Perspective Poems

Poems for Two Voices

I can...

...explain and illustrate what common themes unify the refugee experience through a two-voice poem.

...tell a powerful story about the refugee experience.

...create tone using specific word choice through a two-voice poem.

...write about two different perspectives of the same life event.

...show how the historical events and settings impact characters’ actions.

...evaluate informational texts for the most pertinent information regarding the refugee story.

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I track out in 7 days...What is this project?

What is a two-voice poem? A two-voice poem or a poem for two voices is a dialogue between two people that presents two DIFFERENT points of view. This type of poem allows the writer and audience to compare and contrast the two different viewpoints and experiences. These poems are MADE to be read out loud.

Written samples: Batman and Joker Montgomery Bus Boycott� Soldiers Two Women

Spoken sample: Brave New Voices- This Muslim Girl, This Jewish Girl� �You’re doing both!

Your Mission

1. Choose TWO different countries from the refugee experiences:� Germany Syria Cuba Ghana � Sudan India Pakistan Vietnam
2. Use the resources and background knowledge you’ve gathered through this module on refugees and the refugee experience. Many of these resources are linked on slides 5-6 in this Google Slideshow! Wow- you have great teachers :) Gather information on your Perspective Poem Planning Sheet (PPP). This will help you write your final two-voice poems! The more info you have, the better.
3. Get into character! Remember that you’ll be writing (and speaking) from two different perspectives. You’ll have to use the Poem Outline to plan your poems.
4. You’ll create a video/visual essay to “perform” your poems.

Resources for Research (linked below OR in your workbook)

• Historical Fiction Novel Excerpts (see next slide)
• Resources from the Gallery Walk/ Hyperdoc (Project Links)
• Workbook passages (Doc-Lap p. 12, Refugee & Immigrant Children p. 64 and Panic Rises in Saigon p. 48-50)
• Inside Out and Back Again
• “Plight of Refugees” Article
• Vietnam Background Discussion
• VR video
• Podcasts

Book Excerpts

• Refugee by Alan Gratz
• Syria Experience (p. 16-21) -- Syrian Conflict Explained (short video)
• Cuba Experience (p. 10-15)
• Germany Experience (p. 5-9)
• Illegal by Eoin Colfer
• Ghana Experience (use the graphic novel at your table and look at p. 12 - 14 and p. 19 - 28 to understand character traits of those who flee) and (p. 110 - Creator’s Note to understand universal theme & background knowledge on conflict in Ghana)
• The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani
• India/ Pakistan Experience
• The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney
• Janjaweed Militia Article
• Sudan Experience (use the novel at your table and read p. 58 - 61 to understand the background/ story) and (p. 109-117 to understand character’s reactions and conflict in Sudan.)

Pacing Guide