Dear students,

Writing poems about problems in our society can be a way to pay homage to those people who have been victims of violence. A poem can be a reflection of the truth, just like a painting or a song can be. Which events in our world, community, and school have left you feeling uncomfortable and uneasy? Artists often explore their thoughts and feelings as a way of understanding the issue and understanding themselves. So, today I would like for you to begin researching a current event that is worthy of your art.

Here are a few news sources that might be helpful:

https://www.democracynow.org/

http://www.npr.org/

http://www.aljazeera.com/

1. After you find a compelling story that speaks to you, copy the text of the article into a Google Doc.
2. Give the document a title related to the topic
3. Provide a citation at the bottom of the page by using easybib.com
4. Find a philosophical statement related to your poem’s topic. One resource you can use is Brainy Quotes. You’ll need this later for the allusion in your poem.
5. Begin developing your News Poem using Hongo’s “The Legend” as a guide.
6. Mr. Coey’s sample News Poem is Sikh Mercy.