After a quick check I have confirmed that this next week is, indeed, week 18. Here’s the skinny on this week, as well as a look forwards into next week as well.

Week 18

Tuesday: After a quick Brags & Bombs I’ll introduce the criteria for our spoken word and poetry slam mini unit. We’ve been reading/listening to a number of spoken word poems and this week you’ll be creating your own. You can find instructions here.

Just to get us started, I’ll be sharing two poems by Billy Collins, former poet laureate of the United States. The first is a video piece of him reading “Litany” (I’ve included a link below) and the second is a fun piece he wrote called Introduction to Poetry. Check out a link to it here.

Finally, we’ll be brainstorming a list of potential themes for your poems. I’ll post the list here as soon as it is done.

Wednesday: I’ll be sharing another piece, though I haven’t exactly decided upon what just yet. I’m looking for something different, perhaps a Sekou Sundiata piece. The rest of the period will be dedicated to you guys and gals and your small writing groups.

Homework: Make sure to have at least one poem ready for peer editing with the PQP forms that I’ll hand out. Bring in three copies of your poem for the group.

Thursday: Thursday will be dedicated, much like Wednesday, to your small writing groups. As you read your poems for the group, pay special attention to how they are received. Do people seem to relate to them? If so, figure out why. If not, you’d better figure that one out, too. Don’t be afraid to ask serious questions about your own work. It will only help you in the long run.

Friday: More writing, more editing. I’ll try to make myself as available as possible during this time so that if you have any questions you can make sure to ask me after you’ve asked your peers. We also need to assign food for your slam next week.

Week 19

Monday: Monday will be the last day for writing and editing your poems. We’ll also assign/remind ourselves about our obligations for food during the slam.

Tuesday+Wednesday: Poetry slam! There will be food! Prizes! Clowns! Okay, that last one was a lie, but this will be a ton of fun.

Thursday: This will be the final day to turn in any revisions to your writing for the semester. I’ll have a bunch more information on this shortly.

Here’s that great Billy Collins reading of Litany. The intro is hilarious, and helps the poem make a bit more sense.