What do you think?
Rate this book
Beyond Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue: A Practical Guide for Helping Students Write Free Verse
For many teachers, poetry can be a difficult subject to teach. Poet Benjamin Green makes it easy with this practical and insightful book.
His step-by-step process is halfway between formulaic fill-in-the-blank exercises and open-ended (“Write a poem about peace”) assignments.
With clear examples, Green talks students through each of 25 exercises, helping them create high-quality, thoughtful poems. The process begins with “word gathering,” a series of prompts designed to generate words, phrases, information, ideas, and images. Students then “extract” a poem from this material, choosing the most interesting and descriptive words. Finally, Green guides them through the revision process, using a series of questions to help them refine and polish their work. The book also includes suggested readings and samples of poems created by real students.
His step-by-step process is halfway between formulaic fill-in-the-blank exercises and open-ended (“Write a poem about peace”) assignments.
With clear examples, Green talks students through each of 25 exercises, helping them create high-quality, thoughtful poems. The process begins with “word gathering,” a series of prompts designed to generate words, phrases, information, ideas, and images. Students then “extract” a poem from this material, choosing the most interesting and descriptive words. Finally, Green guides them through the revision process, using a series of questions to help them refine and polish their work. The book also includes suggested readings and samples of poems created by real students.
164 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1996
2 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 of 1 review
August 9, 2007
...If you run into Mork, just say, "Nanu-nanu!"
...Do you like punk rock bands like blink 182?
...I almost got hit by a bus, but didn't. "Whew!"
...What kind of tree is that? I think it's a yew.
...Well I disagree - I say bamboo.
...If you disagree again, I will use my kung-fu
...let's settle this over some nice cheese fondue.
...or perhaps a serving of veal cordon-bleu?
...When making french sauces, you must start with a roux.
..."Did you toss that ball?" "Yes I did, I just threw."
...Did you like my first word? My rhyming debut?
...This game I don't like, but I just can't eschew.
...My favorite french actor's Gerard Depardieu.
...Have I repeated myself, or is it just deja-vu?
...Do you like tae-kwon-do? I tae-kwon-do!
...That party last night was a great ballyhoo.
...there are many more words we've not done hitherto.
...Have you been to india? Can you speak Urdu?
...How many more rhymes are there, there can't be beaucoup.
...I cover my penne with Old-World Style Ragu.
...my favorite city in China is Wenzhou.
...And now I am done, I bid you adieu.
...Do you like punk rock bands like blink 182?
...I almost got hit by a bus, but didn't. "Whew!"
...What kind of tree is that? I think it's a yew.
...Well I disagree - I say bamboo.
...If you disagree again, I will use my kung-fu
...let's settle this over some nice cheese fondue.
...or perhaps a serving of veal cordon-bleu?
...When making french sauces, you must start with a roux.
..."Did you toss that ball?" "Yes I did, I just threw."
...Did you like my first word? My rhyming debut?
...This game I don't like, but I just can't eschew.
...My favorite french actor's Gerard Depardieu.
...Have I repeated myself, or is it just deja-vu?
...Do you like tae-kwon-do? I tae-kwon-do!
...That party last night was a great ballyhoo.
...there are many more words we've not done hitherto.
...Have you been to india? Can you speak Urdu?
...How many more rhymes are there, there can't be beaucoup.
...I cover my penne with Old-World Style Ragu.
...my favorite city in China is Wenzhou.
...And now I am done, I bid you adieu.
Displaying 1 of 1 review