1. Warm-Up
Think of the photo albums, digital photo albums, and framed photos you have at home. What are some of your favorite photos? List as many as you can.
Think of some vivid memories that you can picture in your head. List as many of those as you can.

2. Writing So Far… What kind of writing have we done thus far?
How is it structured?
What are the elements that make it effective?

3. Vignettes & Poetic Prose
How does the use of poetic prose impact the telling of a story?
Which learning goal will this address?
Explain that I want them to analyze writing in order to appreciate the “art” of the piece

4. Poetic Prose
If “prose” = language that is not poetry. What do you think “poetic prose” is?
Have them write; then share; then make sure everyone has correct definition

5. Show vs. Tell C is for Cell C is for Cell
With the neatly folded crisp report in hand, she hesitantly unveils the evidence of her afternoon daydreams. Etched in red ink, the “C” boldly sits among the list of “A’s” and “B’s”, scribbled in lighter and finer black lines. A tear simmers in the corner of her eye. Knowing the doom that lies before her, she fights the vomit creeping up her throat, ready to spill onto the freshly vacuumed carpet. The wardens at home would surely punish her. No activities. No phone. No life. She might as well be locked behind iron clad bars. Her life as she knows it is over.
C is for Cell
One time I got a C on my report card, probably because I had been daydreaming in class instead of doing my work. I started crying and almost threw up. The C really stood out because it was written in red ink while all the As and Bs were in black. I just knew my parents were going to be upset. I’d be grounded for sure.
Which one is showing?
Which one is telling?
What’s the difference?
When should we show?
When should we tell?

6. Vignette Brief scene Short, descriptive piece Cisneros’s vignettes
Are they showing or telling?
Look for poetic elements – find at least 3
Notice grammatical choices – at least 1

7. Sandra Cisneros grew up in Chicago currently resides in San Antonio
The House on Mango Street
a book of childhood vignettes (brief scenes)
intensely evocative portraits of family life in the city
capturing the small moments of tenderness and sadness in family relationships

8. Compare
Create a 3 circle Venn diagram to compare/contrast 3 of the pieces we’ve read
1 piece of art
1 poem
1 vignette

9. “Relativity” “Bond of Union”
Let’s look again at these pieces of art. What are they saying? Are they saying the same thing?

10. On Your Own
Go back to your warm-up. Choose one of the pictures or memories you listed and write a vignette version of it. Be sure to use poetic elements and make conscious grammatical choices.

11. Closing Tell me 1 thing you learned today.
What learning goals did we address?
What question(s) do you have?