1. Social Commentary
Subtitle

2. Social Commentary
Social Commentary is the act of expressing an opinion on society. It is done with the idea of bringing about change through appealing to the society's sense of justice. This type of poetry is written with a lot of feeling or emotion and is often counter-cultural; it sometimes goes against the consensus of opinion and can be expressed either in verse or through song lyrics.

3. Social Commentary
It points out the flaws in society and often coincides with social movements like:

4. Social Commentary Poetry
Some social commentary poetry is quite explicit and directly states the issue that is meant to be revealed. Other poems may contain a social message that is quite subtle and is subject to interpretation. What ever the case, social commentary poetry is meant to provoke thought, battle apathy, and even move people to social action or change.
It is also an effort to personalize an experience

5. Example:
I Lost My Talk- Rita Joe

6. Economic Change
Social Assistance
Education

7. Peace, not War
Youth Violence
Middle East Conflict

8. Corruption of
Innocence
Political Agendas
Mass Manipulation

9. Social Issue/ Movement
Find Your Opinion/ Experience of it. (Article/ Evidence)
Transform this message that you want to share into a piece of art for others to take in.

10. Spoken Word/ Slam Poetry

11. Social Issues Refugee Crisis Environmental Concerns Anti- War
Women’s Rights/ Equality
Civil Rights/ Race Equality
Gay/ Sexuality and Gender Rights
(LGBTQ)
Racial Profiling
Aboriginal Rights- Missing and Murdered Women
Refugee Crisis
Animal Rights
Anti- War
Occupy/ Economic responsibility
Mental Health Awareness/ Ed

12. Environmental Concerns

13. Social Issues Refugee Crisis Environmental Concerns Anti- War
Women’s Rights/ Equality
Civil Rights/ Race Equality
Gay/ Sexuality and Gender Rights
(LGBTQ)
Racial Profiling
Aboriginal Rights- Missing and Murdered Women
Refugee Crisis
Animal Rights
Anti- War
Occupy/ Economic responsibility
Mental Health Awareness/ Ed

14. Steps to Social Commentary Poem
Find a Social Movement or Issue that you are passionate about.
Find an article (real world) information/ experience of this issue.
Newspapers/ Magazine articles
Annotate the article: What do you find most interesting?
: What words/ phrases are the most powerful?
: What is the theme? Message?
Complete Process Sheet
Dive into Poetry Writing

15. How to Annotate an Article?
Extract the meaning from the article by looking for key words and phrases.
Do you have any personal connections to the article? Write it down.
Are there any parts which are confusing and require you to ask questions or do further research?
Are there any examples of figurative language?
Usually it would be comparisons. The author might try to explain/clarify something by using a comparison.
Maybe even imagery.

16. (Imagery, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Simile, Juxtaposition)
After Annotating…
After you have finished annotating and completed the questions on the planning sheet you will then begin to write your poem.
This poem is meant to be inspired by the message/ information that you have learned from the article.
The angrier you are after reading the article/ exploring the social issue and movement the better your poem will be.
You must make use of figurative language in your poem! Make Choices!!!
(Imagery, Metaphor, Hyperbole, Simile, Juxtaposition)
Be Informative!!
Make use of the information from the article.
Include a “Call to Action”
What can people do?