The document provides guidance for revising poetry written for a class project. It includes the following key points:
1) Students should review the poems they have written and choose which ones to submit for the project. They should consider feedback from peers and clarification of poetic elements if needed.
2) The revision process involves carefully examining elements like titles, message clarity, rhythm, imagery, word choice, organization, spelling and punctuation. Students are encouraged to read their poems aloud to help identify areas for improvement.
3) The use of concrete imagery over abstract language and meaningful words over unnecessary ones can help strengthen the poems. Students should add to and cut from their writing to refine their poetic communication.
3. ReviewYour Poetry:
ChooseYour Submission Poems
■ Reread your haiku, your blank verse (color poem),
your sonnet, your villanelle, your sestina, and your
free verse. Look at how much you have written!
■ Make sure that the selection of poems that you
brought to class are those that you want to turn in
for your project. See the notes that your peers gave
you to make those decisions.
■ If you feel confused about any of the elements of
your poems, go back through the slideshows to
clarify. If you have other questions, please feel free
to email me.
4. Revise and Edit
■ Look carefully at your poem’s title, which should
contain important clues for understanding your
poem.The title is often an introduction that can
guide you; for example,WilliamCarlosWilliams
title “This Is JustTo Say” lets the reader know that
the poem is going to provide a message of sorts.
Does the title of your poem provide insight to your
poem? Does it offer a clue about the rest of the
poem?
■ Read each poem at least twice.Give yourself a
chance to thoroughly and fully experience the
poem.Then ask yourself if your message is clear. If
not, spend some time adding language to
communicate the feeling you are trying to create.
5. Now Read it Aloud
■ Read your poem aloud (yes, again!) Listen for the rhythm.
Do you have a natural flow?Or is your rhythm interrupted
by broken cadence? Do you have a word with too many
syllables (or not enough)?
■ Now listen to the words. Do you have a hard sound where
you need a soft one? Do you have natural alliteration,
assonance, or consonance that you want to develop?
■ If this process gets to hard, take a break! Put your poem
aside for awhile; come back to it with fresh eyes and ears.
6. Think AboutYour Poem
■ Have you chosen the right format for your poem. Should it be a sonnet? Or should it be
a villanelle?
■ Have you met the conventions of the style of poem you are writing?
– Do you have the right number of lines or syllables
– Do you have the right rhythm?
– Have you included appropriate rhyme?
– Do the proper lines repeat?
– Look up the conventions if you are not absolutely positive.
7. Look for Concrete Images in your Poetry;
Avoid the Abstract
■ The patterns and images of a poem help direct interpretation. Choosing an image that
continues through the poem will help identify the meaning.
■ Concrete imagery uses vivid descriptions to communicate concepts and scenes with sensory
language. Using words that represent colors, objects, textures and sounds can help readers
picture a powerful image in their head while reading your poem.
■ While concrete imagery uses words that provide a clear picture, abstract words do not.These
represent intangible concepts and feelings, such as peace, freedom and happiness. Many
people know the meanings behind these words, but most often abstract words fail to draw in
the reader because there is no related sensory response. Attach your feelings to concrete
images to give them weight.
■ Changing abstract words into concrete imagery can greatly improve a poem. For example, the
phrase ”John is happy" uses the abstract word "happy" and the statement is not particularly
compelling. Look at how you might “show John’s happiness” in concrete terms: ”John's heart
swelled-- a wide grin spread across his face.” When we know his heart is swelling and we see his
grin, we understand he is happy.
8. Add MeaningfulWords and Phrases;
Then, Cut the Fat!
■ Don’t use a big word when a small one will do. Don’t use two words
when one will do.Your revisions should consist of both language
cuts and additions.You may realize that a line or stanza can be
changed or developed. It is important to pay attention to word
choice. For example, maybe the phrase “egg yolk” describes your
image better than just “yellow.”
You may use a thesaurus to help you find new, more
exciting words. Developing your vocabulary is one of the
perks of editing. Force yourself to experiment with word
choice, yet I caution you to investigate your word choice
carefully. Not every word in a thesaurus is perfectly
interchangeable with the word you began with. Using the
right word will improve your reader’s experience; using the
wrong one will not.
9. Pay Attention to the Details
■ Look at your poem. For instance, If you have stanzas, are they about
the same number of lines? Is there a purpose to your choice? Do the line
breaks give your poem meaning?They should not just be arbitrary
breaks. Make sure your organization is meaningful.
■ Check your spelling and word choice. Don’t make silly spelling errors.
Don’t use the wrong to/two/too or there/their/they’re.Your spellcheck
can’t always know what you mean. Read your work carefully, looking
for errors that distract the reader from your poem.
■ Finally, pay attention to your punctuation. Most poems use punctuation
to help guide the voice of its reader.The end of a line is not necessarily
the end of a sentence, but you must include some punctuation, or the
reader cannot understand the poem the way you meant it. Go through
it slowly and make sure your punctuation makes the poem
communicate your message.
10. Homework
■ Post # 6: Project #1: DueTuesday
(Week 5) before noon.
■ Reminder aboutWriting Submissions:
■ All out of class assignments are to be
submitted viaTurnitin. Do not wait until the
last minute to submit in case you have
technical difficulties. If you cannot upload to
Turnitin after carefully following the
directions, you may email me your project
(as an attachment) to prove you have it
done. Make an appointment to see me in my
office, and I will walk you through the
process.
