Comparing Poetry: Tupac and Langston Hughes

Show your students that poetry is all around us by comparing Tupac's Dear Mama lyrics to Langston Hughes Mother to Son poem. This lesson can be taught in a variety of ways to meet all learners. This lesson includes a slide show to present both the authors and the poems, with links to both the song and the poem read aloud. Also included is a one page sheet with both poems side-by-side, with guided annotations. This allows students to annotate their poem, highlighting the use of figurative language, message, intended audience, etc, as you discuss it whole group. At the end of the lesson their is a venn diagram to compare the two. This assignment can be given on paper or digitally, as well as with or without the guided notes. I like to have students fill out the notes portion while we discuss it using the slide show, and then complete the venn diagram independently.