Thoughts on the Poetry Project

  I don’t know about anyone else but I am surely enjoying the change of pace that the poetry project has brought to class. Its very refreshing to have a somewhat more laid back class every day. I also find it interesting how the groups thus far have led class in very different and unique ways. Both groups that have gone in third period were quite entertaining. I especially liked the self proclaimed “Dream Team’s” game, even though my comment landed my team out of the game first. I thought it was hilarious having to make Ms. Serensky decide which group she though made the worst comment. I certainly look forward to what the upcoming groups have to offer. Although this poetry project has literally brought some fun and games to the class, I think it really does help us. Having to read a variety of poems written by very different authors and at different times will surely make us ready for whatever the AP test throws our way. I also think the nightly soapstones help get jumpstarted into thinking in depth about the poem. I have found myself each of the past three nights feeling ready to write a poetry paper after completing the soapstone. We have written so many poetry papers after writing spoapstones that it feels natural to get geared up to write a poetry paper following the completion of a soapstone. That is where I think the genius lies in the project. By writing a soapstone, we naturally get in the zone to write a poetry paper, which means that we are probably thinking deeply about the poem. The poetry project enables us to think deeply about many poems without having to spend the many hours constructing a lot of poetry papers. I feel that this project is a very efficient use of our time while still providing us with deep insight into many poems.