Oral Timed "Writes" work like this...

A page number will be announced and 5 minutes provided to read the poem and, if desired, take written notes. I will select poems of medium difficulty. Nothing too wierd or cryptic.

Volunteers may go first. If there are no volunteers, names will be drawn. When it is your turn, you will stand beside your desk and speak loudly and clearly enough for everyone in the room to hear and comprehend. You are not required to make eye contact with anyone however. No one may talk to you or prod you as you speak. We will stay on the same poem until 2-4 students have analyzed it and I deem it "exhausted" of new commentary.

You will first give a 3-sentence intro paragraph, exactly like the fill-in-the-blank version we practiced with last week. Then you will proceed into one body paragraph using 8 sentences (TS, CD, CM, CM, CD, CM, CM, CS). That's it.

You may speak slowly and look at your notes. You may backtrack a little bit, within the sentence you are speaking, but extensive backtracking or too much hesitation will cost you a point.

You will be graded on the basics: understanding of the poem, ID of tone, use of terms, selection of CDs, quality of CMs, use of the organizational format. You could also lose a point for overly vague or fake commentary... you know what I mean! One easy point will be offered for a smiling disposition :)

Each student must go once. If there is time left on Tuesday or perhaps Friday, persons who feel dissatisfied with their performance may take a second shot.