Found Poetry Assignment

Gr. 9 English Language Arts

Found Poetry is created by using different quotes, phrases,

or whole passages from a book or a song and rephrasing it
into your own unique poem. By making changes in spacing
and lines you can create your own poem, thus, imparting a
new meaning. In this activity there is a combination of words
from Night and songs Imagine by the John Lennon and
Boulevard of Broken Drams by Green Day. Your task is to use
words and phrases provided to you and create your own
found poem.

For this project you will be working individually. You are to

use at least 10 lines and create your own found poem using
the words that have been provided. You are free to add
ellipses, commas, and/or periods, where you believe they
need to be. Your found poem must contain the following:

 Title
 Theme
 Visual Representation
 Rationale 200-250 words
 Once you have created your found poem, you will present
the poem and your rationale of the poem to the class. You
must create a visual representation of your theme using
one of the following:

 Power Point Presentation

 Video
 Moodboard
 Podcast with a visual component
 Visual poetry collage
 Wordle
 Visual/Word Poster
 Graffiti Poster

Words and Phrases List

On the borderline of the edge. We were masters of nature, masters of
the world. We had forgotten everything-death, fatigue, our natural
needs. Stronger than cold or hunger, stronger than the shots and the
desire to die, condemned and wandering, mere numbers, we were the
only men on earth. I shall always remember that smile. My shadow's
the only one that walks beside me. Imagine there's no Heaven. From
which world did it come? Whenever I dreamed of a better world, I could
only imagine a universe with no bells. From the depths of the mirror, a
corpse gazed back at me. The look in his eyes, as they stared into
mine, has never left me. I probably brought him more satisfaction than
I had done during my whole childhood. We were all going to die here.
And no religion too. Imagine all the people. All limits had been passed.
No one had any strength left. Sometimes I wish someone out there will
find me.
And again the night would be long. I've got more faith in Hitler than in
anyone else. He's the only one who's kept his promises, all his
promises, to the Jewish people. Whose was that tear? Mine? His? We
had never understood one another so clearly. How could I forget that
concert, given to an audience of dying and dead men! The night was
gone. The morning star was shining in the sky. I too had become a
completely different person. The student of the Talmud, the child that I
was, had been consumed in the flames. There remained only a shape
that looked like me. A dark flame had entered into my soul and
devoured it. When they withdrew, next to me were two corpses, side
by side, the father and the son. I was fifteen years old. Above us only
sky.
 Found Poetry Assignment

Part 1:

Compile a collection of words or phrases from the list, to create your

own found poem and theme. Try to use examples of imagery, similes
and metaphors.

Part 2:

Create a found poem by assembling the words and phrases you have
selected. Organize the words and phrases in a way that creates new,
coherent meaning. Copy your poem onto the piece of paper provided
in this booklet and add illustrations that relate to the theme.

- The poem does not have to follow a particular rhyme scheme

- Be sure to use punctuation
- Found poems must be at least 10 lines long
- The poem must have a creative title that reflects the theme
- The mood evoked by your poem must compliment the chosen
theme
Use the following chart to help guide you in the collection of the
content for your found poem.
Step One: Indicate the main theme you will be trying to convey (i.e.
loss of hope, identity, violence, freedom and confinement, family)

Step Two: Gather a collection of words or phrases that are particularly

descriptive. Jot down a number of examples of symbolism, metaphors
similes, or strong images based on your theme.

Similes

Metaphor
s

Symbolis
m

Strong
Images

Strong
Word
Choices
Step Three: Select and organize the words and phrases in a way that
creates new, coherent (logical, rational, consistent) meaning.

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 Found Poem Rubric

Beginning Developing Accomplished Exemplary

1 2 3 4
The title is vague The title is vague The title connects to The title
Title and does not and is slightly the theme but does increases
connect to the connected to the not increase the meaning of the
theme. theme. meaning of the poem and
poem. connects to the
theme.
Most of the A few of the words Most of the words All of the words
words and and phrases were and phrases were and phrases were
Choice and phrases were chosen without chosen and chosen and
arrangeme chosen and purpose/ arranged with arranged with
nt of words arranged without mechanically purpose purpose
and purpose arranged
phrases
The poem does The poem The poem centres The poem clearly
not centre on a satisfactorily on a theme. centres on a
Theme theme. centres on one distinct theme.
theme.
No mood is The mood is The mood is created The mood is
evident. Words created with with powerful words clearly created
Mood and images are suitable words and and images. with vivid words
vague and images. and images.
nondescript.

Total / 16
 Found Poem Presentation Rubric

4 3 2 1
Content Delivery shows Delivery shows Delivery shows Does not have
a well-thought a good theme an adequate a theme and
out theme and and visual theme and visual
visual representation visual representation
representation representation is lacking
character
Preparednes Student is Student seems Students is Student does
s com- pretty prepared somewhat not seem at all
pletely but might have prepared, but it prepared to
prepared needed a is present.
and has couple more clear that
obviously rehearsals. rehearsal
rehearsed. was lacking.
Volume Volume is loud Volume is loud Volume is loud Volume often
enough to be enough to be enough to be too soft to
heard by all heard by all heard by all be heard by
audience audience mem- audience mem- all audience
members bers 90% of bers 80% of members.
through- the time. the time.
out the
presentation.

Speaks Speaks clearly Speaks clearly Speaks clearly Often mumbles

Clearly and distinctly and distinctly and distinctly of cannot be
all of the time all 95%-100% 85%-95% of understood OR
and of the time the time. mispronounces
pronounces all by Mispronounces more than one
words mispronouncin no more than word.
correctly. g one
one word. word.
Rationale The poem’s The poem’s The poem’s The poem has
symbolism and symbolism and symbolism and no symbolism
theme is theme is theme can be or theme.
explained with explained well. clearer. Needs There is no
great depth. Some evidence more evidence of
New meaning of new synthesized new meaning
is synthesized. meaning and meaning and or synthesized
synthesized ideas. ideas.
ideas.

Total /20