WHAT FORM FOUR STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ANALYSING POEMS

WHAT FORM FOUR STUDENTS SHOULD KNOW BEFORE ANALYSING POEMS

Welcome to Unit 8:4
In this Unit 8:4, we learn how to teach the sub topic, Interpreting poems’ in Form Four. In this sub topic, we guide students to read and analyse various poems by using best ways possible. However, the following are the important aspects for the students to know before they read and analyse poems. If they have already mastered them, a teacher can proceed.


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THE FOLLOWING IS THE COMPREHENSIVE TEACHING GUIDE ON THE SUB TOPIC:

A: INFORMATION OF THE TOPIC:
1. Topic: READING LITERARY WORKS.
2. Sub Topic: Interpreting poems.
3. Periods per sub topic: 16
4: Class: Form Four.
B: HOW TO TEACH THE TOPIC:

GENERAL INTRODUCTION
The student should be able to interpret poems. A teacher needs to get prepared before going to teach poems to the students because what he/she is going to be confronted with from the students is the idea that ‘poems are difficult’. Teacher’s one job then is to make students feel that poems are easy just like other genres of literature. This is done by guiding students to understand that what they should bear in mind is that their focus is based on a single poem on just a single page of the book. And this is different from 100 pages of a play or a novel. Thus, why when we devote ourselves to read and analyse 100 pages we don’t say it is difficult but when we read and analyse a single-page poem we say it is difficult? In the end, the students are going to realise that poems are as simple as any other works of art!

ACTIVITIES AND GAMES TO FACILITATE A LESSON

BEFORE ANALYSING A POEM……. Ensure that Form Four Students have mastered the following activities or aspects.

ACTIVITY 1: FUNCTIONS OF LITERATURE
Students should know the functions of literature before analysing poems. These functions are usually important before guiding students to the actual analysis of literary works. These functions help them to reflect on the functions of the work they are reading and analysing as well. Check TIE(2016, 18p) and for more about functions of literature click this blue link Functions of Literature

ACTIVITY 2: ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE
These elements of literature are also crucial to students. They must be equipped with these elements before they analyse poems. These are the ways or techniques to be used when reading and analysing literary works. Thus, understanding them is the best way to the better understanding of the works of art as well. Check TIE(2016, 19p) or for more about elements of literature click this blue links: Figures of Speech 1, Figures of Speech 2, and  Elements of Content.  

ACTIVITY 3: TYPES OF LITERATURE
Types of literature are also important for the students. It is through these types of literature students can understand the type of work they are going to analyse. If it is poems, then students they have covered various aspects under poetry which in turn they are going to help them to understand the poems better. Even if they are analysing other genres of literature, understanding these types of literature will help them as well. Check TIE(2016, 21p) or more information about types of literature click this link: Oral Literature and  Written Literature.

CONCLUSION
In case your students have not covered these three crucial aspects, analysing poems is going to be a difficult task for them. They will find analysing poems very difficult and they can develop that mentality of fear and despair. But if they have been equipped with these skills, everything they will encounter will be easy for them. They like poems than before and this will ensure their success in the exams.
Resources

TIE (2016) English for Secondary Schools Form Four, TIE, Dar Es Salaam.

Emmanuel Kachele

Emmanuel Kachele is a founder and Blogger of KACHELE ONLINE Blog, an educational blog where 'O' Level English - 'OLE', 'A' Level English (ALE) and other related teaching and life skills are shared extensively. This is an online center for all Tanzanian Secondary School English Language students and teachers (Forms I-VI) and all interested English Language learners and teachers worldwide.

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