1. Poetry Project
Each student will compose no less than 13 different poems.
Each type of poem will be due on the following day.
The poems will be graded on creativity, format, and effort.
Students will present poems to the class in a poetry slam.

2. Synonym Poem Assignment: PAIN
Line One – Choose any word and write the word in capital letters on the first line.
Line Two – Look up the word and find three to five synonyms for it, and write them
on the second line.
Line Three – Write a descriptive phrase about the word on line three.
* The last two lines should rhyme.
PAIN
Sting, ache, anguish, strain, Pain hurts and will always remain
LOVE Attachment, adoration, warmth, adore Love is so pure, right down to the core.
Assignment:
Write 2 synonym poems over
something that is meaningful to you.

3. "I Don't Understand..." Assignment: Write one “I Don’t Understand…”
1. Begin the poem with "I don't understand..."
2. List three things you do not understand about the world or people.
3. Name the thing you do not understand most of all.  
4. End the poem with an example of something you DO understand.
Example:
I DON'T UNDERSTAND...
I don't understand    why_____________    why_____________    why_____________
But most of all    why_____________    why_____________    why_____________    why _____________
What I understand most is    why_____________    why_____________    why_____________    why_____________
Assignment:
Write one “I Don’t Understand…”
- Make sure you follow the format

4. “I Don’t Understand…” I don’t understand
why people are cruel to one another
why teachers won’t let you go to the bathroom
why we have to do homework when we are at school all day
But most of all
why getting lied to hurts so bad
why people who say they love you leave
why life is not fair
why people fight over things that really aren’t that important
What I understand most is
why we are made to fall in love
why it feels good to feel the sun on your face
why God put us here
why I have the best English teacher EVER!

5. "I Am..."
Line #1.  I am #2.  Three nouns about which you have strong feelings.  
Begin each with a capital letter. #3.  A complete sentence about two things that you like. #4.  Three nouns that describe what you like to see in other people;
end with "are important to me.” Capitalize each noun. #5.  A sentence containing a positive thought or feeling.  
It can tell what you find acceptable in yourself. #6.-#7.  Sentence in which you show something negative in yourself or others,
however the sentence must end by showing that out of something
BAD can come GOOD.  Use the word "but" to link the bad and good. #8.-#9.-#10.  Each line is a short sentence relating something about
which you have strong feelings--likes or dislikes.  
They do not have to relate to each other or to the previous lines
you have written. #11.  End with "This is me" or "I am."
Assignment:
Write an “I Am…” poem.
- Make sure you follow the format.

6. Student Example
I am Life, Hope, Living I care very much about the world and life itself. HONESTY, OPTIMISM, and UNSELFISHNESS are important to me. Hospitality is a good thing. Meanness is bad, but can be good to get people off your back. The world is getting weaker. The longer the days the more beautiful they are. People are too negative. I am. --Liz Webster (Grade 9)

7. Couplet Cinquain Assignment: Pair of lines that rhyme. Baseball
SYLLABLE PATTERN:
Line 1 = 2 syllables
Line 2 = 4 syllables
Line 3 = 6 syllables
Line 4 = 8 syllables
Line 5 = 2 syllables
Pair of lines that rhyme.
Example:
Your smiling face keeps me here,
It brings me joy and brings me cheer.
It brightens up a cloudy day,
And warms my heart in that special way.
Baseball
Bat cracks against
The pitch, sending it out
Over the back fence, I did it!
Homerun
Assignment:
1. Write a poem using couplets. Poem
Must be 8 lines.
2. Write 2 cinquain poems.
Listen...
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees
And fall.
Can be over any subject you choose.

8. Emotions and Actions Assignment: Write an Emotions and Actions poem.
Sometimes it is hard to put your emotions and feelings on paper.
The following patterns for poems are designed to allow you to
get used to putting your emotions into writing.
Line #1:  What if ____________________________ Line #2:  I might ____________________________ (leave a space between lines 2 & 3) Line #3:  What if ____________________________ Line #4:  I could _____________________________ (leave a space between lines 4 & 5) Line #5:  What if ____________________________ Line #6:  I would_____________________________ (leave a space between lines 6 & 7) Line #7:  Ask a question.
Assignment:
Write an Emotions and Actions poem.
- Make sure to use formula given.

9. Sense Poem Assignment:
Think of a place that is special. Form an image in your mind of this place. 
If you need to, cluster this image.  Then complete the following statements.
a. I see_________________________ b. I smell_______________________ c. I hear________________________ d. I feel________________________ e. I taste_______________________ f. I think_______________________
I see the sage-covered desert I smell the freshness of the morning I hear the scream of the hawk I feel the caress of a breeze I taste the dew on the wind I think the new day is born
Assignment:
Come up with 2 special places. Use the formula above
to describe those places.

10. Credo Assignment: Credo is a statement of belief.
I believe in the _________________________ the____________________________________ the____________________________________ the____________________________________ the____________________________________ _______________,_______________,_________________
But (something you don't believe in, i.e.
("but the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, over-rated")
I believe in____________________________ I believe in____________________________ I believe in____________________________ ______________,________________,_________________
And I believe in_________________________________(longest)
Assignment:
1. Design a personal credo using the formula above.

11. Student Example: CREDO
I believe in the wisdom of elders, the influence of peer pressure, the importance of success, the evil that exists in money, the effectiveness of hard work, dedication, courage, strength.
But the belief that you don't have to strive for your goals is just outrageous.
I believe in the truth that will set you free, I believe in love that will conquer all, I believe in respect for others, Courtesy, politeness, gratitude.
And I believe in the fact that tomorrow isn't promised to you. ---Tierra Jones (Grade 10)

12. Someday Poem Someday I will be a 9th grader;
Begin each line with the word Someday... and complete it with a wish you have. 
Lines 1 and 2: What you want for yourself now
Lines 3 and 4: what you want for your future
Lines 5 and 6: What you want for the world
Someday I will be a 9th grader;
Someday there will be a drivers license in my hand.
Someday there will be the fanfare of a college graduation…
Someday there will be a house filled with peace and love.
Someday the world will have clean oceans…
Someday children will not hunger!
Someday…
Assignment:
Compose a someday poem that is
at least 6 lines long.

13. Line 1: 5 syllables Line 2: 7 syllables Line 3: 5 syllables
Haiku
A haiku is an unrhymed three-line poem. It is based on a traditional Japanese poetic form. Though there are different ways to write haiku, the traditional pattern in English is to write the first and last lines with five syllables each, and the middle line with seven syllables. In other words, the pattern of syllables looks like this:
Line 1: 5 syllables Line 2: 7 syllables Line 3: 5 syllables
*Most often, haiku poems are about seasons or nature, though you can write your own haiku about anything you like.
Example #1 Example #2
The cat sleeps all night. Winter is coming. He needs lots of rest for a Snow will be arriving soon Long day of napping. We should rake the leaves. .

14. Free Verse Assignment:
A free verse poem is a poem that is free from all the rules of poetry. This poem will
be one of your own.
Do not have to use “I Wish”
Choose a topic and stick with it.
I Wish
I wish for a cat, I wish for a dog. I wish for a storm with out a fog. I wish to be, I wish to see. I wish to be a great big flea. I wish to swim in the sea. But most of all I want to stay ME!!!!!!
Assignment:
Compose 1 free verse poem that is at least 14 lines long. Or
2. Compose 2 free verse poems that are at least 7 lines long.