English 8th Grade

Unit: Narrative Poetry

Keywords: Narrative, theme, voice, viewpoint, structure, figurative language, mood, tone,
imagery, rhyme scheme

Summary:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.

Students will recognize elements of narrative poetry by analyzing a variety of poems and
discussing the stories that each poem tells.
Students will then develop their own narrative poems by establishing a strong story line
and reflecting on each element of narrative poetry.

Learning Targets / Goals:

Students will establish the concept that narrative poems tell stories by using strategies to
analyze a variety of narrative poems.
Students will develop ideas for their own narrative poems by analyzing a broad range of
poem ideas and reflecting on their own poem ideas.
Students will recognize elements of imagery and figurative language and develop their
own expression of these elements by adding them to their own narrative poems.
Students will create strong narrative poems by reflecting on the elements of poetry and
including those elements into their own poems.

Students will understand:

Narrative poems tell stories.
How each element of narrative poetry adds to the strength of a poem.
Poems can be written about a variety of topics.
How to write their own narrative poem by using each element of poetry.
How to recognize elements of poetry in their own poems and how to add them into a
poem to make the story more effective.

Essential Questions:
1. What do narrative poems do?
2. What can we write narrative poems about?
3. What makes a strong and effective narrative poem?

Students will know:

Narrative poems tell stories.
Narrative poems can be written about a variety of topics.
How to pick out each element of poetry in a poem
 How each element of poetry adds to the strength of a poem.
How to write their own strong and effective narrative poem.

Students will be able to:

Develop a variety of possible poem ideas.
Read a narrative poem and pick out elements of poetry.
Write their own narrative poems including the elements of poetry.
Peer-edit student poems by critically analyzing the effectiveness of their story and
use of poetry elements.

Evidence of Understanding:
Exploring Narrative Poetry table
Formulating poem topic ideas in Writers Notebook
Narrative Poetry Element Locator table
Analyzing Voice/Tone/Mood activity
Figurative language activities (Metaphor, Simile, Onomatopoeia, Personification,
Alliteration)
Highlighting elements in poem examples
Rhyme scheme activity
1st and 2nd draft narrative poems
Peer editing
Highlighting Success Criteria
Final Draft narrative poems

Success Criteria:

Students will be able to write their own effective narrative poem with the following criteria:

Poem has a title that enhances the meaning of the poem.

There is a clear moment and the events unfold logically in the story.
The theme is clear and makes a statement about life.
The voice is clear and enhances the meaning of the poem.
The structure is clear and contributes to the meaning and pace of the poem.
The word choice enhances the meaning and power of the poem.
There are at least three elements of craft that help the reader to better experience the
poem.
Proper punctuation helps the reader make sense of the poem.
There are no spelling or mechanical errors in the poem.

Student Self-Assessment and Reflection:

 I Do, We Do, They Do poem analyzing activities and discussion about elements of
poetry
Peer editing poem drafts
Individual editing, highlighting Success Criteria

Instruction:
Introduction of poetry with Poetry Terms. Read examples of poetry to the class and fill out
Exploring Narrative Poetry table (I Do, We Do, They do).
Exploring Narrative Poetry with self-chosen poems in groups.
What can poetry do for you? Activity. You Cant Write a Poem About McDonalds
discussion about what we can write poems about. Students will write out 20 poem ideas in
Writers Notebook.
Narrative Poetry Element Locator table, read Casey at the Bat and fill out in groups of 3.
Figurative Language activities throughout unit.
Highlight activity with partners highlight figurative language in Casey at the Bat.
Look at more poem examples to pick out poetry elements if necessary.
Rhyme Scheme activity.
Writers Notebook narrow down poem ideas 20-5-3-1.
Begin writing individual narrative poems go over Rubric and Success Criteria in detail.
1st draft poems conference with teacher.
2nd draft poems on Chrome Books.
Peer editing activities (sharing in Google Docs).
Edit errors, highlight Success Criteria in poem.
Final draft.