Prewriting: Using the Seven-Step Analysis

During today's word roots warm-up, students will practice using Greek & Latin roots to figure out the meaning of unknown or unfamiliar words.  I make sure to remind students to write the entire definition of the word in their notes.  Since the purpose of the notes is to create a study guide, I tell them that having a list of words and letters (instead of definitions) won't help them in the studying process!

To begin today's lesson, I hand out a copy of the Seven-Step Analysis that I completed for "Thumbprint."  I want them to compare what they did to the analysis that I completed.  I ask them to look at the theme that they wrote and ask themselves, " Is it a lesson for life, a fortune cookie statement?"  I remind them that if their theme mentions anything about thumbprints, it is not correct.

I ask them to do a 3-2-1 quick write.  I want them to write three things we did similarly on our analyses, 2 things that were different, and 1 question they still have about the poem.

I then collect the Seven-Step Analysis papers and their quick writes.  

Once we have used my model of the Seven-Step Analysis, I pass out a fresh analysis sheet that students will be using to analyze the poem that they will be writing their essay about.  I also remind them that they will more than likely find their figurative language and sound & structure notes valuable today.

I then set up a "poetry buffet" in the room.  I invite students to come up, pick up a copy of each poem, and return to their seat to read them.  I ask them to select the one they'd like to analyze and return the other two.  

I then have students spend the rest of the class period working on the Seven-Step Analysis for their self-selected poem.