Blackout Poetry Pair

Using the text of the short story “Gift of the Magi,” you will create a pair of blackout
poems about the choices made by the story’s characters and the consequences that
befall them. These poems will reflect two choices that could have been made by the
characters and the consequences that follow them.

You will also write an artist statement explaining the relationship between the choices
made in “Gift of the Magi” and the choices you describe in your poems. This statement
will include a reflection on the responsibility of the decision maker and an evaluation
of each choice and consequence for its effect on the decision maker.

You will have two days in class to produce your pair of poems and write your artist
statement. All poems and artist statements will be presented in class in the form of a
gallery walk, where you will respond to at least three of your classmates’ poems.
 Blackout Poetry Pair Rubric

Categories Exemplary Proficient Developing Comments

8-10 5-7 1-4

Focus on The theme of choices The theme of choices and The theme of choices and
choices and and consequences is consequences is consequences is
consequences powerfully present in suggested or alluded to minimally alluded to or
the poem pair. in the poem pair, but is absent entirely in the
(50%)
Poem pair not conveyed explicitly. poem pair.

Poetic effect The poem incorporates The poem incorporates The poem incorporates
(15%) carefully chosen words appropriately chosen imprecise or
and images that words and images that inappropriately chosen
captivate and involve interest the reader. words and images that
the reader. leave the reader
unfocused.

Artist The student reflects The student reflects on The student’s reflection
statement thoughtfully on the the relationship between on the relationship
(20%) relationship between their poems and the between their poems and
their poems and the source text, but their the source text is shallow,
source text, explaining reflection may not demonstrating a lack of
how their interpretation demonstrate an in-depth understanding of the
of the choices made in interpretation of the connection between the
the original story is connection between the original story and their
reflected in their own original story and their own work. The student
work. The student uses work. The student uses a uses minimal or no
several specific few specific examples specific examples from
examples from the text from the text to support the text to support the
to illuminate insightful their ideas, but ideas in their work.
Reflection connections between connections between the
the source text and their source text and the
own work. student’s work may not
be made explicit.

Reader The student responds The student responds to The student responds to
responses thoughtfully to three of three of their classmates’ fewer than three of their
(15%) their classmates’ poem poem pairs, but their classmates’ poem pairs,
pairs, referencing responses may not all or their responses are
specific aspects of reference specific shallow and fail to
peers’ projects and aspects of peers’ projects address specific aspects
using nonjudgmental or not all use of peers’ projects and/or
language. nonjudgmental language. use judgmental language.