1. Half-Caste By John Agard
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2. Explorations and Insights
This is a poem about the use of one particular term: ‘half-caste’. Do you think it is about any wider issues?

3. Explorations and Insights
Working in pairs, turn lines 4-30 into Standard English. It would begin:
Explain yourself
What do you mean
When you say half-caste
Do you mean that when Picasso
Read the new version aloud. What effect does this different language have on the impact of the poem?

4. Explorations and Insights
The poem ends ‘I will tell yu / de other half / of my story.’ What might this other half be?

5. Task
John Agard expresses a strong point of view: he argues that to use a word like ‘half-caste’ is improper and unintelligent. He seems to have strong feelings about its use.
Choose two or three words or phrases from your own experience that you don’t like or that you find offensive. Explore some reasons for not liking them and present your views to the rest of the group.