Poetry Research Project

Poet Focus Research Project Grade 9

This project counts as TWO major grades: One for the presentation and a second for the written portion.

Purpose: To study several poems from one poet in order to understand his or her style and thematic ideas.

Procedure:  

Part One: Biographical Data

1.       Locate and photocopy biographical data on your selected poet. You must have 2 print sources and 1 multimedia source. (DVD, online video, etc.) Take notes on the multimedia presentation and on the print sources, highlight details that are emphasized in both types of sources in one color and highlight details that are not included or emphasized in the sources in another color. You will need to discuss the similarities and differences in details from both types of sources. Questions to consider: Why do you think one type of source emphasizes some biographical details while the other source does not?

2.       Incorporate source data into a works cited page for the project.

3.       After reading all biographical information, use first person and write as though you are the poet: tell about your life and poetry. (1 page)

4.       Photocopy a picture or drawing of your selected poet. Be sure to include the source data for the picture in your works cited page.

Part Two: Poetry

1.       Read at least 5 poems by your poet. Create a list of the titles of those 5 poems and write a one or two sentence summary of each poem under the title. Be sure to include the bibliographic information for the poems.

2.       Select 1 that best illustrates some aspect of the poet’s style.

3.       Collect the bibliographic information for that poem for the works cited page.

4.       Type the poem on a piece of typing paper and annotate it, paying special attention to the poet’s use of detail, imagery, diction, point of view, and syntax to create tone and to create theme. Also, look for symbolism, allusion, and other literary techniques and devices.

5.       Plan to present the poem to the class with the biographical information.  Use technology to project the poem for the class in your presentation. (Document camera, smart board, PowerPoint, etc.)

Part Three: Literary Criticism

1.       Find 2 literary critiques of the poem you select.

2.       Photocopy each critique and incorporate the source information in your works cited page.

3.       Highlight important information in each critique.

4.       Write a 1 page summary of each critique that includes your response to at least two ideas in the critique. Did you agree or disagree with the idea? Why or why not? What do you find in your own analysis of the poem that is not mentioned in the critique? What ideas had you not thought about that were presented in the critique?

Part Four: Oral Presentation -- This will be RECORDED

1.       Record a 5 -10 minute presentation that introduces your poet and his biographical information and the poem you intend to share. Create a PowerPoint or use some other presentation tool to use with your oral presentation that includes the poet’s biographical information and picture, and the poem. The recording can use Mrs. Sellers’ camera and equipment OR you can use a cell phone.

2.       Be sure to read the poem aloud on the recording and guide the the audience through your analysis of the poem.

3.       Choose one critique to share with the class. Share your own responses to the critique with the class.

4.       Give a brief summary of what you learned about the poet, the poem, and yourself during the course of this project.

Part Five: Observation of Others

You will fill out an Observation Form on each presentation that demonstrates what you have learned from your classmates about their poets and poems.  

Part 5: Written Presentation

1.       Incorporate all materials in a folder.

2.       The cover should include the completed graphic organizer handed out with your Poet’s name

3.       The documents contained within the folder should be as follows:

a.       The highlighted copies of the biographical information and the notes from the multimedia source.

b.       The one page biography of the poet. This biography should be written as if you were the poet, so be sure to use first person point of view.

c.       The list of 5 poems with the one to two sentence summaries. (1 page)

d.       The annotated copy of the selected poem.

e.       The highlighted copies of the literary critiques. (2)

f.        The literary critique summary/response papers (2)

g.       The works cited page.

h.       Your Observation Forms