DIFFICULT DECISIONS

POETRY ASSIGNMENT

YOUR TASK:

You will PUBLISH an ORIGINAL POEM using your answers from the FOLLOWING JOURNAL.

Tell me about a time in your life when you were faced with a difficult decision/choice.

o       What were the circumstances?

o       What were your options?

o       What choice did you make? 

o       What were the consequences, both good and bad? 

o       If you had made a different decision/choice, how would your life be different now? 

SPECIFICS:

·        TOPIC: The EFFECTS YOUR CHOICES/DECISIONS have on your life AND the LIFE OF THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

·        15 LINES MINIMUM (YES IT CAN BE MORE!)

·        NO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO RHYME (IT MAY BE FREE VERSE)

·        MUST BE TYPED:  12 point font; Times New Roman or Ariel

·        FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE YOU MUST INCLUDE (this is the minimum!  You may include more if you like.)

o       2 METAPHORS

o       2 SIMILES

o       1 PERSONIFICATION

o       1 HYPERBOLE

o       1 ONOMATOPOEIA

o       3 STRONG TONE WORDS

GRADING RUBRIC:

1.      LENGTH: Did you meet 15 LINES?

2.      FOCUS/PURPOSE:  Did you clearly and effectively address the topic (did you stay on task/topic?

3.      PRESENTATION: Is it typed in either Ariel or Times New Roman 12-point font?  Is your poem neat, clean, and well organized?  Is your poem professional in appearance?

4.      FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE: Do you meet the minimum requirements as stated above? 

o       2 METAPHORS

o       2 SIMILES

o       1 PERSONIFICATION

o       1 HYPERBOLE

o       1 ONOMATOPOEIA

o       3 STRONG TONE WORDS

5.      CREATIVITY/ORIGINALITY: Is your poem creative and original?  Do you address the topic honestly and provide new insight for your audience?     

TIME LINE/SCHEDULE:

            FRIDAY: WORK IN CLASS- ROUGH DRAFTS

·         HOMEWORK: COMPLETE YOUR ROUGH DRAFT.  DUE ON MONDAY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

MONDAY: BIG CIRCLE DAY!  SHARE YOUR POEMS.  GET FEEDBACK FROM YOUR CLASSMATES.

TUESDAY: FINISH ANY REVISIONS LEFT OVER FROM MONDAY.  TYPE YOUR FINAL DRAFT.  FINAL COPIES ARE DUE ON WEDNESDAY AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS.

*** THIS IS A MAJOR GRADE/EXAM GRADE/TEST GRADE***

HAVE FUN!                       EXPRESS YOURSELF!

Tone/Attitude Words

This is not a complete list; however, it will get you started!

1.    accusatory-charging of wrong doing

2.    apathetic-indifferent due to lack of energy or concern

3.    awe-solemn wonder

4.    bitter-exhibiting strong animosity as a result of pain or grief

5.    cynical-questions the basic sincerity and goodness of people

6.    condescension; condescending-a feeling of superiority

7.    callous-unfeeling, insensitive to feelings of others

8.    contemplative-studying, thinking, reflecting on an issue

9.    critical-finding fault

10.choleric-hot-tempered, easily angered

11.contemptuous-showing or feeling that something is worthless or lacks respect

12.caustic-intense use of sarcasm; stinging, biting

13.conventional-lacking spontaneity, originality, and individuality

14.disdainful-scornful

15.didactic-author attempts to educate or instruct the reader

16.derisive-ridiculing, mocking

17.earnest-intense, a sincere state of mind

18.erudite-learned, polished, scholarly

19.fanciful-using the imagination

20.forthright-directly frank without hesitation

21.gloomy-darkness, sadness, rejection

22.haughty-proud and vain to the point of arrogance

23.indignant-marked by anger aroused by injustice

24.intimate-very familiar

25.judgmental-authoritative and often having critical opinions

26.jovial-happy

27.lyrical-expressing a poet’s inner feelings; emotional; full of images; song-like

28.matter-of-fact--accepting of conditions; not fanciful or emotional

29.mocking-treating with contempt or ridicule

30.morose-gloomy, sullen, surly, despondent

31.malicious-purposely hurtful

32.objective-an unbiased view-able to leave personal judgments aside

33.optimistic-hopeful, cheerful

34.obsequious-polite and obedient in order to gain something

35.patronizing-air of condescension

36.pessimistic-seeing the worst side of things; no hope

37.quizzical-odd, eccentric, amusing

38.ribald-offensive in speech or gesture

39.reverent-treating a subject with honor and respect

40.ridiculing-slightly contemptuous banter; making fun of

41.reflective-illustrating innermost thoughts and emotions

42.sarcastic-sneering, caustic

43.sardonic-scornfully and bitterly sarcastic

44.satiric-ridiculing to show weakness in order to make a point, teach

45.sincere-without deceit or pretense; genuine

46.solemn-deeply earnest, tending toward sad reflection

47.sanguineous -optimistic, cheerful

48.whimsical-odd, strange, fantastic; fun

Georgetown Independent School District

Last Updated October 27, 2009