Responding to Poetry: "Afternoon Beach"

Here's Your Two-Part Prompt:

Part 1. Carefully read and annotate your own copy of Molly Jordan's poem "Afternoon Beach." Jordan wrote this poem when she was in 8th grade. Examine her poem's format, specific language choices, vivid images, and overall meaning. Analyze the poem by answering each of the following questions in separate brief, but complete responses:

• Examine the physical structure of Jordan’s poem, specifically the word and line placements. What do the different line placements emphasize throughout the poem? Why do you think Jordan experimented with the structure of her poem as opposed to having her words line up on the left?
• Response:

• In order to emphasize imagery and sensory language, Jordan carefully selected verbs to focus on the specific actions associated with her experience at the beach. Which verbs stick out to you the most and what affect do they have on the images you see in your mind?
• Response:

• Surprisingly, Jordan wrote this poem during the winter season! What do you believe was her intended tone, considering the topic and the season she was composing this poem? What mood does this poem create for you as the reader? Explain your thinking.
• Response:

Part 2. Think about a place that brings you joy, happiness, and peace. Describe this place and narrate its importance to you in either a detailed paragraph or poem.  

Start Paragraph or Poem Below:

Tell the Story: "You Choose The Perspective"

Read the prompt below and carefully study the picture. Use the details of the picture and your creativity to develop a narrative. Make sure you have some sort of beginning, middle, and end to your creative narrative. Transitions will help to add flow from one idea to the next. Make sure you also separate your story into smaller paragraphs rather than keeping your writing in one extended “block” paragraph. A tip for paragraphing: every time you notice a shift in your story, hit enter twice and start a new paragraph.  

Will you tell this story from the perspective of the scuba diver or the whale shark or a third person perspective? Does the scuba diver get away? Does he live inside the whale shark for awhile before finally escaping? You choose the perspective!

Responding to Poetry: "The Swingset"

Here's Your Two-Part Prompt:

Part 1. Carefully read and annotate your own copy of Grace Walton's poem "The Swingset." Walton wrote this poem when she was in 7th grade. Examine her poem's format, specific language choices, vivid images, and overall meaning. Analyze the poem by answering each of the following questions in separate brief, but complete responses:

• How was Walton feeling throughout her poem? What clues do you have that help you infer her feelings?
• Response:

• Reread Walton's first stanza. Notice the strong noun-verb combinations. Why do you believe Walton selected these particular words and what image(s) do you think readers visualize when they read this stanza?
• Response:

• Walton's swingset is both literal and symbolic in meaning. What does the swingset symbolize for Walton? Explain your thinking.
• Response:

Part 2. Select a personal object that has had some level of importance to you over time. In other words, think about your own symbolic "swingset." Describe your object and narrate its importance to you in either a detailed paragraph or poem.  

Start Paragraph or Poem Below:

Tell this story: "Just remember,..."

Begin with the sentences below. Use the picture and your creativity to continue the narrative. Make sure you have some sort of beginning, middle, and end to your creative narrative. Transitions will help to add flow from one idea to the next. Make sure you also separate your story into smaller paragraphs rather than keeping your writing in one extended “block” paragraph. A tip for paragraphing: every time you notice a shift in your story, especially with dialogue, hit enter twice and start a new paragraph.  

"Just remember, you need to wait until he's finished working to ask him. He can get very angry if his work is interrupted. And we don't want him angry. We need his help."

Responding to Poetry - "My Room"

Here's Your Two-Part Prompt:

Carefully read Joe Powning's poem "My Room"

Response Part 1 - Analysis: Examine the format of Joe Powning's poem and examine the specific language he crafted within each stanza. Answer the following analytical questions in a short constructed response:

• How did Powning craft each stanza in his poem and why do you think the last stanza differs from the rest? What effect do you think Powning was aiming for with the format he selected?

• What does Powning's description of his own room reveal about who he is?

Response Part 2 - Narrative Writing: How would you describe your own bedroom? Write a personal narrative describing your own bedroom. You may decide which format to respond in: a paragraph or a poem.

Finish this story: Sometimes at dusk...

Begin a narrative with the sentences below. Use the picture and your creativity to continue the narrative. Make sure you have some sort of beginning, middle, and end to your story. Transitions will help to add flow from one idea to the next. Make sure you also separate your story into smaller paragraphs rather than keeping your writing in one extended “block” paragraph. A tip for paragraphing: every time you notice a shift in your story, hit enter twice and start a new paragraph.  

Sometimes at dusk we would see him come out from the hidden interior of his island. For years we had no idea who he was or what he did until...

Something I Cannot Live Without

Obviously, you need food, water, shelter, and your family's support to continue living comfortably. However, put all of those absolute necessities aside for a moment. Think about the other things you have in your life. What is one thing you absolutely could not live without? This thing could be either concrete or abstract. In your response, provide an explanation describing this thing you cannot live without and then provide a detailed explanation for why you could not live without it.