Help for Haiku Poetry Generator

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Basic Controls

The Poetry Generator is an application which will generate haiku-style poems given one of four possible poetry forms and a list of vocabulary words: nouns, verbs, articles, adjectives, and prepositions. Poems are written by clicking on the Write Poem button at bottom left. You may add to or change the vocabulary lists or the vocabulary used in the forms. There is no limit to the length of vocabulary lists or words, but forms are limited to three lines each.

Modes of Operation

The Poetry generator has two modes. In Use Visible Form mode, all poems will be generated using the form currently visible in the forms box. In Use Random Form mode, a form will be chosen from the four available randomly every time you click the Write Poem button. You can switch between these modes using the switch in the bottom center of the screen.

Using the Poetry Generator

To change a vocabulary list, select the part of speech you'd like to change from the radio buttons at the top right. Place your cursor in the vocabulary list box by clicking with the mouse. New words can be added anywhere in the list by typing Enter to get to a new line, and typing your new word. Words can be deleted from the list by selecting them with the cursor and typing delete.

There are four pre-built forms, any of which can be edited, but all of which must be only three lines long. They can contain as many words per line as you like. To change a form, select the form you'd like to change from the radio buttons at the top center. Place your cursor in the form box by clicking with the mouse. New words can be added anywhere in a line by placing the cursor and typing. Words can be deleted from the form by selecting them with the cursor and typing delete. Be very careful in your spelling. If you mistype a part of speech you will get an error message pointing out your spelling mistake.



© 2004 Thomson/Brooks Cole, All Rights Reserved.