Creative Writing

Mr. Graziano

Poetry Portfolio
The following portfolio is a summative assessment for writing and
essential content in the poetry section of the course. If you do not
turn in a portfolio that meets the following specifications, it will
greatly jeopardize your chances of passing the course, as you will also
be using these portfolios for your final exam. Along with the poetry
portfolio, you will be required to sit down for a five to ten minute
student-led conference with me. Please come to the conference
prepared to discuss your poetry. Be able to show me how it has
progressed, changed, and matured throughout the revision process.
Also be able to formulate intelligent and thoughtful opinions about
some of the poetry weve read in class.
The poetry portfolio should include the following:
1. Four (reasonably) finished poems: The poems should be
neat, free of spelling errors (unless youre using deliberately
using misspelled words stylistically; in which case, be able to
discuss the style and why youre using it), and as tight and
polished as possible. The poems can be of any styleopen or
fixed form. Thats up to you. But I would like to see some
variety in voice and technique, as well as the use of poetic
devices weve discussed in class. The poems need to be in
manuscript format. If youre not familiar with this format, or
youve lost the sheet I passed out, please come see me.
2. Three rough drafts of each poem: More importantly, I want
to see how your work has progressed throughout the process. If
you have handwritten drafts on the back of a napkin or
envelope, include it. If youve had poems peer-edited (hint: you
should) include the drafts with other peoples comments on
them. I want to see the blood, sweat and labor that went into
these poems. Please be able to discuss your work.
3. A reflection for each poem. With each poem, I would like to
see a 1-2 page, doubled-spaced typed reflection on the poem
and the process. Here I would like to see you discuss your use

of poetic device and discussions of specific changes youve made

to linesomissions and additions, the tightening of imagery.
There should be at three direct textual references in each
reflection. In other words, I want to see you making textual
references when discussing the poem. This can be informal, but
it must be thoughtful and show insight into your own work.

4. An essay on poetrys role in contemporary society. This

essay should be a revision and/or continuation of the essay you
wrote during the first week of this unit. The assignment is the
same. However, Id like to see you draw on some of the
experiences youve had writing poetry yourself and what youve
come to learn about contemporary poetry as an art form and its
relevance through the readings and discussions weve had in
class. The essay should be typed with a title, double-spaced,
grammatically sound, and 2-4 pages in length.
5. A self-evaluation letter: This is perhaps the most important
aspect of the portfolio because this is where Im able to see that
youve thought about what it is youre turning in and what
youve learned. The important factor here is that youre honest
with yourself. Youre going to be assigning yourself a grade.
Think about effort you put into the assignment. Please be
prepared to discuss and defend the grade youve given yourself.
6. The student-led conference. This is exactly the same thing we
did during the fiction section of this course. You will choose
particular poems to discuss, point out examples of devices
youve used, and sit down with me to discuss your work.
For my convenience, please make sure that the portfolio is organized
and presented neatly. You can use a folder, a binder, etc. Thats up to
you. But take some pride in the work your presenting. Its a
reflection of you.
We will be signing up for conferences in class. If you miss your
conference, its your responsibility to reschedule and turn in the work.
If you have any concerns or questions, please come see me.

Creative Writing
Graziano

Poetry Reflection Questions

The following are a list of questions to consider while reflecting on
your poetry and the writing process. Remember, all writers must be
thoughtful when reflecting on their own work, which is often more
difficult than analyzing others. Try to step outside of yourself (I know,
easier said than done) and examine the poem with cold objectivity.
This can be very difficult with our more personal and emotional work,
but if you try to work with the language itself, the crafts devices being
used, your poem will only get better.
1. What devices are you using in the poem? Identify specific lines
that use imagery, personification, simile or metaphor, hyperbole,
etc. If the poem does not use any literary devices is there a
good reason for it? Explain.
2. Read your poem aloud. Can you hear any rhythmic devices, true
or slant rhymes, traditional or internal? Talk about the rhythm
of the poem. Does it flow off the tongue, or are there parts that

seem to stutter? Did you intentionally repeat any sounds

through the use of assonance or consonance in order to
establish tone? Explain.
3. Discuss the tone you were going for with the speaker. Is the
speaker present in the poem? Is the speaker you or a persona?
Is the speaker addressing anyone in particular? Who? Talk
about the language/ word choice/ controlled use of imagery and
how its working to establish the voice.
4. Finally, what are you trying to say in the poem? What is the
meaning/message you hope a reader will take away from it? Is
there an underlying sentiment or emotion? Are you trying to
make a statement about something? Are you trying to make a
reader laugh? Is this poem based on a personal experience, a
long-held belief, or a casual observation? Talk a little about the
construction and evolution of the poem. Have you said what you
want to say without hitting the reader over the head with your
message? Be objective.
Type up a 1-2 page, double-spaced reflection and keep these
questions because youre going to need to do reflections for your
portfolio. Again, good writers reflect on their work. Granted, they
dont always type up these reflections, but this is a vital part of the
process.

Creative Writing
Mr. Graziano

Poetry Portfolio
Self-evaluation Questions

1. Are your final drafts neat and polished? Which of the four
poems do you feel to be the best representation of your work?
Make reference to specific images, metaphors or device.

2. Does each poem have at least three rough drafts? Talk about
the revision process. Did you find yourself revising in any
specific way, any idiosyncrasies, i.e. taking the poem to a
different location to revise, handwriting drafts, or marking them
up with a specific color ink?

3. Did you find yourself drawn to any specific type of device

imagery, metaphor, simile, figurative language, sound devices,
or rhyme? How did the employment of these devices contribute
to the effectiveness of your poems?

4. What did you learn about poetry that could be applied to life
outside of a workshop? What did you learn from poetry that can
be applied to good writing in general? Be specific.

5. Did any of the poems we read in class leave an impression on

you? Discuss your opinion of the poems of the day and the small
press/ alternative poetry we looked at, as opposed to the larger
anthologized works. Did you prefer one to the other? Was any
of this new to you?

6. After reading and writing poetry, and looking at a number of

contemporary, practicing poets, what role, if any, do you think
poetry plays in our contemporary world? Try to summarize your
opinion.

7. What grade do you believe youve earned on this portfolio? How

much work, honestly, went into the writing of these poems? Did
you take this seriously? Did you contribute to workshops and
class discussions? Did you turn in your drafts and rewrites on
time? Be honest?

8. Any parting words for poetry?