Definition Poetry

Alex McKoy & Brittney CouryECED 4300 BDr. Tonja Root

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

Spring 2011

The Prewriting Stage

Alex McKoy

• GPS: ELA3W1. The student demonstrates competency in the writing process. The student

m. Pre-writes to generate ideas, develops a rough draft, rereads to revise, and edits to correct.

• PLO: The students will plan their writing of definition poetry by completing a graphic organizer.

Definition Poetry

• Defines something using metaphors or imagery

• Paints picture for reader

• Use free verse

Prewriting Stage

• The planning stage

1. Topic

2. Genre

3. Purpose

• Organizes ideas and thoughts

• Graphic Organizers

Definition Poetry Graphic Organizer

Topic: A Sunny Day

Topic: Imagery: A sunny day is A sunny day is A sunny day is A sunny day is A sunny day is A sunny day is A sunny day is

APA Citations

Graphic Organizer• Coury, B., & McKoy, A. (2011). Definition poetry graphic organizer.

Unpublished graphic organizer,

Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Modified from • Gaines, T., & Welch, S. (2007). Definition poetry graphic organizer.

Unpublished graphic organizer, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Poetry Example• Taliah. (2009). What is a friend?. Retrieved on April 6, 2011, from

http://literacyworkshop.org/wpmu/poetryslam2009/category/definition-poems/

Example

What is a friend?

Somebody who supports or stands up for you?

A person who is always there for you?

Someone who’s there through thick and thin?

Or just a special person?

Taliah. (2009). What is a friend?. Retrieved on April 6, 2011, from http://literacyworkshop.org/wpmu/poetryslam2009/category/definition-poems/

Practice Activity 3rd Grade

• Before getting started, the class will discuss the genre and purpose of the poem.

• The class will fill out a graphic organizer together to organize their ideas and thoughts.

• The topic will be: “A sunny day is…”

Assessment Activity 3rd Grade

• Definition poetry paints an image for the reader using free verse.

• You will now complete a graphic organizer independently.

• You will be assessed on the completion of your graphic organizer.

The Drafting Stage Brittney Coury

• GPS: ELA3W1. The student demonstrates competency in the writing process. The student

m. Pre-writes to generate ideas, develops a rough draft, rereads to revise, and edits to correct. PLO: The students will draft their writing of a definition poem using their graphic organizer.

The Drafting Stage

• Information from graphic organizer

• Skip Lines

• Label “DRAFT”

• Not a final copy

Definition Poetry

• Use imagery from the graphic organizer to put into lines

• Use your imagination

• Reread to check understanding

Draft Coury, B., & McKoy, A. (2011). Drafting a definition poem. Unpublished drafting page, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Drafting a Definition Poem Topic: A Sunny Day

Line 1 Line 2 Line 3 Line 4 Line 5 Line 6 Line 7

• Students will use graphic organizer from prewriting to complete their draft. • Each line corresponds with first line of the graphic organizer.

APA Citations

Draft Page• Coury, B., & McKoy, A. (2011). Drafting a definition

poem. Unpublished drafting page, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Modified from• Gaines, T., & Welch, S. (2007). Definition poetry

graphic organizer. Unpublished graphic organizer, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

ExampleCoury, B., & McKoy, A. (2011). Definition poetry graphic organizer. Unpublished graphic organizer,

Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Definition Poetry Graphic Organizer

Topic: A Sunny Day

Topic: Imagery: A sunny day is going to the beach. A sunny day is feeling warmth from the sun. A sunny day is bright. A sunny day is like Christmas in July. A sunny day is a day at the park. A sunny day is spending the day at the pool. A sunny day is the perfect day for ice cream.

Coury, B., & McKoy, A. (2011). Drafting a definition poem. Unpublished drafting page, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA.

Drafting a Definition Poem

Topic: A Sunny Day

Line 1 A sunny day is going to the beach. Line 2 A sunny day is feeling warmth from the sun. Line 3 A sunny day is bright. Line 4 A sunny day is like Christmas in July. Line 5 A sunny day is a day at the park. Line 6 A sunny day is spending the day at the pool. Line 7 A sunny day is the perfect day for ice cream!

Practice Activity 3rd Grade

• Use the graphic organizer from the prewriting stage to draft

• The topic will be: “A sunny day is…”

• Use complete sentences

• Skip Lines

Assessment Activity 3rd Grade

• Definition poetry paints an image for the reader using free verse.

• You will now complete a draft independently using the graphic organizer from independent practice

• You will be assessed on characteristics of the drafting stage and the content of your writing.