Writing tips and helpful hints

Select several poems to read together in class. Have students note the length of lines and breaks, use of punctuation, and use of descriptive phrases, fragmentation, and incomplete thoughts.

Point out that rhyme is not always used in poems. Ask students if they can find other examples of rhythm besides rhyme. How does the poem sound when it is read? How should/could one read the poem? Quickly? Slowly? Loudly? Quietly?