POETRY PROJECT



GUIDELINES AND SUGGESTIONS


FORMAT


* 2 full pages minimum (2 1/2 pages max)
typed, SINGLE-spaced, 1 inch margins, 12 Times font

* Give me your name on the left, then start writing your paper

* Include a Bibliography Page with at least 1 outside source (no more than 2 sources)
(use only expert or authoritative sources). Use the MLA format (the library has the MLA format as a free handout; ask for one)


CONTENT


* Be sure your introduction offers an argument. Do not indicate a simple theme. Give me a real insight into the poem!

Tip: a good exercise is to first ask yourself what themes in the poem interest you. Write a few down on a scrap sheet of paper. Then choose one that really interests you.

Then ask yourself: now that I have a theme, what's my topic, exactly?
In other words:
What does the poem teach me about my theme?
How is this theme represented in the poem?
Or, if the poem uses a certain technique, how is that technique used?


If you are using 2 poems, be sure that they at least share a common theme.


USING QUOTES

Choose rich moments of language.

Quote exactly what you need.

Give page numbers.

After every quotation, be sure to give me analysis! Be a creative and insightful reader. Look at word choice. Consider the possibilities of meaning(s). Play with the imagery. Indulge in the language. Do not give me the obvious. Do not repeat or summarize. Give me your original contribution. Engage with the poetry.

Your best insights will come from looking closely at the language of the poem. Show me you can be a patient and astute reader. Show me you are a curious and persistent reader.

Use 1 or 2 direct quotations from an outside source. Quote from a source that helps you understand the poem (literary criticism, historical information, etc). Introduce the source when you use it in your paper. ("The historian Jane Smith asserts that...") Explain why this information is relevant. How is it useful? But do not let the research steal the spotlight. I am interested, above all, in your own analysis of the poem. So be very efficient with your outside source.


ALSO:

In your conclusion, don't just repeat yourself. Say something new!

I expect to see a polished essay. Proofread for spelling and grammatical errors!

Feel free to stop by during my office hours to chat about your work. Or make an appointment with me.

GOOD LUCK! I LOOK FORWARD TO READING YOUR ESSAYS!