< Epitaph Lesson

SPOON RIVER ANTHOLOGY

Lesson Plan:WRITING AN EPITAPH

Author-Jeanne B. Mayo

Subject:High School English: Poetry

9th Grade Relationships Unit

Title of the lesson:Writing an Epitaph in the style of Edgar Lee Masters

Library and/or Network Information Skills Objectives:Use of the Internet, and a basic introduction to HTML

Curriculum objectives:

Describe using a poetic form, an important personal or global relationship. [MSDE Core Learning Goal 2.1.2]

Identification of the Poetic Devices specifically: Rhyme, Repetition, Simile, Metaphor, Alliteration, Assonance, Irony

All Levels skills through honors students

Resources:

Computer lab with an Internet connection
Copy of Spoon River Anthology
List of Poetic Terms
Assignment plan sheet
html template for posting completed assignments

Specific resouces:

Bob's Byway of Poetic Terms
University of Kentucky's Guide to Rhetorical Terms

Instructional Roles:

Teacher: The teacher will provide background information on Spoon River Anthology and Edgar Lee Masters. The teacher will present the poetic terms to be studied and will guide students in notetaking from the Internet about these terms. The teacher will present examples of new epitaphs and will guide students in planning, writing their own epitaphs. The teacher will evaluate these epitaphs for their adherence to the requirements and their correct inclusion of poetic devices.
Library Media Specialist/Network Computer Specialist: The media specialist will work in conjunction with the teacher to prepare an html template for the posting of completed epitaphs on the Internet. The media specialist will give an introduction of how to use the template, and will assist the class as needed during the posting process. He or she will provide any necessary permission slips for posting.

Subject Integration Opportunities:

This project can easily integrate History and Art. History can be integrated as one of the poetic devices being taught is allusion. A teacher can ask that the allusion be explained and documented thus integrating research/media skills as well. Art can be integrated by using the newly completed epitaphs to draw, paint, or in some fashion create a representation of the person described in the epitaph. Or the HTML version of the completed epitaphs may contain graphics.

Grouping:

The teacher shall decide upon the grouping- a suggestion is that honors students work individually on-level students and skills students in pairs or very small groups

Activities:

Define Poetic Devices and take notes for future reference from the Internet
Identify poetic devices used in several poems in the Spoon River Anthology
Plan and write a new epitaph which includes 5 poetic devices
Identify and mark the devices used in the new epitaphs
Post the new epitaphs on the World Wide Web

Evaluation:

A completed epitaph with the required poetic devices highlighted and identified will be used to evaluate individual or small groups of students. Adherence to correct form, grammar and spelling will used in the evaluation process.

Follow-up:

Identification of poetic devices in other poetry will reinforce these skills

Appendices:

Defining Poetic Terms Worksheet, Epitaph Plan sheet Epitaph examples Tips on Getting Started Return to Lesson Plans

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