when the text speaks directly to the reader / audience, often using the pronoun 'you'

the tools a writer uses to create their work

Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou

English

In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils study a body of work by a single poet, in order to explore what makes her style and voice unique, giving Angelou her identity as a writer. In the second  Power and Conflict Poetry unit, pupils study the identity cluster of poems, including works by Agard, Dharker and Rumens, all of which use poetic voice to explore questions about personal identity.

In 'Poetry about Place and Home', pupils use spoken word poetry to explore their relationship to the city that they live in. In 'Single Poet Study: Maya Angelou', pupils explore how spoken word poetry can be used to express personal and political views. 

Single poet study: Maya Angelou

Discriminatory behaviour or images, whether on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation, or otherwise.

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Historic or outdated representations of people that may portray inequality or injustice.

Depiction or discussion of violence or fighting, including threats of violence or the aftermath of violence.

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sex or sexual body parts, including sex education.

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

What is the name for a group of lines in a poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

a repeated line or lines throughout a poem

placing two things side by side to emphasise their differences

Match each method to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

doing something after being filled with ideas from something/someone

Match each word to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

Which of these are examples of writer's methods? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Which sentence makes use of commands? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

She wanted Americans to look towards their future.

I am a remarkable woman, and it's time you saw that.

Which sentences use direct address? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Which theme (big idea) did Angelou decide would be the focus of her poem, 'On the Pulse of the Morning'? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

What are some of the big ideas that can be found in many of Angelou's poems? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Angelou's poem 'Caged Bird' was inspired by which other poem? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Angelou's 'Caged Bird' was inspired by Paul Laurence Dunbar's 'Sympathy'. What method particularly inspired her? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

Which of these Angelou poems make use of a refrain? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')

an older speaker demands respect, not pity

a speaker reflects on America's past and future

a confident speaker explains why she is extraordinary

an extended metaphor explores the effects of segregation

speaker lists scary things but says she's not frightened

forthright speaker explains why she will overcome any adversity

Match each Maya Angelou poem to its main focus ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').

Content guidance

Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering

Depiction or discussion of sexual content

Adult supervision required

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Finding my own voice: planning a poem inspired by Maya Angelou

Lesson outcome

Content guidance

This lesson will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.