1. THE BOP It’s almost The Blues

2. The BOP history  A recent invention, the Bop was created by Afaa Michael Weaver during a summer retreat of the African American poetry organization  The Bop is a form of poetic argument consisting of three stanzas  Each stanza is followed by a repeated line, or refrain, undertaking a different purpose in the overall argument of the poem  This same contextual structure is used in novels and short stories as well. Take the Trojan War, for instance:  Problem: Troy abducts Helen  Expansion: Though the Greeks are angry, Troy is fortified and well armed  Solution: Trojan (actually Greek) Horse

3. The BOP form  The first stanza (six lines long) states the problem  The second stanza (eight lines long) explores or expands upon the problem.  If there is a resolution to the problem, the third stanza (six lines long) finds it.  If a logical resolution cannot be found, then this final stanza documents the attempt and failure to succeed.

4. Assignment  Find an example of a poem written in the Bop form  Write your own example of a Bop poem  Bring both in Monday, March 4 to be entered in the grade book (if I don’t receive your work on Monday you will not receive full credit. I must have your poems to preview before the workshop)  Tuesday, March 5, work with your small poetry group, sharing out both your own work and the work you’ve discovered.