1. THE GRANDE FINALE: Narrowing the Focus On a Poem Objective: Learn to tighten the focus of a poem by focusing on a single image or picture. REMEMBER all your strategies that excellent writers use when writing: Descriptive language Specific details Precise nouns Strong verbs Voice

2. Narrowing the Focus On a Poem Do You Remember: The poem Where I Am From by George Ella Lyon? The author focused on a series of memories (people, places, events) from her childhood. Also the Where We Are From class poem which focused on just the classroom/school.

3. THE GRANDE FINALE: Narrowing the Focus On a Poem Today’s Objective: Learn how writers focus a poem on a single event or just one object. Let’s read the poem dog by Valerie Worth. How does the author focus its’ topic? What are the specific details that help create the single picture for the reader?

5. THE GRANDE FINALE: Narrowing the Focus On a Poem In the poem dog by Valerie Worth. How does the author focus its’ topic? Answer: one dog under the tree What are the specific details that help create the single picture for the reader? Let’s look at Mr. Rogers’ Where I Am From poem: Going to find a line from the poem that focuses on ONE person, place, thing, or event.

6. Narrowing the Focus On a Poem Where I Am From By Mr. Rogers I am from running around in grassy green fields, playing commando, tag, cops & robbers. I am from getting beat up by my older brother. I am from having Kermit the Frog and E.T. as stuffed animals. I am from eating delicious chocolate cupcakes that my mom made for me on my birthday. I am from camping out in the backyard in pitch-black darkness, star gazing.

7. THE GRANDE FINALE: Narrowing the Focus On a Poem Pick out a line from your Where I Am From poem. From my poem: I am from camping out in the backyard in pitch-black darkness, star gazing. This line will be the focus of my last poem. Make sure you stick to one main focus! Use as many different specific details as you can!

8. Narrowing the Focus On a Poem 1.Write your final poem using a line from your Where I Am From poem as the main focus. 2.Use specific details, descriptive language (strong verbs/precise nouns), sensory details, and voice to create a picture in the reader’s mind. Use a dictionary or thesaurus if you need to!!! 3.Be sure to stay on topic! 4.When you finish you will need to Proofread, Revise, and Edit. Remember: This is for a GRADE!!!