Weekly Agenda: January 30 – February 3

Monday, January 30
LATE START
Class introductions and overview
Discuss syllabus
“Magnetic” Poetry Group Activity
Poetry Journal #1: What are your thoughts or feelings toward poetry? What is your experience reading it and writing it?
HW: Return signed syllabus on 2/1
Be sure to bring in a notebook for journaling, if you haven’t yet

Wednesday, February 1
Introduction to writing poetry: Playing with Words and Thoughts
- Clustering & the Design vs. Sign Mind
- Model clustering
- Clustering practice: “Time”
Distribute Term 1 Poetry Packets
Introduction to Sound Devices
- Why incorporate sound devices?
- Alliteration
- Examples: Tongue Twisters
- Poetry Reading: “Eight O’Clock”
Poetry Prompt #1 (try to incorporate alliteration): Write 100 words (any kind, in any form including clustering) about a particular time of day.
HW: Complete poetry prompt #1 in your journal if necessary

Friday, February 3
Volunteers share poetry prompt #1
Poetry Prompt #2: Pick a number (un/lucky, favorite, significant, etc.), make that number the title, and write a poem that is about it or features it. Cluster first. Incorporate alliteration wherever possible.
Introduction to Assonance:
- definition
- Make an example: Tongue twisters (partner work) → volunteers share
- Poetry Reading: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” – identify assonance
HW: Poetry Prompt #3: Write a poem about a color without naming the color (or using a synonym!) anywhere but in the title. Cluster first to generate associations and characteristics of that color.