Considers what poets themselves have to say about poetry. Discusses how they write poems, why they write poems, and what poetry is good for. (RS)

Asserts that poetry is a basic way for individuals to learn enough about their culture to become a welcome member of it. Offers the views on poetry of several poets. Discusses the benefits of using poetry, rather than logical mathematical thought, to teach students how they view reality. (PRA)

Reports on a study that examined the responses of young people to a new poem. Covers the background, procedures, processes, conclusions, and implications of the study. (EL)

Describes a writing assignment designed to help students with the frequently strange and foreboding job of writing a poem. Discusses how one student and the teacher worked through the assignment. (RS)

Includes sample objectives for teaching poetry and written composition. (RD)

The poetry unit presented in this paper is designed to teach high school students how to write poetry through personal observation, journal writing, and small group discussion. Using the unit, students progress through the stages of writing according to the following steps: observing a familiar person and noting words and phrases about that…

In an effort to learn more about the teaching of reading and interpretation of poetry, a structured experiment was devised whereby college English majors used a combination of reading, writing and discussion to study James Wright's poem "A Blessing." The primary aim was to involve the students emotionally in a poem. Students were…

An alternative approach to the teaching of literature views the reading of a poem, short story, novel, or other literary work as an opportunity for a person to create his or her own immediate response. The approach suggests that there is no constant, objective meaning for a piece of literature, only individual responses reflecting the…

Writing courses in the graduate English education program at the State University College of New York at Brockport offer experienced teachers the chance to engage in the stages of the composing process followed by professional writers, discuss their writing with each other, and design writing activities for their students. The courses are based on…