Advanced Creative Writing  5/26 – 5/30

 

Monday 5/26

 

No School: Memorial Day

 

Tuesday 5/27

 

1. Journal: For me, today has been like a ____________.  (insert your own noun in the blank)  Then, explore that idea in at least 3 sentences.

2. Poetry Workshop – Figurative Language: Metaphor/Simile

    a. Define metaphor and its importance in language and poetry.  Side note: Theory: All language is metaphor.

        1) the comparison of two unlike things for purposes of providing insight into one or both: School is a prison.

        2) the tenor: the “thing” we are trying to explain or explore - school

        3) the vehicle – the key to the metaphor and indeed most creative expression - prison

            a) the vehicle is usually clever and is designed to make us think about the tenor in new and different ways

                - not so sure the vehicle in our example, prison, is all that clever or new but maybe…it at least makes a point

            b) the vehicle usually works on multiple levels and the best of them enable the reader to see many different interpretations

                - go around the room and get a few different interpretations of prison; see if we can get some unexpected responses!

            c) the vehicle can be controlled if desired

                1- If you don’t want the reader to have a whole lot of freedom to interpret or if you just think your metaphor deserves more specific development, that is ok too.

                2– Write the line School is a prison at the top of a piece of paper; add five lines to it which specifically develop the metaphor in terms of a prison. You can do this in paragraph or poetic form.

                3- Share extended metaphors.

    b. Poetry Writing: Begin a poem with a single metaphor like our example in class today for any emotion or concept you like – love, hate, joy, sorrow, envy, gratitude, freedom, oppression, faith, trust you name it. Develop the metaphor in 10 to 20 lines of poetry.  If you prefer, you can do the same length of poem using several different metaphors instead.  Have at least the RD done by tomorrow.

3. Reminder: You should have the Author Reflection Questionnaire done for Friday.

 

Wednesday 5/28

 

1. Journal: Open write – but it has to be a rhyming poem!

2. Writer’s Workshop – Revising our Metaphor Poem

    a. Read through your Metaphor Poem RD.  As you do, write down what you want your reader to “get” out of each part of your developed metaphor.  In other words, what meaning or meanings did you intend each part of your metaphor or each of your metaphors to convey to the reader?  Do this on a separate piece of paper.

    b. Trade your Metaphor Poem with a partner.  Each of you should read through the other’s poem, carefully writing down what you are thinking – how you are interpreting – the metaphor or metaphors you are reading.  Be specific so your partner will know if he/she got his/her point across the way he/she wanted to.

    c. When done, partners should compare what was intended with what was perceived for each person.  Each partner should give the other advice about how to get his/her point across more effectively.

    d. Now, revise your Metaphor Poem and prepare the final copy for tomorrow.

3. Bring books tomorrow.

4. Reminder: Finish your Author Reflection Questionnaire for Friday.

 

Thursday 5/29

 

1. Journal: tba

2. Return books to media center.

3. Poetry Workshop – The Metaphor Game

    a. Turn in Metaphor Poem FC.

    b. Learn and play the metaphor game (handout).  Extra credit for spectacular metaphors!

4. Reminder: Finish your Author Reflection Questionnaire for tomorrow.

 

Friday 5/30 (Last day for seniors)

 

1. Journal: Consider the Author Reflection Questionnaire you completed.  What do you think the purpose of that was?  Explain.

2. Return late books to Media Center.

3. Author Reflection Workshop

    a. Share and explore responses to the questionnaire.

    b. What was the purpose of this?  What “theory” do you suppose I’m using here?

    c. What are some of the other ways we can look at writing and literature: the literary perspectives.

    d. Turn in Questionnaire responses.

4. Poetry Workshop

    a. Open Poetry Writing as time allows.

    b. Play metaphor game if class desires.

5. Be sure to have all writing from the semester (and others if you like) in class Monday and all through next week.