1. WRITING A PRAISE POEM

2. There are different ways to write an African Praise Poem, but the version we will work on today is a 5-lined poem, with a one-lined chorus that is repeated after every line. The poem celebrates the life of an individual, giving their name, heritage, and qualities e.t.c, in a rhythmical style. These guidelines are for writing the poem about yourself or someone you know.

3. INTRODUCE YOURSELF/THE PERSON YOU ARE PRAISING: “I AM…” “You are…” “He is…” “She is…” “______________ is his name” “_____________ is her name” ***You are may use the following phrases to start, or be creative! The aim of the first line is to indicate who you are talking about***

4. TELL US SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR/THEIR HERITAGE: WHERE ARE YOU/THEY FROM? OR TELL US ABOUT YOUR/THEIR FAMILY? BE DESCRIPTIVE – FOR EXAMPLE: if you were born in a car, you could be ‘Born on wheels’. Or you could tell us about your family by saying something like, ‘Darling daughter to a crime-fighter (policeman) and paper queen (office worker), super sister to the beast (teenage brother) and the tiny, pink gem (baby sister).

5. COMPARE YOURSELF/THEM TO AN ANIMAL OR NATURAL OCCURRENCE (SUCH AS A STORM, RAIN, A SEASON, WIND)

6. COMPARE YOURSELF TO A DIFFERENT ANIMAL OR NATURAL OCCURRENCE OR DESCRIBE THEIR ATTRIBUTES IN A CREATIVE WAY!

7. TELL US A GREAT QUALITY YOU HAVE USING “I AM…/THEY ARE…” AND REPEAT A WORD THAT DESCRIBES YOU PERFECTLY, A FEW TIMES.

8. YOUR CHORUS LINE NEEDS TO PRAISE YOU/THE PERSON YOU ARE PRAISING IMAGINE THE AUDIENCE CHANTING IT BACK AT YOU IT NEEDS TO BE A SHORT LINE THAT KEEPS THE RHYTHM OF YOUR POEM WRITE THIS LINE IN A DIFFERENT COLOUR PEN OR A USE A DIFFERENT FONT WHEN TYPING

9. EXAMPLE He is Jenson Button, Creates magic when on wheels Son of rally cross champion, Creates magic when on wheels A cheetah, passing in a blur, fast, fierce and fantastic, Creates magic when on wheels A thunderstorm, a tempest, you have to stop and stare, Creates magic when on wheels He is history in the making, success is his for the taking, taking, taking Creates magic when on wheels

10. REMEMBER TO: Compare yourself/your person of praise to an animal or natural occurrence Use alliteration and/or assonance Use descriptions and imagery i.e. metaphors Be Creative Make sure you are using correct spelling Your poem must have 10 lines HAVE FUN!