Bio+Poems

If you want to write a poem about a person, there are two fun poems for you to try. You can write an acrostic poem or a Clerihew. Read the two examples below and then choose one of the activities to complete.
 * Bio Poems**

During World War II a London reporter, E. C. Bentley, wrote short rhyming poems about historical or literary figures in his weekly newspaper column. He named his poem after... whom else? Himself. The "C" stands for Clerihew.
 * **Clerihew Poems**

**Here are some examples:** Edgar Allen Poe Was passionately fond of roe. He always liked to chew some When writing anything gruesome. //E. C. Bentley// The enemy of Harry PotterWas a scheming plotter. I can't tell you what he's called; I'd be ashamed To name "he who must not be named." //Ken Nesbitt//

That famous lady, Mona Lisa Whose smile has been a real teasa Will never tell this world we're in What's behind that fabled grin.

The one and only Barack Obama Is probably dealing with a lot of drama. He's our first black president. I wonder how long he's gonna be the White House's resident? //S. Vargas, 2009// **__Format:__**
 * A clerihew is about a celebrity or famous person
 * It pokes gentle fun at them but it's not mean-spirited
 * It has a rhyme scheme of AABB
 * It is 4-lines long (or two couplets)
 * The first line ends with a person's name so you must rhyme the second line with their name
 * It is not a limerick, so don't write "there once was a lady named Mona Lisa..."

__**Activity:**__

Do both types of poems ro go above and beyond
 * 1) Pick a celebrity and read about them.
 * 2) Use Rhymezone to help you write your poem.
 * 3) If you can't think of a word, try the Visual Thesaurus. (Hit refresh on your browser page to "try" it again.)
 * 4) Turn it in to me via In box, Sharepoint, or jlaux@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
 * 5) = **Upload your work to your Portfolio (O) Drive.** =

__**Biography Resources:**__


 * Barack Obama
 * J. K. Rowling
 * Taylor Swift
 * Justin Bieber
 * Danny Woodhead || **Acrostic Poems**

An acrostic poem uses the letters in a topic to begin each line. While it doesn't have to rhyme, all the words in the poem should describe or relate to the topic. __Examples:__

**Garbage** //by Bruce Lansky © 2002// Candy C**harleston Chew** A**lmond Roca** N**estle's Crunch** Y**ummy!** ** //by Bruce Lansky © 2002// **
 * G**rounds (coffee)
 * A**pple (core)
 * R**inds (mellon)
 * B**anana (peel)
 * A**nchovies (from a pizza I wouldn't eat)
 * G**rapes (too ripe to eat)
 * E**mptying the stinking bag (my job)

** Activity: ** # Use the Acrostic Poem Maker to write your poem. __**Biography Resources:**__
 * 1) Turn it in to me via In box, Sharepoint, or jlaux@west-fargo.k12.nd.us
 * 2) = **Upload your work to your Portfolio (O) Drive.** =
 * 3) Do both types of poems ro go above and beyond
 * Barack Obama
 * J. K. Rowling
 * Taylor Swift
 * Justin Bieber
 * Danny Woodhead ||

__** Helpful Tools: **__
 * Acrostic Poem Maker
 * Rhymezone Rhyme Dictionary
 * Visual Thesaurus