Writing a “Where I’m

From” Poem
11th GRADE ENGLISH

MS. LITTLE

1

LECTURE OBJECTIVES &
CONTENT STANDARDS
• STUDENTS WILL LEARN TO WRITE A ‘WHERE I’M
FROM’ POEM IN THE CORRECT STYLE AND FORMAT.
• STUDENTS WILL ENGAGE IN SELF- REFLECTION IN
ORDER TO WRITE THE POEM.
• STUDENTS WILL COLLABORATE WITH PEERS AND
PROVIDE CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK TO OTHERS.
• STUDENTS WILL ACHIEVE MASTERY IN REVISION AND
RE-WRITING AND WILL PRODUCE A FINAL DRAFT.
STANDARDS:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined
experiences or events using effective
technique, well-chosen details, and well-
structured event sequences.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.3.C
Use a variety of techniques to sequence
events so that they build on one another to
create a coherent whole and build toward a
particular tone and outcome (e.g., a sense
of mystery, suspense, growth, or
resolution).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which
the development, organization, and style are
appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
(Grade-specific expectations for writing
types are defined in standards 1-3 above.)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.11-12.10
Write routinely over extended time frames
(time for research, reflection, and
revision) and shorter time frames (a single
sitting or a day or two) for a range of
tasks, purposes, and audiences.
2
WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

WHAT COMES TO YOUR

MIND WHEN ASKED THIS
QUESTION?

WHERE YOU LIVE? WHERE YOUR

ANCESTORS LIVED? WHAT YOU DO?
WHO YOU ARE?
3
 • WRITE DOWN A LIST OF 10 THINGS
THAT MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE; A LIST
OF PEOPLE, PLACES, THINGS.
• NO-ONE ELSE WILL SEE THIS LIST,
JUST BRAINSTORM WHERE YOU ARE
FROM.

LET’S SEE WHAT (2 minutes)

YOU ARE
THINKING…
TAKE OUT A SHEET OF PAPER AND A
PENCIL OR PEN.

4
LOOK AT GEORGE
ELLA LYON’S POEM
‘WHERE I’M FROM’

What do you notice

about the poem?

What stands out to

you?
5
 TAKE A LOOK AT MY PERSONAL
EXAMPLE OF THIS POEM!
SO… WHAT IS IT?
• A ‘Where I’m From’ poem is one that
invites the reader into the world of
the poet and offers them a glimpse
into what makes that individual the
person that they are.

• It’s not about the location of where

someone grows up.

• It is about the objects and the people

that make us who we are. We are from
the things that build on top of one
another to form our personalities,
beliefs, and perspectives.

• It can contain elements of a real

place, but it doesn’t have to.

6
HOW ABOUT SOME MORE EXAMPLES?
HERE ARE 2 YOUTUBE VIDEOS CREATED BY STUDENTS WHO WROTE THEIR OWN
VERSION OF LYON'S POEM!!

7
YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING….
HOW DO I ACTUALLY WRITE MY OWN POEM?
THERE ARE FIVE THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN
WRITING THIS TYPE OF POEM, THIS IS #1:
• FOLLOW THE FORMAT OF LYON’S POEM AND THE
EXAMPLE THAT I PROVIDED. THERE SHOULDN’T BE
MORE THAN 5 STANZAS TOTAL.
+ It is not a very long poem and should not drag on
on. It’s not an epic poem!
+ There is no specific limit to how many lines
should exist within one stanza, but usually there
are 6-8.
***You are trying to convey where you are from to
your audience, choose a topic that you are
passionate about and could easily talk about, this
makes writing about it easier.
8
‘HOW TO WRITE’
CONTINUED… #2
• FOCUS ON ONE CENTRAL IDEA OF WHERE
YOU ARE FROM (EX. DANCE, READING,
FOOTBALL, ETC.) YOU CAN BOUNCE
AROUND AND MAKE IT MORE GENERAL, BUT
IT IS EASIER TO BE MORE SPECIFIC.

LOOK AT THIS EXAMPLE OF A POEM ON

YOUTUBE. THIS STUDENT PROVIDES AN
AMAZING POEM THAT TRULY DOES EXPLAIN
WHO SHE IS. BUT WHAT DO YOU NOTICE
ABOUT THE TOPICS DISCUSSED?

(THIS STUDENT DID A WONDERFUL JOB, THIS IS JUST

AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING WE WANT TO STEER AWAY
FROM)
9
#3. I’M SENSING SOME DESCRIPTIVE
LANGUAGE!!
TOUCH
SIGHT

THE FIVE SENSES

SOUND
TASTE

SMELL
10
LOOKING BACK TO MS. MANDY…

• Imagery and senses?

• What does each stanza

represent?

• Language used?

• Elements of poetry?
11
LOOKING BACK TO THE PRO…

Imagery and senses?

What does each stanza

represent?

Language used?

Elements of poetry?

12
#4. IT’S WHERE YOU ARE FROM, NOT
ANYBODY ELSE. THE POEM DOESN’T
NEED TO TELL A CERTAIN STORY OR
EVOKE A SPECIFIC MOOD. YOU
DECIDE WHAT THE AUDIENCE KNOWS.

#5. HAVE FUN! BE CREATIVE AND

DESCRIPTIVE!
13
 HEY! ARE YOU STILL GETTING IT?

REVIEW THE LIST THAT YOU MADE.

WRITE DOWN 3 POSSIBLE TOPICS THAT YOUR POEM COULD BE ABOUT. THEY CAN BE
IDEAS FROM YOUR LIST OR NEW ONES. FROM THOSE THREE, WRITE DOWN HOW THE 5
SENSES INTERTWINE. HOW DOES THAT SOUND? TASTE? SMELL? FEEL? LOOK LIKE? (5
minutes)

14
YOU GOT IT?
LET’S FIND OUT!

• Write one stanza of your poem. It doesn’t need to end up being your
first stanza, it doesn’t even need to end up in your final draft. Just
write something.
• Your first line should always be “I am from _____”
• Try to write 6-8 lines.
• Use at least 2 senses in this first stanza.

When you’re done, share with a neighbor and explain what you are thinking
for the rest of the poem. We are not judging one another’s story or
quality of writing; we are giving them a listening ear.
Sometimes all writers need is to think out loud.

15
SO…

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

16