Before you begin reading, consider the ways poems are organized and jot down your ideas. Then, skim “For My Sister Molly Who in the Fifties,” looking for organizational patterns. Write down the organizational patterns you encounter as you preview the text, as well as possible reasons why the author chose to use these patterns.
1. Follow along in your textbook as your teacher reads aloud the first two stanzas of the poem. Discuss main ideas found in the first two stanzas. Fill in the main ideas of the stanzas in the Organization Chart. Headings have been filled in for the first two stanzas.
2. Continue reading the poem on your own. Stop at the end of each section and fill in the heading and the main ideas in your Organization Chart.
If you have difficulty determining the main ideas of a section, reread the section line by line to unlock the main ideas of the section. You might also try rereading the section aloud to hear the ideas stated.
Answer the question at the bottom of your Text Organization Chart. Then, meet in small groups to compare and contrast the content of your charts and the answers to the question. Discuss how you found the main ideas and why you think the author organized the poem in this way.