Writing Poetry Writing Poetry How To’sHow To’s

Writing Poetry Writing Poetry How To’sHow To’s

Learn how to write Cinquains and Shape Learn how to write Cinquains and Shape PoemsPoems

By Michelle McNultyBy Michelle McNultyTEC-539TEC-539

Cinquain PoemsWhat Is A Cinquain Poem?

A cinquain (pronounced: sing-cane) is a 5 line poem that describes a noun (person place or thing). It is fun and easy to write Cinquain poems. Just follow the pattern below.

Line 1) a one -word title, a noun 2 syllables (a person, place or thing)

Line 2) two adjectives (words that describe the thing)4 syllables

Line 3) three - ing participles 6 syllables(words that tell what your noun does such as running, jumping, yelling)

Line 4) a phrase 8 syllables(or sentence about the noun)

Line 5) a synonym for your title, another noun (another word for your title, rename your noun) 2 syllables

Baseball Baseball

a one -word title, a noun (a person, place or thing)2 syllables

Teamwork Good Funtwo adjectives (words that describe the thing)

4 syllables

Running Throwing Scoringthree - ing participles

(words that tell what your noun does such as running, jumping, yelling)6 syllables

An old American pastime.a phrase (or sentence about the noun)

8 syllables

Fun Gamea synonym for your title, another noun (another word for

your title, rename your noun) 2 syllables

Other Types of Cinquains

Variations and Description

Mirror cinquain form with two 5-line stanzas consisting of a cinquain followed by a reverse cinquain.

Butterfly cinquain nine-line syllabic form with the pattern two, four, six, eight, two, eight, six, four, two.

Crown cinquain sequence of five cinquain stanzas functioning to construct one larger poem.

Shape Poems

Shape Poems are poems written in the shape of the poem’s subject. They are sometimes called concrete poems and they don’t have to rhyme.You can choose from many shapes and topics.

You can make your own shape poem.

How To Start• Choose your topic.• Find or draw the

shape.• Begin to fill the space

with your poem.• Remember your

poem is about the shape. Use words to describe and explain it.

• Have fun!

Use this on-line tool to help you write your

shape poem.

http://www.readwritethink.org/files/resources/interactives/shape/

Click on the URL above and follow the prompts. You can choose from many topics

and print your work when your done!

Visit these web sites to write more shape

poems.

• http://www.netrover.com/~kingskid/poetry/shape_poems.htm

• http://www.eduplace.com/rdg/hme/k_5/shapebook/toc.html