Poetry Collection

The purpose of this collection is to highlight existing Revision Assistant prompts that celebrate poets throughout history and explore how they crafted their masterpieces. These prompts are also an excellent addition to lessons during National Poetry Month in April.

 

Grades 6-8 Informative

Prompt Title & Description

Sources

The Importance of Family: Using a poem and a short story about families facing adversity, compare and contrast how the family members support each other.

Source 1: “Eating Together” Poem by Li-Young Lee, 1986.

Source 2: “Sometimes a Dream Needs a Push” Poem by Walter Dean Myers, 2007.

Mentors and Role Models: Read “A Poem for my Librarian, Mrs. Long” by Nikki Giovanni. Then, compare and contrast your role model with Mrs. Long.

“A Poem for My Librarian, Mrs. Long” Poem by Nikki Giovanni, 2007.

 

 

 

Grades 6-8 Narrative

Prompt Title & Description

Sources

Life Doesn’t Frighten Me: Read the poem “Life Doesn't Frighten Me” by Maya Angelou and write a story based on one of the scenarios in the poem.

“Life Doesn’t Frighten Me” Poem by Maya Angelou, 1993.

 

 

 

Grades 6-8 Analysis

Prompt Title & Description

Sources

Annabel Lee and the Making of Mood: Analyze how Edgar Allan Poe uses rhyme, repetition, imagery, and symbolism to develop the mood of his poem "Annabel Lee."

“Annabel Lee” Poem by Edgar Allan Poe, 1849.

America Singing: Analyze how "I, Too, Sing America" by Langston Hughes builds on the Walt Whitman poem "I Hear America Singing."

Source 1: “I Hear America Singing” Poem by Walt Whitman, 1900.

Source 2: “I, Too, Sing America” Poem by Langston Hughes, 1925.

Free Verse Structure in Out of the Dust: Examine how the structure of the novel Out of the Dust impacts readers' understanding of the characters, plot, and theme.

Out of the Dust Novel by Karen Hesse, 1997.

Jabberwocky and Portmanteau Words: Analyze Lewis Carroll’s use of portmanteau (linguistically blended words) and how they affect his poem "Jabberwocky."

“Jabberwocky” Poem by Lewis Carroll, 1871.

Japanese Internment Executive Order 9066: Analyze one common theme in a poem and a memoir about President Roosevelt's internment of Japanese-Americans.

Source 1: Farewell to Manzanar (Excerpt) Memoir by Jeanne Wakatsuki, 1973.

Source 2: “IN RESPONSE TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 9066: All Americans of Japanese Descent Must Report to Relocation Centers” Poem by Dwight Okita, 1992

The Outsiders: Analyze why S.E. Hinton used the poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay" in The Outsiders and how it connects to the story.

Source 1: The Outsiders Novel by S. E. Hinton, 1967.

Source 2: “Nothing Gold Can Stay” Poem by Robert Frost, 1923.

Structure and Theme in Oranges: In "Oranges" by Gary Soto, analyze how lines 50-55 fit the poem's structure and theme and how they convey the poet's feelings.

“Oranges” Poem by Gary Soto, 1983.

The Watsons and Ballad of Birmingham: Analyze how Chapter 14 of the novel is inspired by the poem and how the authors develop their different perspectives.

Source 1: The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963 Novel by Christopher Paul Curtis, 1995.

Source 2: “Ballad of Birmingham” Poem by Dudley Randall, 1969.

 

 

 

Grades 11-12 Argumentative

Prompt Title & Description

Sources

Defining Poetry: Examine Emily Dickinson and Ntozake Shange's quotes about poetry, and make a claim about which one best defines poetry.

Source 1: Quote by Emily Dickinson from The Life and Letters of Emily Dickinson: By Her Niece, Martha Dickinson Bianchi, 1924.

Source 2: Quote by Ntozake Shange from “Self-Interview” in “American Poetry, Now Shaped by Women,” New York Times Book Review, 1986.

 

 

 

Grades 9-12 Analysis

Prompt Title & Description

Sources

Evolution of Envy in Shakespeare’s Sonnets: Analyze how Shakespeare uses figurative language and imagery to shift the tone in Sonnets 29 and 78.

Source 1: “Sonnet 29” Poem by William Shakespeare, 1609.

Source 2: “Sonnet 78” Poem by William Shakespeare, 1609.

Fahrenheit 451: Analyze the shared themes in Fahrenheit 451 and "Dover Beach" and how including the poem emphasizes the novel's conflict.

Source 1: “Dover Beach” Poem by Matthew Arnold, 1867.

Source 2: Fahrenheit 451 Novel by Ray Bradbury, 1953.

Poe’s Madness: Using "The Raven" and your prior knowledge of Edgar Allan Poe, analyze what themes in the poem are drawn from Poe's life.

“The Raven” Poem by Edgar Allan Poe, 1845.