Writing Poetry How To

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Writing Poetry How Tos

• Learn how to write Cinquains and Shape Poems
• By Michelle McNulty
• TEC-539

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Cinquain Poems

• What Is A Cinquain Poem?
• A cinquain (pronounced sing-cane) is a 5 line
  poem that describes a noun (person place or
  thing). It is fun and easy to write Cinquain
  poems. Just follow the pattern below.
• Line 1) a one -word title, a noun 2 syllables (a
  person, place or thing)
• Line 2) two adjectives (words that describe the
  thing) 4 syllables
• Line 3) three - ing participles 6
  syllables(words that tell what your noun does
  such as running, jumping, yelling)
• Line 4) a phrase 8 syllables(or sentence
  about the noun)
• Line 5) a synonym for your title, another noun
  (another word for your title,
• rename your noun) 2
  syllables

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Baseball

• Baseball
• a one -word title, a noun (a person, place or
  thing)
• 2 syllables Teamwork Good Fun
• two adjectives (words that describe the thing)
• 4 syllables
• Running Throwing Scoring
• three - ing participles
• (words that tell what your noun does such as
  running, jumping, yelling)
• 6 syllablesAn old American pastime.
• a phrase (or sentence about the noun)
• 8 syllables
• Fun Game
• a synonym for your title, another noun (another
  word for your title, rename your noun)
  
• 2 syllables

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Other Types of Cinquains

• Variations and Description
• Mirror cinquain form with two 5-line stanzas
  consisting of a cinquain followed by a reverse
  cinquain.
• Butterfly cinquain nine-line syllabic form with
  the pattern two, four, six, eight, two, eight,
  six, four, two.
• Crown cinquain sequence of five cinquain stanzas
  functioning to construct one larger poem.

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Shape Poems

• Shape Poems are poems written in the shape of the
  poems subject. They are sometimes called
  concrete poems and they dont have to rhyme.
• You can choose from many shapes and topics.

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You can make your own shape poem.
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How To Start

• Choose your topic.
• Find or draw the shape.
• Begin to fill the space with your poem.
• Remember your poem is about the shape. Use words
  to describe and explain it.
• Have fun!

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Use this on-line tool to help you write your
shape poem.

• http//www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/inte
  ractives/shape/
• Click on the URL above and follow the prompts.
  You can choose from many topics and print your
  work when your done!

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Visit these web sites to write more shape poems.

• http//www.netrover.com/kingskid/poetry/shape_poe
  ms.htm
• http//www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/shapebook/toc.
  html