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

3. 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.

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

5. And the ghosts
by Graham Foust
they own everything

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

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

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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

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

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

16. 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

17. 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

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

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

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

21. SpongeBeyonce BatmanPants
Gut
Story
Structure
Imagery
Devices
Diction
Theme
Conclusion

22. 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?

23. 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

24. 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?

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

26. 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?

27. 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

28. 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?

29. 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.