English II Poet Laureate Search
&
Brochure
America’s Poet Laureate is chosen by the Librarian of Congress
to serve a term of one or two years and is charged with
promoting poetry in America. Poet Laureates were first named in
this country in 1986. Prior to that, the library of Congress
chose Consultants in Poetry.
As we leave National Poetry Month behind,
I would like to finish our focus on poetry by sharing some
information about these poet consultants and laureates.
Each of you will need to choose one, a
different one, to learn about. While doing this, you will
practice your internet and library search and documentation
skills to avoid plagiarism and you will practice finding what
you need to know. You will need to use the library data bases
and reference books, consulting a total of five sources. Two
must be books. Two must be electronic. That leaves one of your
choice.
Each of you will produce a tri-fold
brochure similar to the attached example. Yours may be computer
generated or hand designed and produced.
On the front fold
you will need a title identifying your poet and an illustration.
This may be a picture of the poet or something appropriate to
the poet’s poetry including book jacket art. Choose an
appropriate subtitle that gives information about the poet.
Three inside sections
will include
basic biographical information.
Life experiences that influenced the
poet’s work
Information about the poet’s work such as
themes, topics, types, and awards.
Opposite the cover
page, you will include a poem or part of a poem by the poet. The
back of the brochure will contain your works cited.
You must use internal documentation (big
name, little deal) here is a reminder of how this works.
Internal Documentation Reminders
§
For Print Media Authorî
íPage
Number
1.
First use – “Xxxxxx” (Smithers 43).
2.
Second use immediately following the first use – “Xxxxxx” (44).
3.
Second use (someplace else on the page) – “Xxxxxx?” (Poe 44).
§
For Electronic Media
í
Shorten title to two words—don’t countThe; no page
number.
“Xxxxxx” (The Author’s Greatest).
We will be in the library on May 7th,
8th, 12th, and 13th. We will
be in the computer lab on the 14th and 15th.
Your brochures will be due on May 19th. That is a
Tuesday.
Grades
You will be graded on your performance in
the library – strictly based on my observation of your work – so
impress me. You will receive 4 daily grades for your
work.
You will receive 1 daily grade for
completing your “Worksheet for Citing Sources.”
You will receive 1 composition grade
for your brochure (see rubric) and 1 test grade for your
documentation. This will be based on: (1)correctness of internal
documentation,(2) number of sources – must have 5 for a 100, and
(3) use of “Noodle Tools.”
Notes may be taken on your foldable – be
sure to number your sources to match your “Worksheet for Citing
Sources” page, or you may make copies of pages at the going cost
in the library.
I hope you will enjoy learning about these
American poets. Most of them lived 300 to 400 years after
William Shakespeare. Many of them are alive and writing today.
Choose from this
list.
