POETRY READINGS

Don't forget that your main assignment now (besides creative projects due Thursday) are your poetry readings. These are worth 40 points, and you need to take plenty of time to prepare.

POETRY READING TIPS:

1. ALTHOUGH IT IS CONSIDERED A "READING," YOU NEED TO KNOW THE POEM (S) SO WELL THAT YOUR WRITTEN POEM IS ONLY THERE FOR AN EMERGENCY. You should not have your face plastered to the poem during your presentation. It's important to look at your audience.

2. USE YOUR CLASS TIME WISELY. You are being given class time to prepare, so if you bring other things to do or work on homework from other classes, Mr. Gladdish sees that you are not using your classtime to prepare. This is unacceptable. Use your class time wisely!

3. PRACTICE YOUR READING NUMEROUS TIMES! As you probably remember from the oral interp assignment or Hamlet project, it's one thing to feel prepared when your giving your reading in your room at home in front of NO ONE! It's another to perform in front of your classmates. Preparation will go a long way to solving this problem.

4. BE CREATIVE WITH PROPS, COSTUMES, VISUAL AND AUDIO AIDS, ETC. It's obvious when thought and effort is put into this, and your grade will reflect your effort. Also, your classmates will notice whether you've put effort into it or not. It's awkward to watch presenters that aren't prepared and don't have the proper materials.

5. PRINT YOUR OWN COPIES OF THE POEMS FOR YOUR READING. DON'T TRY TO USE THE ANTHOLOGY. IT'S A BIG, AWKWARD BOOK AND WILL GET IN THE WAY OF YOUR PRESENTATION.

6. AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR READING, TELL THE CLASS THE NAME OF THE POEM, AUTHOR, AND PAGE NUMBER WHERE THE POEM CAN BE FOUND SO THEY CAN FOLLOW ALONG.

7. ALSO BEGIN YOUR READING WITH A THOROUGH EXPLANATION OF WHAT THE POEM IS ABOUT. This will help your audience understand your reading.

8. YOU ARE WELCOME TO POST ANY QUESTIONS HERE, BUT SINCE MR. GLADDISH IS DOING THE GRADING YOU DEFINITELY WANT TO DIRECT THE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS TO HIM.