DEATH to TPCASTT Luke Devlin BISD Professional Development October 11, 2016

Squirrel Problem by Zachary Schomburg I watch a squirrel get run over by a car on my walk to work. She is lying dead in the street and still has an acorn in her little hands. I am amazed at how she is able to hold on to her acorn after being tumbled like that, after bouncing so high off the street. I walk over to the squirrel and see that her face is blown to bits and looks like uncased sausage spilling onto the asphalt. But that acorn is still so tight in her hands. I pick her up by her tail, take off my dress shirt and swaddle her in it, then put her in my bag. I know right where she is as I walk into work, everybody looking at me, everybody asking me about my shirtlessness. The world is as steady as if it were sewn into the skin of the universe.

Nothing in That Drawer by Ron Padgett Nothing in that drawer.

And the ghosts by Graham Foust they own everything

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused : Too much in one box

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused : Too much in one box : Only speaker matters

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused : Too much in one box : Only speaker matters : Not always there

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused : Too much in one box : Only speaker matters : Not always there : Still doesn’t matter

Why TPCASTT Doesn’t Work Title Paraphrase Connotation Attitude Shift Theme : Usually doesn’t matter : Often abused : Too much in one box : Only speaker matters : Not always there : Still doesn’t matter : Just guessing at this point

Why SOAPSTone Doesn’t Work Speaker Occasion Audience Purpose Subject Tone

Novel : Poem :: Movie : Photograph Remember These? Novel : Poem :: Movie : Photograph

Don’t Ruin It! -Poems should be a natural occurrence, not an event -Reduce the stress -Make it conversational and don’t force it -Give students choices and agency -They don’t have to like a poem, they just have to explain why they don’t like it -Give them opportunities to seek out what they like

Don’t Ruin It! -Answer vs. interpretation -Use a variety of poems -Feel free to challenge them with tough stuff, just make it casual and fun and inspiring -Don’t be constrained by the textbook -Rhyme/meter are important for formal structures, but they usually don’t mean much -Focus on emotions, experiences, and ideas -Read it like a normal person; capture the voice

Read It Yourself -Poetry Foundation -Website, Emails, App -Poet of the Week -Read some real poetry in a real book

If you really want a worksheet… If You Can’t Join ‘Em, Beat ‘Em If you really want a worksheet…

SPONGEBEYONCE BATMANPANTS If You Can’t Join ‘Em, Beat ‘Em SPONGEBEYONCE BATMANPANTS

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -What is the poem about on a physical level? -Take a guess! -Do you feel anything? -Can you relate at all?

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Are there characters, setting, conflict, discovery? -What’s the POV? -Shifts go here if they must

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Rhyme/meter/stanzas -How are the lines set up? -Does it matter? -Does it affect tone?

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Any sensory details? -Positive/negative connotations? -Is there a pattern? -Abstract or concrete?

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Any metaphors, similes, allusions, symbols? -See any patterns? -If there is nothing, then what could that mean?

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Don’t leave diction by itself! -Look for patterns -Why would the poet use that word instead of another? -All about connotation/tone

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -What’s the point? -Is there a message? -If no message, then is there a thought, idea, experience?

SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants Gut Story Structure Imagery Devices Diction Theme Conclusion -Connect the dots… -What’s it about? -What techniques contribute to meaning? -What is that meaning? -This can be expanded into short answer or essay.