SIFTTing through Poetry

A pre- Advanced Placement Strategy to actively read poetry

SIFTT

Symbolism

Imagery

Figurative Language

Tone

Theme

*Title

Symbolism Using your cellular device, define: what is a symbol?

Something that represents or stands for something else, usually a larger concept (New Oxford American Dictionary)

Think of examples:

Heart Plus sign/ cross

Handshake

Woman Man Dollar Sign

SymbolsWhen you actively read a poem:

Evaluate the text for possible symbols What objects, inanimate or animate, represent larger concepts

Evaluate “Childhood” for symbols. Jot down at least three on your worksheet.

Example: “Freckle faced girl”= innocent and individual

Imagery When you are telling a story, how do you get your listener to feel like they were there?

Do you use things that relate to the five senses? Sight

Touch/ Feel

Hearing

Taste

Smell

Example word for sight: Wrinkly

Imagery

How does the author create images using the five senses?

What feelings do the images evoke in you?

Find 3 examples in “Childhood”, what sense do they appeal to? What images are conveyed?

Example: “Spit Balls hovered over lunchroom table”= sight; kids playing in lunchroom.

Figurative Language

Using your cellular device, look up what figurative language means.

Speech or writing that departs from literal meaning in order to convey a special meaning or effect. (Adapted from Dictionary.com)

What are some examples of figurative language?

Figurative language

How are different figurative language devices employed in the poem?

Find 3 examples in the text. Write the type, and then explain the literal and figurative meanings.

Example:“Believe the wheels of the tricycle are still spinning in your stomachs.”= metaphor; wheels of a tricycle spinning inside your stomach; nervousness.

Tone

Using your cellular device, look up what tone means.

An author’s attitude towards a subject

What are some words you can use to describe tone?

Use the work sheet and look up one word from positive, negative, irony, fear and neutral and write the definition on your tone sheet.

Memorize these

Examples: Accusing: saying another person or thing was responsible for something.

Tone

Evaluate the word choice, detail, and imagery: What is the tone of the poem?

Write down 2 examples with word choice (diction) that prove that tone.

Example: Scornful; “mud stained trousers to neck ties/we forgot…”

Theme

Using your cellular device look up the definition of a theme.

Central message of a text. NOT A SUMMARY

Can be implied. What does that mean?

What are some common, universal, theme subjects?

Examples: Sacrifice

Loss of innocence

ThemeHow to find a theme? How to Find Theme

What theme means in high school:Less about a moral that includes a lesson, more about a guiding principle (something the author wants the reader to consider)

Stronger examplesPower Corrupts

Loss of Innocence

Destruction of Beauty

Growth of a child

Write down 1 theme from the “Childhood” poem. Make sure it has the subject and opinion.

Example:

Subject: Loss of innocence

As a child grows up, positive messages from childhood are often lost.

Title

Evaluate the title of the poem.

Write 2 reasons why the author choose the title “Childhood” for the poem on your worksheet

Be prepared to share out.

Rubric for T-SIFTT Graphic Organizer

This is what you will be graded on and how many points each item is worth.

3 symbols with what it represents- 9 points

3 images with the sense and the image that it conveys- 9 points

3 examples of figurative language. Write type of figurative language, literal meaning and figurative meaning – 9 points

2 words from poem that proves 1 tone word- 6 points

1 theme with explanation -5 points

Thorough response, so that you can following thinking- 10 points

Name- 2 points.

Total- 50 points.

Groups

Now stand up, hand up, pair up and work on completing SIFTT for “Tourettes” poem.

Find the following (After each, switch partners).3 Symbols with what it represents

3 images with sense and image it conveys

3 examples of figurative language. Write type, literal meaning and figurative meaning.

2 words from the poem that proves 1 tone word

1 theme with subject and opinion

Individually

Now, on your own read “Sweatshop” and complete “T-SIFTT” for the poem

Find the following:3 Symbols with what it represents

3 images with sense and image it conveys

3 examples of figurative language. Write type, literal meaning and figurative meaning.

2 words from the poem that proves 1 tone word

1 theme with subject and opinion

Exit Slip: Post Card Write a post card to a student who was absent explaining what you learned today and why this new information is important.

Parts: Front (Blank side): Draw a picture or a symbol of something that represents what we learned today.

Back: Write a postcard to an absent student explaining what you learned today and why you learned it.

Rubric: Picture connects with activity- 5 points

Written explanation is in letter format- 2 points

Explanation is thorough and answers both questions- 10 points

Proper use of grade level grammar and mechanics- 3 points

Total: 20 points