Live the New Year in the Along (a writing activity)

Let's take the first day of the new year to be poets, to reflect on and write about our intentions, aspirations, and inspirations. 

SPEECH TO THE YOUNG SPEECH TO THE PROGRESS-TOWARD
(AMONG THEM NORA AND HENRY III)

Gwendolyn Brooks

Say to them,
say to the down-keepers,
the sun-slappers,
the self-soilers,
the harmony-hushers,
"Even if you are not ready for day
it cannot always be night."
You will be right.
For that is the hard home-run.
Live not for battles won.
Live not for the-end-of-the-song.
Live in the along.

1. What is the poet's advice? How do you know? In what ways do you agree and/or disagree?

2. What are some writing techniques that you could use?

3. Write a poem, speech, monologue, or essay to represent a positive hope or reminder for yourself for 2016. 

• start with freewriting or write a list or web of ideas; fill up a page
• choose a genre
• choose the narrative perspective; who is the speaker and to whom is he/she speaking?
• draft in your notebook
• incorporate elements of effective writing:

• meaningful focus and intentional structure
• details and elaboration
• skillful command of language and grammar

          Publish the final on your blog; due Friday