What is Poetry? Contrasting Poetry and Prose

Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

ReadWriteThink

License Type

CUSTOM
http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/what-poetry-contrast…

Custom License Type (URL)

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

Accessibility

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Comments or Notes

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

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

raulstoncg
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