Analytical paragraphs: Maya Angelou’s poetic voice
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explore Maya Angelou's poetic voice in well-structured analytical paragraphs.
Key learning points
- We can make comments about Angelou's poetic voice by considering a number of her poems at the same time.
- When considering Angelou's poetic voice in an analytical paragraph, you should include (and explore) quotations.
- When considering Angelou's poetic voice in an analytical paragraph, you could include context to develop your ideas.
- A single paragraph outline is a way of planning a paragraph.
- First and final sentences of a single paragraph outline are written in full; supporting detail is written in note form.
Keywords
Extended metaphor - a detailed comparison which develops one idea over a number of lines, paragraphs or stanzas
Jim Crow laws - laws enforced by American states which separated people based on the colour of their skin (late 19th century to 1965)
Civil rights activist - a person who advocates for social and political equality for those who have been denied equal treatment
Context - in English, historical, social, literary or biographical information which helps us understand a text more fully
Poetic voice - elements in a poem or poems that make it clear it is by a particular person or speaker
Common misconception
Single paragraph outlines take too long to plan. You should just start writing.
Single paragraph outlines give you time to think and prepare. Spending time on these means that you will be able to write your paragraph efficiently knowing that it has a clear focus with well-selected supporting detail.
Teacher tip
Consider if you need to increase, or decrease, the scaffolding in Learning Cycle 2. You could decrease by removing Andeep's single paragraph outline. You could increase by directing pupils to certain poems, or working through an additional single paragraph outline together.
Equipment
You need access to 'Phenomenal Woman', 'Woman Work', 'Still I Rise', 'On Aging', 'Caged Bird', 'Equality', 'Life Doesn't Frighten Me', and 'On the Pulse of the Morning' (Penguin Random House).
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which poem did Maya Angelou write and perform for President Clinton’s inauguration? (‘Single poet study: Maya Angelou’)
Q2.Maya Angelou is best known as a poet and a ? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q3.What were the Jim Crow laws? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q4.Match each method to its definition ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
orders
repeated line or group of lines in a poem
the attitude of emotion of your voice - written or verbal
non-literal words or phrases to express complex ideas
a comparison which is developed over a number of lines
Q5.Match each word to its definition. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
boldly disobedient
honest, truthful, genuine
direct, frank, clear
commanding, self-assured
Q6.Match each of these Maya Angelou poems to their main focus. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
a Black female speaker describes her chores and emotions
a defiant speaker demands equal rights
an assertive speaker explains why she is extraordinary
an extended metaphor explores effects of the Jim Crow laws
a speaker lists scary things but says she’s not frightened
forthright speaker explains why she will overcome any adversity
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.One way to plan what you will write about in a paragraph is to use a paragraph outline. ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
Q2.When planning a paragraph using a single paragraph outline, which aspect of the paragraph should be written in note form?
Q3.Match each of these terms to their definitions ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou').
first sentence of a paragraph stating its main focus
ideas which prove your topic sentence
sums up main ideas in your paragraph
comments on why a writer has written something in a certain way
information about how, why and when the text was written
Q4.What advice could you give a pupil who was trying to write a topic sentence to an analytical paragraph? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q5.What advice could you give a pupil who was trying to write a concluding sentence to an analytical paragraph? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
Q6.Which uses the word 'sincere' (or its forms) accurately? ('Single poet study: Maya Angelou')
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Analytical paragraphs: Maya Angelou’s poetic voice, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Analytical paragraphs: Maya Angelou’s poetic voice, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the Single poet study: Maya Angelou unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.