Writing

What have you learned about poetry the past two weeks?

What are the differences between poetry and prose?

PROSE POETRY has complete sentences requires capitalization and punctuation does not rhyme is structured by paragraphs

allows sentence fragments and does not have to follow rules for sentence structure

has optional capitalization and punctuation used for style can be rhyming or nonrhyming is structured by stanzas (groups of lines of poetry)

A quatrain is a four-line poem or four-line stanza of a longer poem. It expresses one thought and has a variety of rhyming patterns. In one pattern, the first two lines and the last two lines rhyme (AABB). In another pattern, the first and third lines and the second and fourth lines rhyme (ABAB). A third pattern could have only the second and fourth line rhyme. (ABCB)

Everyone remembers old Rodeo Bill,How he roped his steer with cunning skillBut now he just sits in the bleachers and grins,While the feisty crowd cheers and the show begins.

The first and second lines and the third and fourth lines of this quatrain rhyme (AABB).

Buried AliveBy Laura Price

AABB Quatrain Poem

Buried AliveWhen I walk in my bedroom, I’m buried alive. With the piles of garbage, how can I survive? My mom says to clean it before it’s too late. But my favorite show’s on, so I think I will wait.

Vanishing InkBy Laura PriceABAB Quatrain Poem

Vanishing Ink

I went to a salesclerkand bought me a pen.I did all my homeworkand checked it again.

Believe me, Miss Dancer,it’s not what you think.I wrote all my answersin vanishing ink.

VegetablesBy Laura PriceABCB Quatrain Poem

Vegetables

I hate to eat my vegetables,because they taste like dirt,But Mother makes me eat themif I want to get dessert.

She has no clue I toss theminto the garbage can.But, one day I found them hidden inside my lemon flan.

Every summerunder the shadewe fix up a standto sell lemonade

A stack of cupsa pitcher of ice,a shirtboard signto tell the price

See how the ‘scrapers stand so proud,All lined up in a row.Perhaps they’ll even touch a cloud,If one should come so low.

Model of Good Writing—Poetry: Quatrain

Questions about the Model of Good Writing: Can you figure out the rhyming pattern of

this quatrain? The first two stanzas are A-B-C-B, final

stanza is A-B-A-B.

Questions about Rhythm:

What have you learned about rhythm throughout the last two poetry lessons?

Do you think rhythm would be important in a quatrain? Why or why not?

How would you describe the rhythm in the model quatrain and the Rodeo Bill quatrain?

Do you think the rhyme pattern in the poems relates to their rhythm?

Began brainstorming various topics that you could use to write your quatrains. You may suggest subjects related to the theme Going West or specifically to “Ghost Towns of the American West.” The topics you choose must be able to be described using sensory details.

Brainstorm topic ideas:

Take out Skills Practice 2 page 111. Consider the audience and purpose for your quatrain poems.

Think (Do NOT write in your workbook. Write in your notebook.)

Audience: Who will read your quatrain? Example: a friend

Purpose: What do you want your readers to think about your quatrain? Example: I want my audience to think I used sensory details well in my poem.

Prewriting (Do NOT write in your workbook. Write in your notebook.)

Topic

Sights Sounds

Smells

Tastes

Textures

Prewriting (Do NOT write in your workbook. Write in your notebook.)

Topic

Sights Sounds

Smells

Tastes

Textures

Icky Sticky Mud

muddy footprints

mud dribbling

flashing lights

plop, thud, cackle

giggles

snickers

aerosol

filthy toilets

stench

gritty

icky

sticky

grimy, filthy