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ART
OF POETRY REQUIRED PAPER
Write a 1,000 word (3 to 4 page) paper that demonstrates your understanding of poetry.
YOUR REQUIRED PAPER IS DUE BY MID-TERM AND WILL BE AT LEAST ONE-THIRD OF YOUR FINAL GRADE.
To receive a "B" or higher in this course you will need to receive at least a "B" or higher on your required paper.
Be careful! Don't be late. To get a "B" in the class you will have to get a "B" or better on this paper and there won't be any time left for you to "make up" work if you wait until midterm. SEND THE PAPER BEFORE MIDTERM TO BE SAFE.
In truth, I'm not interested in biographical criticism or even structural criticism. The lives and styles of poets are not what I believe poetry is really about. While I am glad if you read a good biography and as glad if you are knowledgeable about the technicalities of style, I believe the best poems are written to communicate. It's what message, what lesson, what theme we are given that makes the poem important.
Thus, it should be clear from the start that:
1. I truly do not want papers that treat the literature or poetry as a riddle with deep, hidden, symbolic meanings. Poetry papers, in particular, which tell me that one thing must be symbolic of another, tend to go far astray.
2. I don't want, don't allow papers with outside source material because I believe literature is something you read, "recreate" for yourself, and enjoy. It is not an exercise in doing research.
3. I don't want or value papers that spend their time telling me all about the poetic form and devices within the poems. Of course it is good if you know and can use the terminology of poetry but that is not what I will "reward" when you write your paper.
ANALYZE TWO POEMS TO SHOW THEY HAVE SIMILAR THEMES.
SELECT ONE OF DR. AXELROD'S POEMS FROM THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF DREAMS, TO COMPARE WITH ANY OTHER POEM BY AN AUTHOR OTHER THAN DR. AXELROD FROM AMONG THE POEMS IN YOUR REQUIRED READING LIST OF POETRY (OR ANY OTHER POET OTHER THAN DR. AXELROD THAT YOU HAVE APPROVED BY DR. AXELROD PRIOR TO WRITING YOUR PAPER).
Here's how! "Poem A" and "Poem B" have similar themes because both teach us [fill in a theme]. See the suggested outline below! There is also a Style Sheet for your reference. Start with a simple, clear thesis statement and spend your paper explaining and proving your point!
CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE ESSAYS THAT ANSWER THE QUESTION AND FOLLOW THE FORM.
Instructor's note: Only one of the two poems should be an Axelrod poem. If you select a second poem to compare to it from outside of the required reading list, you must send me a copy of the entire poem FOR MY APPROVAL, prior to writing the paper. Thereafter, the "outside" poem must also be pasted at the end of the paper you have written so I can refer to it when reading your paper.
Further advice on writing literature papers and critical analysis can be found in numerous places on-line but remember, yours is a thematic approach. Please do not get all involved in discussing style or poetic forms, figures of speech and terminology.
Caution: If you simply compare what the two poems are "about" you are only noting plot similarities, not thematic similarities. Saying two poems are "about" the same thing is NOT what you are asked to do!
Papers will be graded on how well you can structure and support your thematic analysis. The heart of this paper is in the quotes you choose to prove your point and your ability to discuss them.
You will not lose
credit for a "wrong interpretation," but you will not do well if you only
deal with plot! Your paper should be
a minimum of 1,000 words (at least three full, typed pages).
Word count is not as important, however, as properly explaining the
poems!
Your paper should show your ability to read, understand and
explain poems. To demonstrate your
ability, you should use short but key quotes as evidence to make your points.
The heart of your paper is in your ability to choose lines from poems and
give full, sensitive explanations of the content and style.
There is a "standard" for literature, critical analysis papers, just as
there is a standard English. Keep to
the standard. Your paper should be
well-structured and, of course, properly proofread and typed (double-spaced, 12
pt. type. Please use a clear, readable type as I have a vision impairment!)
NOTE: PLEASE EITHER PASTE YOUR PAPER INTO YOUR EMAIL OR ATTACH IT AS A MICROSOFT WORD (.doc) DOCUMENT. I can't download Wordperfect (.wpd) or other "odd" word processing systems.
NO OUTSIDE SOURCES, PLEASE.
ONLY YOUR OWN THOUGHTS.
CAUTION!
Whatever you find and can download, I also can find and determine if it came
from somewhere. The penalty for placing work improperly into your paper
(plagiarism) is an "F" for the course!
THEREFORE, DO NOT USE ANY CRITICAL SOURCES.
The
paper you are writing should be entirely your own original work based on your own ability
to read and discuss poetry. Plagiarism will result in withdrawal or an "F"
&/or official academic charges.
I. A. Thesis Statement: "Poem A" and "Poem B" [provide two titles of poems to be compared] are similar because both teach us to [fill a lesson/theme/lifestyle].
After you give a strong opening thesis statement, continue with your introductory paragraph. Try to follow the steps of the outline. Each letter in the outline can be one or better, more sentences long to organize your essay:
I.
B. Brief discussion of what "Poem A" is about.
C. Brief discussion of what "Poem B" is about
D. Longer discussion of what the theme is.
E. Transition.
II.
A. If we look at [some specific moment, event, action in "Poem A"] we
can see
[restate
the lesson/theme].
1st
B. Set the scene for, introduce a quote from the poem.
E
C.
Quote briefly from the poem
X.
D. Paraphrase [put quote in your own words].
E., F., G… Relate the quote to your thesis[discuss theme]. TALK A LOT!
VI.
A. We have looked at [summarize, categorize your examples] to see [the
theme].
C
B. Summarize first example.
O
C. Summarize second example [minimum of two examples for essay].
N
D.
Summarize third example.
C
E. Conclusion [the theme of the poem is…].
L.