Classroom Resource

What is Poetry? Contrasting Poetry and Prose

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

Studying poetry creates rich opportunities to encourage critical reading and thinking, as students analyze how poetry differs from prose in structure, form, purpose, and language. This lesson begins with a quick-write and a general discussion of the essential question What is poetry? Students are then reminded that different texts require different responses from readers, and to illustrate the differences they explore a poem and a prose selection on the same topic. Students discuss the two texts in cooperative groups, using a list of guiding questions. Each group then develops a list of descriptive statements about poetry, and the groups share their statements during a whole-class discussion that reconsiders the original question.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.R1

Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.R1

Vocabulary

  • Active listening
  • Discussion
  • Conversation
  • Rules
  • Participation

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Active listening skills.
  • How to engage in discussions and conversations in a variety of settings.
  • Agreed-upon rules for participation.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Demonstrate active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings.
  • Converse in pairs, small groups, and large groups.
  • Practice the agreed-upon rules for participation.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Conversations and discussions follow agreed-upon rules which help us actively listen and gain understanding.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.9

Participate in collaborative discussions about literary devices and elements found in prose and poetry.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.9

Vocabulary

  • Collaborative discussions
  • Literary devices
  • Literary elements
  • Prose
  • Poetry

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The purpose of collaborative discussions related to prose and poetry.
  • Collaborative discussions occur when participants actively listen, build on others' ideas, and ask clarifying questions.
  • Generally accepted rules for discussions.
  • Literary text often includes literary devices, such as personification, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, symbolism, metaphor, and simile.
  • Literary elements within a story include the theme, plot, and point of view.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Engage in a collaborative discussion.
  • Identify and discuss literary devices and elements in poetry and prose.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Comprehension of poetry and prose can be demonstrated by engaging in a collaborative discussion about a text.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

ELA21.7.R1

Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.7.R1

Vocabulary

  • Active listening
  • Discussion
  • Conversation
  • Rules
  • Participation

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Active listening skills.
  • How to engage in discussions and conversations in a variety of settings.
  • Agreed-upon rules for participation.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Demonstrate active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings.
  • Converse in pairs, small groups, and large groups.
  • Practice the agreed-upon rules for participation.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Conversations and discussions follow agreed-upon rules which help us actively listen and gain understanding.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

ELA21.7.9

Participate in collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.7.9

Vocabulary

  • Collaborative discussions
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Literary devices
  • Literary elements

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The purpose of collaborative discussions related to prose and poetry.
  • Collaborative discussions occur when participants actively listen, build on others' ideas, and ask clarifying questions.
  • Generally accepted rules for discussions.
  • Literary text often includes literary devices such as personification, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, symbolism, metaphor, and simile.
  • Literary elements within a story include the theme, plot, and point of view.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Participate in discussions about prose and poetry.
  • Identify and discuss literary devices and elements in poetry and prose.
  • Evaluate how prose and poetry use literary devices and elements for an intended purpose.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Comprehension of poetry and prose can be demonstrated by engaging in a collaborative discussion about a text.
  • A reader must evaluate the use of literary elements and devices in prose and poetry to understand the literal and figurative meaning of the text.
  • Active participation in discussions requires students to listen and respond to others' thoughts and ideas.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

ELA21.8.R1

Utilize active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings, following agreed-upon rules for participation.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.8.R1

Vocabulary

  • Active listening
  • Discussion
  • Conversation
  • Rules
  • Participation

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Active listening skills.
  • How to engage in discussions and conversations in a variety of settings.
  • Agreed-upon rules for participation.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Demonstrate active listening skills during discussion and conversation in pairs, small groups, or whole-class settings.
  • Converse in pairs, small groups, and large groups.
  • Practice the agreed-upon rules for participation.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Conversations and discussions follow agreed-upon rules which help us actively listen and gain understanding.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

ELA21.8.10

Engage in coherent and collaborative discussions about prose and poetry by evaluating the use of literary devices and elements.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.8.10

Vocabulary

  • Coherent discussion
  • Collaborative discussion
  • Prose
  • Poetry
  • Literary devices
  • Literary elements

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The purpose of collaborative discussions related to prose and poetry.
  • Collaborative discussions occur when participants actively listen, build on others' ideas, and ask clarifying questions.
  • Generally accepted rules for discussions.
  • Literary text often includes literary devices such as personification, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, symbolism, metaphor, and simile.
  • Literary elements within a story include the theme, plot, and point of view.
  • Poetry is a genre of text that uses distinctive style and rhythm to aid in the expression of feelings, while prose is written in ordinary language.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Participate in coherent and collaborative discussions about prose and poetry.
  • Identify and discuss literary devices and elements in poetry and prose.
  • Evaluate how prose and poetry use literary devices and elements for an intended purpose.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Comprehension of poetry and prose can be demonstrated by engaging in a collaborative discussion about a text.
  • They can discuss the use of literary elements and devices in prose and poetry to better understand the literal and figurative meaning of the text.
  • Active participation in discussions requires students to listen and respond to others' thoughts and ideas.
Link to Resource
http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/what-poetry-contrast…

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

ReadWriteThink
Accessibility

Accessibility

text~
License

License Type

CUSTOM

Custom License Type (URL)

http://www.readwritethink.org/util/legal.html

Comments or Notes

ReadWriteThink is a free resource with links to additional resources including videos, interactives, and instructional materials.

Approved Date

raulstoncg
ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme