EA 5.2 Creating a Found Poem
from a Novel
May 19-20
Learning Targets
• Today We Will: Transform prose into poetry
• So we can: Create a found poem
• I will know I have it when I can: Convey tone
and theme from original work into found
poem
The Big Question
• How do we determine the “heart” of a novel to address in a
found poem?
– Discuss
• What is Theme?
– Discuss
– Theme is an underlying meaning of a literary work that
may be stated directly or indirectly.
• Can you have more than one theme in a
piece of literature?
How it works
• https://www.teachingchannel.org/videos/crea
ting-found-poems-lesson
Supplies: Springboards, Journals and
Novel
#1. Skim through your novel for phrases that may
address a theme or themes.
• Questions to ask yourself when you are looking for
quotes that deal with theme:
Steps pg. 343-344
• #2 Drafting: Review elements of narrative writing
that you have learned with your family:
Characters
Details
Setting
Description
Create a prewriting strategy to bring these elements.
into the poem.
Theme
• Determine 1 theme of novel.
• Once you have determined theme, include
words and phrases you chose that address
that theme.
Drafting
• Use notecards to write down those quotes
that relate to the them you have chosen.
– I recommend about 25 quotes.
– Use one quote per notecard.
– You can add or remove later. (Removing them can
hurt, I know.)
• 30-40 minutes
Be sure to include
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Characters
Setting
Conflict (s)
Tone (s)
• Analysis paragraph at
end of poem: Your
commentary on the
theme and how the
found poem reflects this
theme.
• Theme
• Figurative/Sensory
Language
• Imagery
• Repetition/Rhetorical
device we have learned in
class
Drafting continued
• Find a space to lay out your cards.
• Organize your poem by laying out the
quotations in a way that makes the most
sense.
– This might take a while. 10-15 minutes?
• Consult your family for suggestions and
remember your explanations to your family.
This will help with the analysis paragraph.
Analysis
• The first sentence should be your theme.
• The next several sentences should include lines from the
poem and how these lines address theme.
• Another sentence should include poetic devices (repetition,
imagery, figurative language, etc..) and how these reinforce
the theme.
• Your conclusion should state why the theme is important.
Edit
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Check for grammar, punctuation, and spelling
Select title
Identify the novel in the header
Peer Editing (2). One must be from another
table.
• Header, Theme, Title
• Upload to Net School: Summative Found
Poem
Review Rubric
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Organization: 20
Use of Language:20
Evidence of Writing Process:30
Analysis: 30
– Think of the analysis as an opportunity to explain
why you included those specific quotes.
• I have an example, so don’t panic.
Scoring Criteria
Exemplary
Proficient
Emerging
Organization- 20
The poem uses narrative
structures, imagery, sensory
language, and rhetorical devices
to address theme.
The poem uses narrative
structures, some imagery, sensory
language, and rhetorical devices
to address theme.
The poem does not use narrative
structures, poetic devices, or
rhetorical devices to address
theme.
The poem skillfully blends
organization and structure to
reinforce theme
The poem contains an original
title, stanzas, and line breaks.
The poem may be missing one of
more of the following: original
title, appropriate stanzas, or
purposeful line breaks.
Use of Language-20
The poem contains skillful use of
poetic devices that enhance and
support theme presented in the
text.
The poem contains adequate use
of poetic devices to enhance and
support the theme presented in
the text.
The poem contains few, if any,
poetic devices to enhance the
theme in the text.
Evidence of Writing
Process-30
There is extensive evidence that
the poem reflects the various
stages of the writing process.
There is evidence that the poem
reflects the stages of the writing
process.
There is little or no evidence that
the poem reflects the stages of
the writing process.
The poem demonstrates
thoughtful planning, purposeful
revision, and careful editing in
preparation for publication.
The poem demonstrates planning,
revision, and editing to produce a
draft that is ready for publication.
The poem does not demonstrate
evidence of planning, revision,
and editing.
The draft is not ready for
publication.
The analysis reflects the theme of
the novel with quotes from the
novel.
The analysis somewhat reflects
the theme of the novel with
quotes.
Commentary clearly and
insightfully explains how quotes
support the theme of the text.
Commentary partially explains
how the quotes support the
theme of the text.
There is no analysis, or the quotes
are not explained with
commentary to demonstrate how
the text evidence proves the
theme.
Analysis-30
Present
• Review the rubric to make sure you have met
all the criteria
• Practice by yourself
• Practice with a family member or someone
from another family who is finished
• Review expectations during presentations
What did we learn?
• Theme is throughout the text-not just in one
part of the novel.
• Theme is universal- It applies to life, not just
the novel.
• Writing poetry can be difficult, but rewarding!
• I learned that you guys are really good at this!
Post Mortem of Lesson
• How did we modify the following year?
– Encouraged them to play more with form
– Encouraged students to contact the author and
send the poem.
– Expand to other forms of literature and include
nonfiction.
• Song lyrics
• Narrative poems
• News articles
Post Mortem of Lesson
• What worked
– Students were so engaged at all points of the lesson! 100%
throughout! 
– They were self editing!!!
– Students were working with exemplar material to identify:
• Theme
– Theme is found throughout the piece, not just in one section
– Theme is universal-not just tied to text
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Sensory language
Imagery
Rhetorical Devices
Organize structure