Throughout The Crossover, Alexander uses Definition Poems to tell a story. You are going to write your own Definition Poem that mimics the format and style of the poems "cross-o-ver" (page 29),"ca-lam-i-ty" (page 39), "pul-chri-tu-di-nous" (page 55), and many others.
These poems have specific characteristics, including:
They have 4 stanzas (remember, stanza is to poem as paragraph is to essay)
Title breaks the word into syllables and provide pronunciation and part of speech
Poem tells a story
See sources below for additional information on format, a graphic organizer and examples.
Title and Stanza Breakdown Example
TITLE: word you are defining and telling a story about
Pronunciation of word and Part of Speech
STANZA 1
Definition of the word in your own words
STANZA 2
Start with: As in: and tell summary of the story
STANZA 3:
Start with: As in: and tell middle part of story
STANZA 4:
Start with: As in: and tell ending of story
(the word is acheivement)
ACHIEVE-MENT
/əˈCHēvmənt/ noun
In life's journey, a goal reached and success obtained
A moment of triumph, a feeling of pride and self-fulfillment gained
Hard work and determination paving the way
To higher aspirations and brighter days
As in: a student studying late into the night
Striving for excellence, pushing with all their might
Overcoming obstacles, facing challenges head-on
With each small victory, a sense of accomplishment won
As in: a dreamer pursuing their passion with zeal
Taking risks, making sacrifices to make it real
Through ups and downs, never losing sight
Of the ultimate prize, shining in the distance light
As in: a champion standing on the podium tall
Tears of joy, as the crowd cheers loud and all
Years of dedication, leading to this moment bright
A journey of sweat, of blood, of sacrifice and fight
In the end, achievement is not just a destination reached
But a journey of growth, of learning, of lessons preached
A testament to resilience, to perseverance, to belief
That with hard work and dedication, one can achieve.