Music / Poetry Assignment
Overview: This assignment is designed to show you how important poetry is to song writing. For every tune we hear on the radio, there is a strong poem, which is being used and incorporated into a song. Music therefore, is a vehicle which today's poets use to get their message out to the general public. By the time you are finished with this assignment, you will hopefully have a whole new understanding of poetry and in song writing. You might even learn a few new things about your favourite song and performer(s).
Poetry project criteria
1. You are to include the complete, accurate lyrics to 3 songs. These songs can describe you as a person or say a bit about who you are. If you are stuck here, think about a song that creates a memory for you. Please remember that the lyrics must contain appropriate content (language) for class. You will be required to find your own song and get the lyrics online. You will also be responsible to find a copy of the song to play for the class. * Songs may not contain profanity or inappropriate content.
2. Once you have your songs, you are to look for poetic terms in your lyrics. For example, repetition will be found in most songs as it is the chorus. You are to underline the words or lines that give an example of a poetic term. Label the examples of poetic devices found in each song (see list) and create a legend at the bottom of the page, letting me know which colour you have chosen for which poetic term. Note: * You must find at least 3 different poetic devices in each song.
Examples of Poetic Devices: alliteration, ballad, allusion, hyperbole, metaphor, personification, imagery, onomatopoeia, simile etc.
3. Write a paragraph (50 words) explaining what you think the theme and/or purpose of each song is.
4. Write a Poetry / Song Analysis for two of your three songs. Follow the guidelines for the poetry response assignment.
5. For the third song you are to write a paragraph explaining why you chose that song. Talk about why you selected the song and who / what it reminds you of. You should also provide a line from the song that helps to back up or support your ideas. (Are there any connections that you can make to the song?)
6. You are to create and hand in two poems written by you. Each poem must include one poetic device, which must be underlined; Each poem must include a rough draft that has clearly been worked on (re-worded, line break symbols, stanza symbols, etc.); Each poem must have a title (can’t be “My Poem” or “Cat Poem”); Each poem must be in good copy form
Use the Individual Poetry Project checklist
You will be marked on your creativity, effort shown, use of poetic devices and presentation of poems.
7. Create a CD Cover - You are to design a cover for your CD that includes:
a. A visual for your CD cover that represents you-who you are, your interests, hobbies, features etc. Be creative!
b. An original title
c. Your name
d. A list of the three songs you have selected and the artist who sings the song.
8. Presentation
Choose one of the following choices.
A) Present your three songs to the class (it should be no longer then 20 seconds per song). After you play each song, you are to explain why you selected the song and what it says about you.
B) You can bring in a musical instrument that you play and present a piece to the class. Please allow no more then 5 minutes of time here.
Music / poetry assignment Name: ______
Steps & Dates checklist
____ Brainstorm a list of potential songs
____ Check online for lyrics and decide on a song that you think is poetic and appropriate. Have lyrics approved by me.
____ Once your song is approved, research some information on the artist that you can use as an introduction to your song. Record where you found this information.
During presentation include an introduction that:
__ mentions the song by name
__ mentions the artist by name
__ provides information on the artist and where that information was found
____ Strongly defend the song as being a poem by:
__ explaining the deeper meaning (details)
__ locating any metaphors, similes, and personification and explaining them
__ discussing how/what the music adds to the lyrics
____ Prepare the presentation of your song to the class. You will need to introduce your song and artist, play the song and defend it as being poetic. You can be as creative as you like here and decide how you want the class to listen to your song (overhead with lyrics, video, game, etc.)
No matter what you do you will be required to complete the following steps during your presentation:
___ Introduce the song and the artist. Grab the audience’s attention.
___ Provide a copy of the lyrics (LCD, copies for everybody, ask me)
___ Play the song and explain (in great detail) why it is poetic. You must include the following details for full marks:
i. What the deeper meaning of the song is (this is the hardest part)
ii. All the poetic devices you can locate in the song (metaphor, simile, personification, rhyme scheme, alliteration, onomatopoeia and hyperbole). You need to explain what each one adds to the lyrics.
iii. A discussion of how the music adds to the lyrics (louder with emotion, etc.)
____ Presentations begin – all students must be ready then.
Poetry Assignment
Part One – Poetry Responses
Complete two poetry responses (good copies) to hand in.
Step One: Write out the poem / song
Step Two: Write the response following these steps:
Paragraph One A paragraph that includes:
1. The title of the poem / song and the author / singer
2. A brief statement that explains how you feel about the poem (do you like it/dislike it, did it give you a new perspective on something, did it make you think, etc.)
Paragraph Two A paragraph that includes:
3. What you think the poem / song is about (the deeper meaning of the poem) and why you think this. This needs to be explained in detail.
4. What does the title have to do with the song?
5. What message is the song trying to convey to the listener?
6. Tell what you believe the songwriter has written about. Back up your thoughts, if possible, with any outside information, which you can find. What is the message intended by the author. Do you agree with the message? Are there any parts you disagree with?
Paragraph Three A paragraph that includes:
1. A discussion of how the music adds to the lyrics (louder with emotions etc.)
Part Two – Personal Poetry Writing
You are to create and hand in two poems written by you. Polish up two poems into a good copy following these requirements:
- Each poem must include one poetic device, which must be underlined
- Each poem must include a rough draft that has clearly been worked on (re-worded, line break symbols, stanza symbols, etc.)
- Each poem must have a title (can’t be “My Poem” or “Cat Poem”)
- Each poem must be in good copy form
You will be marked on your creativity, effort shown, use of poetic devices and presentation of poems.
Poetry Assignment
Part One: Two Poetry Responses
CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1Content
6.3 with increasing confidence and flexibility, find evidence in texts to support personal claims and viewpoints about issues, themes and situations
7.2 identify the various features and elements writers use when writing for specific purposes / Both “Poetry Responses” follow the 3 paragraph format in great detail. The response identifies the title, author and reason for choice; what the meaning of the poem is with evidence; and correctly identifies and explains 3 poetic devices in the poem. / Both “Poetry Responses” follow the 3 paragraph format in detail. The response identifies the title, author and reason for choice; what the meaning of the poem is with evidence; and correctly identifies and explains 3 poetic devices in the poem. / Both “Poetry Responses” follow the 3 paragraph format in some detail. The response identifies the title, author and reason for choice; what the meaning of the poem is with evidence; and correctly identifies and explains 3 poetic devices in the poem. / Either the “Poetry Response” format is not followed OR student has not completed two responses.
Part Two: Two Poems Written by You
CATEGORY / 4 / 3 / 2 / 1Writing Process
10.4 demonstrate a commitment to crafting pieces of writing / Student devotes a lot of time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing). Works hard to make the poems wonderful. / Student devotes sufficient time and effort to the writing process (prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing). Works and gets the job done. / Student devotes some time and effort to the writing process but was not very thorough. Does enough to get by. / Student devotes little time and effort to the writing process. Doesn't seem to care.
Content
8.4 demonstrate an awareness of how and when to integrate interesting effects in imaginative writing; integrate detail that adds richness and density / Work is neat and each poem is presented in a creative manner. Each poem has at least one creative, correctly labelled poetic device and includes a creative title. / Work is neat and each poem is presented in a creative manner.
Each poem has one correctly labelled poetic device and includes a title. / Work may be untidy at times, the poems are presented in a somewhat creative manner.
Poetic devices are used, but may not be properly labelled and/or no title is apparent. / Work is untidy / or the poems are not presented in any creative manner.
Assignment is either not completed or completed with little demonstrated effort.
See Comments on Project
Individual Poetry Project
Marking checklist: You are being marked on the following checklist. Any blank areas will result in a portion of your potential letter grade being deducted. Each area contains the same weight.
Poem 1 / Poem 2__ Poem is at least 8 lines long
__ Poem contains at least one poetic
device that is used properly
__ Poem is about something specific
__ Student has made careful choices with
stanza breaks, line breaks and
punctuation
__ Poem is edited for spelling & grammar / __ Poem is at least 8 lines long
__ Poem contains at least one poetic
device that is used properly
__ Poem is about something specific
__ Student has made careful choices with
stanza breaks, line breaks and
punctuation
__ Poem is edited for spelling & grammar
How to Analyze Poetry
Poetry is a way of expression. It is a language of its own. This language is one that is open to interpretation, and it is one of the best things about poetry. Although the author might have a specific idea that he or she is trying to convey, you, as the reader can also interpret the poem based on your own experience and understanding. You can take it for its figurative meaning or for its literal meaning. Use the following to analyze your selected poem:
· Read and understand the title.
· Figure out who the speaker is.
· Think about all of the literary techniques, and elements such as characterization, metaphor, simile, and alliteration among others,that might help you better understand what the author is trying to say.
· Keep important literary concepts in mind.
· Think about the imagery in the poem; try to draw a picture in your head of what the poem is describing.
· Even though it might be difficult, try to make the poem relative to you. This will help you relate to the theme or topic of the poem and help you get a better grasp of what you are reading.
· Always keep in mind, the action that is taking place as well as the mood of the poem (dark, gloom, happy, joyful).
· Go back to the title and try to think of what in the poem gave the title its meaning.
· Lastly, read the poem as often as you have to until you are confident that you have fully understood the concept of the poem.
Literary Concepts
Speaker- is the narrative voice in the poem.
Sound - alliteration, consonance, assonance.
Rhythm - is the pattern that is created by the author through the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables.
Images - pictures that are described and painted through the poem.
Figurative Language - simile, metaphors, and personification.