Creating Different Types of Poetry Introducing Acrostic & Haiku Kelly Richardson Grand Canyon University: TEC 539/ Team Red July 07, 2011

ACROSTIC An acrostic poem sometimes called a name poem, uses a word for its subject. Then each line of the poem begins with a letter from the subject word. This type of poetry doesn’t have to rhyme (Acrostic Poem, 2011).

Rules to Writing an Acrostic Poem Your poem can be on any subject and can be written in different ways. The simplest form is to put the letters that spell your subject vertically down the page with each letter being capitalized and on its own line (Acrostic Poetry, 2011). For example: A C R O S T I

Rules cont’d…. After vertically placing letters on the page, go back to each letter and think of a word, phrase or sentence that begins with the letter and is also describing the subject. Here we go… An acrostic poem Can be Read vertically On a page, using Sentences, words or phrases That describes its topic In which each beginning letter is Capitalized

For Example…. A fun way to begin writing acrostic poems is to describe yourself using your first name! Check out my example! Kind Easy going Loveable Loyal Your friend

HAIKU A haiku (from the Japanese culture) is a poem that doesn’t rhyme. It paints a mental image in the reader’s mind. Haiku combines form, content, and language in a meaningful, yet compact form. Many themes for haikus include nature, feelings, or experiences (Haiku Lesson 19, 2011).

When Writing a Haiku… The most common form for haiku is three short lines. First Line: 5 syllables Second Line: 7 syllables Third Line: 5 syllables The challenge… Getting all of a poem’s meaning in just 17 syllables.

When Writing a Haiku Cont’d… Things to think about… Pick a topic of interest (it will be your theme) Decide on your purpose for writing poem Think about the mood you want to convey Brainstorm descriptive words on the Haiku skeleton Remember the 5, 7, 5 syllables in 3 lines rule

With paper and pen I experiment haikus Writing them in class Examples of a Haiku With paper and pen I experiment haikus Writing them in class

References Acrostic Poem. (n.d.). Retrieved July 06, 2011 from http://cuip.uchicago.edu/ Acrostic Poetry. (n.d.) Retrieved July 07, 2011 from http://www.edu.pe.ca Google Images. (n.d.). Retrieved July 08, 2011 from http://www.google.com/imgres? Haiku lesson 19. (n.d.). Retrieved July 06, 2011 from http://volweb.utk.edu/