8th and 9th-grade students at Taft Freshman Academy engaged in a timed writing exercise where they created their ‘life story’ in 24 words. They were then instructed to whittle that number down to one word. Via interviewer to interviewee student dyads, they repeated the process with a peer. What words do we choose to describe ourselves? What words do we not use? What seems important and what seems unimportant at the moment? What do we hear when we listen? What questions do we ask? I also read them the poem, What You Need For Painting (from a letter by Renoir) by poet and short story writer, Raymond Carver. Below find some examples of the one and two-word creations the students developed. One word describes how they see themselves, and the other describes how they see their partner.
Lesson Note: ‘Raymond Carver’s ‘What You Need for Painting’ serves as good advice for writing poems. If we are correct to consider that poetry is like the visual arts–only using words, then we are right on target with this list poem of colors, brushes, and a few notes of encouragement one needs to begin to create.
Ms. Taylor, 9th Grade
Period 1
Two Words
Cortez H.
Basketball
Baseball
Two Words
Jenny H.
New
Money
Two Words
Lelianie M.
Family
Bestie
Ms. Taylor, 8th Grade
Period 2
Two Words
Adina O.
Volleyball
Redwall
Two Words
Izzy K.
Friends
Lacrosse
Ms. Taylor, 8th Grade
Period 5
Two Words
Gianna C.
Ooops
Fixed
Two Words
David N.
Bird
Bruh
One Word
Emely R.
Iguana
Ms. Taylor, 8th Grade
Period 6
Two Words
Kinsey W.
Lights
Seventh
Two Words
Chloe B.
Caterpillar
Peach
Two Words
Julia G.
Death
Dollar Tree
Two Words
Deana F.
Pink-Iron
Swimming
Ms. Taylor, 9th Grade
7th Period
Two Words
Alfredo C.
Fight
Dog
Two Words
Rachel W.
Friends
Drama
Two Words
Mohammed M.
Gates
Hide
Two Words
Wilfred M.
Car
Library
