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Freshman Literature
Poetry
There are many different types of poems. Some poems follow a specific structure (rhyme scheme, rhythm, etc.) while others are free form and do not follow a set pattern.
Some poems are meant to entertain, tell a story, explore an idea of some kind, and or simply sound good and are meant to be enjoyed being heard. The first type of poetry we will look at can be a little of all of these.
Spoken Word Poetry:
What is Spoken Word Poetry? It is an oral art that focuses on the aesthetics of word play and intonation and voice inflection. It is a 'catchall' that includes any kind of poetry recited aloud, including hip-hop, jazz poetry, poetry slams, traditional poetry readings and can include comedy routines and 'prose monologues'.
Click on the blue button below the "Who Am I" video for the spoken word assignment directions. Read that before watching the video.
Who Am I? Nate Williamss
Hip Hop or Shakespeare?
Follow these directions to complete the hip hop or Shakespeare assignment outside of class or on a computer:
1. Click on the link that says Hip Hop Shakespeare lines.
2. You will have 14 lines that are Shakespeare and 14 Lines that are hip hop that are mixed at random. Put the lines together you think are written by Shakespeare (famous British playwright/poet from the late 1500s to early 1600s) and those written by modern hip hop artists.
3. When done click the link that says Hip Hop Shakespeare answers and compare to how you sorted them. Chances are you thought some lines were hip hop that were Shakespeare and some Shakespeare that was hip hop.
4. Finally, take 14 of the lines (from both the Shakespeare lines and the hip hop lines) and create a sonnet by copying and pasting them into a new document. Remember a sonnet is 14 lines, introduces a problem at the beginning, develops the problem in the middle, and resolves the problem at the end.
5. You can add conjunctions or transition words like and, or, therefore, etc. but cannot change the lines. Try to make your Sonnet make sense and follow the structure of introducing a problem or idea, developing/expanding on that problem, and resolving it in the last 2-3 lines.
6. When you finish, give your Sonnet a creative title submit on google classroom or share via google drive if assignment is not in google classroom.
Creating a Literary Rap
WARNING: There are two ways to complete this assignment. One way involves a website (rap pad) where there might be some explicit language (curse words and crude phrases). The other way involves using a rhyming dictionary that does not have curse words and crude phrases. Please consult with your mom, dad, or guardian if they do not want you exposed to that kind of language or if they are ok with you using this website. We will remind you to do this before the assignment day and before beginning the activity.
*If your parents are ok with you using rap pad follow Option A below and if not scroll down to Option B.
Overview: You are going to make a rap using a combination of famous lines from literature and your own lines. You can do this either through Option A or B.
Requirements for both:
You need to use at least different 10 lines from the list below but you can:
Repeat lines (so long as you have 10 different ones total), alter lines slightly, combine lines, and/or add to lines. You want to try to alternate one line from literature and one line you create or look up but it doesn’t have to go in order.
Option A
1. Google rap pad and go to the rap pad website. Once there go ahead and create an account (www.rappad.co).
2. Once logged in click on the left where it says "write."
3. You will see a grey box where you can type into. Click on "Lines from literature" below these directions. On that document you will have a list of famous lines from literature.
4. Start by picking a line and copying and pasting it into the box on the rap pad website. Click the blue button that says "look up" and click on the last word in the sentence that you copied and pasted into the box.
5. You will see suggested words that rhyme but if you click "lyrics" it will also generate suggested lyrics for you next line. Make sure you do not pick lines that are not school appropriate if you choose to use this option.
6. Final Product: You want to alternate between having a line from the list of literary lines and a line that either you write or a line from the suggested lyrics. You can get creative with this and want to have a combination of lines from literature and lines that you have written or that were suggested lyrics. Remember you need 10 lines from literature minimum but can get creative with how you do this. See above.
7. Extra credit: If you record and perform your rap (with music/beats). The better it is the more points you will receive.
Option B
1. Go to www.rhymezone.com
2. Click on "lines from literature" below.
3. Pick a line and copy it into a seperate document.
4. Alternate between using the lines from literature and coming up with your own line with the last words rhyming. Use the rhming dicitonary on rhyme zone to search for words that rhyme with your last line.
5. Final Product: The point is to create a rap using the lines from literature mixed with lines that you create. Remember you need 10 lines from literature minimum but can get creative with how you do this. See above.
6. Extra Credit: If you film you performing the rap adding music/beats you will get extra credit. The better it is the more poitns you will receive.
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