American Poetry (2020)

Lesson 2
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ELA

Unit 11

7th Grade

Lesson 2 of 18

Objective


Identify and explain the purpose of rhyme scheme.

Readings and Materials


  • Poem: “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Laurence Dunbar 

  • Poem: “Mr. Brown the Circus Clown” by Kenn Nesbitt 

  • Poem: “My Penmanship is Pretty Bad” by Kenn Nesbitt 

  • Poem: “All My Great Excuses” by Kenn Nesbitt 

  • Poem: “Today I Had a Rotten Day” by Kenn Nesbitt 

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Target Task


Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of rhyme scheme?

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Sample Response

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Writing Prompt

Why does Paul Laurence Dunbar use rhyme scheme in his poem? (Think about the purpose of rhyme scheme and his theme of lying and deceit.)

Key Questions


  • Label the rhyme scheme to the following poems:

    • “Mr. Brown the Circus Clown”
    • "My Penmanship Is Pretty Bad”
    • “All My Great Excuses”
    • “Today I Had a Rotten Day”
  • Write a poem with the following rhyme schemes:

    • ABCB
    • DEED
  • Label the rhyme scheme on “We Wear the Mask.”
  • Based on your knowledge of race relations between blacks and whites in the nineteenth century, why do you think African Americans had to wear masks? What were they trying to cover? 
  • How does the symbolism of "cheeks" and "eyes" enhance the theme of lies and deceit?
  • What is the purpose of rhyme scheme? How does it contribute to his theme of pretending and mask wearing?

Notes


Optional extra credit for this lesson: Create a poem about one of the following topics below with the rhyme ABCB DEFE GHIH:

  • Your favorite home-cooked meal 
  • Politics
  • Fashion

Common Core Standards


  • RL.7.5 — Analyze how a drama's or poem's form or structure (e.g., soliloquy, sonnet) contributes to its meaning.

Next

Explain why Carl Linder would choose to use free verse rather than verse for his poem.

Lesson 3
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