to discard up to three word cards. They place the discarded cards face down next to the deck. They then select new replacement cards from the deck. Play continues with the rest of the players. When the deck runs out, shuffle the discard pile, place it face down, and select from that. Go around the circle once. If a player likes their cards, they may say "Pass." 5. Once everyone has had a chance to change cards, it is time to put the words into a poetic line. Write the first poetic line on your paper and share with the members of your group. Use as many of your word cards as possible. 6. Play at least 4 more rounds. After each round, write your new poetic line beneath the previous one. 7. When you have completed five poetic lines, try to rearrange the lines into a poem and create a title. This is your Poker Poem!  

Drafting: Arrange your five lines into a poem Decide where you’re going to put line breaks.

Arrange them in an order you think works.

At this point, you can ditch words and add words, etc…

Let’s look at my poem draft…

Before the Divorce

They thought they’d clash forever–

swaying against the deep firelight

of their now cold living room.

In her mind, before sleep— praise

dreams and forget dreadful love.

In his— such sour women are not

lightened by romantic glory.

The children at breakfast

were at war-- their uncommon births

hid them from wild pleasure.

Their creativity left them alone.

In your table groups you will workshop each other’s pieces. This is the procedure. Author reads his/ her work to the group.

The group listens and makes notes.

Then the discussion begins with compliments. Everyone says one thing they liked about the piece. Please be specific.

Then everyone makes suggestions or poses questions to the author.

Organic discussion of the work should evolve.

Workshop

Revision & Proofreading

Now make edits to your poem based on your classmates feedback.

Re-write it neatly.

Publishing/ Sharing

Turn it in to Ms. Rolfe

We will share on a volunteer basis.