Summer Class 2024: Poetry
Class Description
This course teaches students the basis of different types of poetry, as well as how to use figurative language in poetry. Students will get to write multiple short poems and one performance-ready poem. By learning about the different interpretations of poetry, they will also be able to effectively communicate their poem to an audience. This course is appropriate for all skill levels in poetry and is largely based on individual effort – meaning that the more you put in, the more you’ll get out of it!
Class Summary
Students will learn 3 different types of poetry and utilize figurative language skills to create their own poems. They will also get to learn how to improve the quality of their poetry through consistent writing exercises! By their final day, they will have at least one performance-ready poem.
Poetry Genres Covered:
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Haiku
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Abecedarian
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Free Verse
Figurative Language Covered:
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Similes, metaphors, personification
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Anaphora
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Polysyndeton
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Asyndeton
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Epistrophe
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Students will participate in instructor-led and supervised lessons with activities during online sessions. They will then have the rest of the day to write at their own pace, applying the skills taught in class to their projects.
Meet Your Instructor
Bonnee Song
Hey there! My name is Bonnee, and I’m an incoming junior at San Gabriel High School. Creative writing (in all its forms) has been my stress reliever/passion since I was in 3rd grade when I'd write about fairies and ice princesses. Honestly, I picked up poetry in my sophomore year so I’m still figuring out the nooks and crannies, but I’d say I’ve made decent progress so far! I’m top three in the Southern California Debate League for Original Prose and Poetry as well as a speech/poetry judge for SCDL. I've also had the amazing opportunity to compete in the statewide competition for Original Prose & Poetry. Aside from that, I’m very active in my school’s speech & debate team where I’m exposed to a variety of performance styles. I’m currently working on starting a poetry club at SGHS and my poetry portfolio. My style revolves largely around culture, trauma, and sense of self. My favorite form of poetry is free form. A fun fact about myself is that I’m certified in piano and music theory as well as am a chamber singer for a choir. I look forward to seeing everyone’s amazing poetry.
Guest Speaker
Andy Huy Le
Andy Huy Le is a Vietnamese American poet, educator, and Speech & Debate coach. During his undergraduate years at UC Santa Barbara, he was in multiple cabinet positions for Poets' Club. He also founded a slam/spoken word club called Poetry in Performance (PiP) which made UCSB history by being its first team to compete in CUPSI in 2019. His work has been previously published by The Catalyst from the UCSB English Department and WORD literary arts magazines in Isla Vista.