1. CLAS: R3.3 Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary work (e.g. internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot.

2. Assessment Performance of a poem One paragraph which analyzes an important interaction within a poem

3. Poetry Performance: Tasks 1) Actively read poem (2-3 times) 2) Write a plot summary—What happens? 3) Analyze important language—How does it (action) happen? conflict motivations relationships influences 4) Turn poem into script 5) Rehearse 6) Perform

4. Poetry As Performance— Grading Rubric Poem is acted out with energy and enthusiasm so that images come to life (1-5) Performance is well rehearsed and demonstrates successful teamwork (1-5) Lines/parts are effectively distributed to all performance team members (1-5) Performance demonstrates group understanding of key interactions in poem and how these interactions affect plot--enables audience to experience the poem in a new and meaningful way (1-10)

5. “Touch Football” by Jack Driscoll

6. Writing Assignment Write a well-developed paragraph response to your group poem. Your paragraph should analyze a single interaction within the poem and explain how this interaction affects the poem’s plot. Guidelines: Paragraph must be typed and follow MLA format guidelines Paragraph must include supporting details/language Use the “Part Chart” as prewriting activity to facilitate your analysis

7. Model Paragraph Response One important interaction in the poem takes place when the father says in a strained whisper, “It was only touch.” The word touch conveys various meanings like trust, caring, softness, and intimacy. Through the son’s tackling of the father at the beginning of the poem, the result of these words is something very different. For example, this whisper shows surprise, pain, and disappointment felt by the father in response to his son’s aggression. Ultimately, the whisper reveals the father’s sense of betrayal.

8. Plot Summary Speaker aggressively tackles father who is frightened and ends up motionless on his back. Speaker stands over father and studies his face before the father whispers, “It was only touch”. The speaker kneels in the tall grass beside his father, touches the bump above his ear, touches his lips, and then puts on his broken glasses and stares at the stars. The speaker then pulls a sweatshirt hood over his father’s bald head. Finally, the speaker holds his father’s hand.