1. CHOOSE -     choose one poem from those we studied in class, or from an African American poet of your choice.  (Not choosing a poet we have studied?  ok it with me.)

2. ANALYZE-   (think)    What does the poem say to you?  What theme might it have in common with A Raisin in the Sun?  Which lines specifically support your interpretation? What literary devices (metaphor, personification, allegory)  does the poet use to convey that meaning?

3.  Write your thoughts down in your notebook. Save these notes safely! This is the rough draft for this page in your final project.

Once you have a thorough interpretation of the poem you are ready to begin your research.
 
 
 
 

Activities

.Day 1
Internet Research- Image search

1.      Your first job is to capture an image, a photograph or a painting, that  presents a meaning you find fitting for the poem. The image should communicate a common theme as the poem,  which is also present in the play. You can choose any (appropriate) image based on  your interpretation, but be prepared to explain your decision.

Search tips: use a search engine (Yahoo or Metacrawler) or start with one of the links provided below.
 

Suggested links to help you in your search:
American Art Museum
Schomburg Exhibition: Harlem 1900-1940
Top Blacks
Soul Eyes Magazine
Yahoo Picture Gallery
Civil Rights Photo Tour
Templeton Interactive Exibit
Yahoo - links to museums & galleries
The Center for Photographic Projects

2. Found your image? Save the image on a floppy disk.  Important! Be sure to get the full web site address and any other relevant source information. What?  That means you need to get : the name of the painter or photagrapher, the name of the web site you got it from, the year it was published, the date was web site was published etc. 

Need help saving the image? Click here for help.

Homework:  Write a draft, a  paragraph or two, discussing how the image you selected expresses a theme that is also present in both your poem and the play A Raisin in the Sun. Save your writing for inclusion in your final project.

Day 2
Internet Research- Poet Biography

1. Search for your selected poet's biography using Yahoo or similar search engine. 
Found something? Evaluate the cite for usefulness and credible information. You will probably want to print out the information. Try to print only what you will really need .
Look for links to other sources.
Important:  be sure to get all the reference information required for your MLA style Works Cited page.
You must find at least 3 sources.

2.Read your sources and take notes on the details you need in your biography.  Use notecards labeled by topic and source name.  See example note card.

Sample Note Card:

Langston Hughes - Childhood                         Source:    Jackson

-Langston Hughes was born on February 1     1902 -family were abolitionists -began writing poetry while in the 8th grade -father didn't believe he could be a poet & encouraged him to go to college -dropped out of Columbia  University engineering program to concentrate on poetry

Homework :  Read over all 3 sources and take notes (use notecards).  Prepare reference cards on all three sources.
 

Sample Reference Card:
 

Jackson, Andrew P. "James Langston Hughes." 5 February 2001.      <http://www.redhotjazz.com/hughes.html>

 
 
 

Day 3
Biography- organizing your info.  Following the suggested outline below, organize your notecards and begin writing your first draft of the poet's biorgraphy.

Suggested Outline:
1st paragraph -   Introduction: includes a hook and thesis statement .  Your thesis statement should mention the poet's main notoriety.
2nd paragraph-   The poet's childhood and education.
3rd paragraph-    Young adult years (20s) & early career
4th paragraph-      The poet's career w/ main works
5th paragraph-      Conclusion:  what are they doing now? What is their legacy?

Homework :  Write the 5 paragraphs.

Hints:  Be sure to include at least one parenthetical reference for each paragraph in your biography. Try to include important and interesting details, but don't feel that you have to include every detail about the poet's life.  Use only  1 or 2 direct quotations, be sure to cite them properly.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Step1 -Page 1.  Arrange the image you have selected on the page with the poem. 

You should be sure to: include the title (in quotes) and the poet's name, be sure to maintain the integrity of the poet's construction but the font  size are up to you. You should also be sure to give the title and artist for the photograph or painting . Note if cannot fit your poem and the imaage on the same page, simply put the poem on page 2 ( also moving the interpretation, biography and Works Cited pages back).

Step 2-Page 2.   Your interpretation. 3 paragraph essay.
      Begin with the poem. Explain what it means to you. Prove your point by referring to specific words or lines in the poem. Try to include any literary devices used by the poet (remember you have notes on this already in your spiral binder.)
     Move into how the image reflects the same theme as the poem. Explain the apparent surface meaning, and/or the similar mood or tone that is present in both (check your notes for your first draft of this).
     Finally explain how the theme is also present in the play A Raisin in the Sun  (you also have a draft of these thoughts in your notes). 

Remember poem titles are placed in quotation marks.

Step 3- Page 3.   Your poet's biography.