7th Grade Head Of English By Carol Ann Duffy Lesson Plan (Language Arts)

Topic: The poem "Head of English" by Carol Ann Duffy is related to the society and can be explained by literary devices.

Objectives & Outcomes

• Students will be able to analyze "Head of English" by Carol Ann Duffy and its relation to the society through the use of literary devices.

Materials

• Copies of the poem "Head of English" by Carol Ann Duffy
• Handout with literary devices definitions and examples
• Pen or pencil for each student

Warm-up

• Ask the students to take a look at the poem "Head of English" by Carol Ann Duffy.
• Ask the students to underline all the rhyme words in the poem.
• Ask the students if they can find any alliteration in the poem.
• Ask the students to share their observations and insights about the poem.

Direct Instruction

• Explain to the students that the poem "Head of English" is a satirical poem that makes fun of the society and its values.
• Explain that the title of the poem is a play on words. "Head" can mean both "head" and "chief" in this case. The poem is making fun of the English language teacher, who is the "head" or "chief" of the English department.
• Introduce the students to the concept of satire. Explain that satire is a literary device that is used to criticize or make fun of a society or a person by using humor and irony.
• Explain that the poem uses a lot of literary devices to achieve its purpose. Ask the students to name some of the devices they noticed in the poem. You can also ask the students to underline some of the devices in the poem.
• Ask the students to share their observations and insights about the poem after discussing the devices.

Guided Practice

• Divide the students into small groups and give each group a copy of the poem.
• Ask the students to read the poem again and look for specific examples of satire, irony, and humor. Have the students share their findings with the rest of the groups.
• Have the students work together to create a list of the satirical targets in the poem.

Independent Practice

• Ask the students to choose one of the targets from the poem and think of a way to create their own satirical poem about the same topic.
• Have the students write and share their poems with the class.

Closure:

• Review the main points of the poem and the satirical techniques used.
• Ask the students to share any thoughts or questions they have about the poem.

Assessment:

• Observe the students during the guided and independent practice to see if they understand the poem.
• Review their presentations to assess their understanding of the satirical techniques and their ability to apply them in their own writing.