Out of Her Mind -- Musings on Education and Life

we heart found poetry (word cloud made using wordart ). At the end of a unit in my high school English class, I have students create and present thematic found poetry.  I am sure you can vary this activity in numerous ways; I look forward to you sharing your implementation/ideas with me and other readers.  Recently, I have been using found poems in the following ways: 1.  Near the first day of class, I introduce the concept of found or cut up poetry by using a sample text we have read together in class (can be a shortish excerpt or excerpt(s) chosen for this purpose).  Students are told to write down interesting words and phrases that they hear/see (depending on the modality in which you present the information) with the understanding that these words will later be used to write a thematic poem on the work that was read.  They are to record a minimum of 25 words and phrases, and I am sure to encourage them to write down at least 10 phrases.  Then, I go around the room and get

Be a star writer!  Use this rubric to internalize the characteristics of upper level writing! AP Literature and Composition General Rubric                        Ms.  Faulkner                                             SGHS GRADE Description 9 100-95 These essays are outstanding. They offer creative and original ideas and insights that are extensively elaborated and refreshing. They go beyond general commentary, referring to the texts, explicitly or implicitly, offering specific details (blending quotes where appropriate) to support their analyses; they offer compelling connections between technique and effect. The introduction grabs the reader’s attention, and the writer makes use of transitional sentences and clauses to navigate ideas. The conclusion discusses the significance of the thesis. The writer makes use of sophisticated vocabulary, sentence variety, parallel structure, modification. The language is concise a

This unit, "Seeing/Ways to "See" Literature" has been preparing you for reading a work of fiction and applying a critical lens of your choice as you read and as you analyze the selection in writing AFTER you have read.  Your Task: (CHOOSE ONE) A. Read and annotate (in your learning log) one longer article or two short articles on "The Yellow Wallpaper" from JSTOR, available  here .  Use your reading to inform your essay Now that you have had a brief review of literary analysis and now that you have had an introduction to different approaches to critical analyses, it is time to show off your writing skills.  Pick EITHER one (1) of the essay topics below   and write one (1) five (5) paragraph essay, complete with an introduction and conclusion OR pick five (5) prompts to respond to, writing one (1) paragraph for each one.  These paragraphs should each have an introduction sentence and a concluding sentence.  These essays will prepare