Directions and Topics for Poem Analysis Essay
Choose any one of the poems from the text Literature: A Portable Anthology for your essay except the poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”
Read How to Analyze a Poem provided in the Module
Do not use any reference sources in the text of your essay, only the poem itself.
Complete the Poem Analysis Outline provided in the Module to organize your essay.
Complete the essay using your outline with an introduction, thesis statement, body paragraph topic sentences, body paragraphs that use examples and quotes from the poem as support in each body paragraph section. Include a concluding paragraph.
The essay must use MLA in- text citations for the paraphrases and quotes from the poem. Please follow the information provided in Directions for MLA In Text Citations for Poems and also the information in Chapter 6 Writing About Poetry.
The essay must have a Works Cited page which includes a MLA Works Cited entry for the poem.
The essay must have a heading with all the necessary information, a title, an introduction with a thesis statement, developed body paragraphs and a concluding paragraph.
The essay must have at least 500 words. The word count does not include the Works Cited Page.
Read the Model Poem Analysis Essay provided in the Module.
The essay will be graded on content which includes the outline, organization, sentence structure, grammar, MLA In- Text Citations and MLA Works Cited. A grade rubric is provided.
Note the outline and the essay may have more than three body paragraphs. The number of body paragraphs is determined by the writer, you. Do not use any reference source material. Only use the poem itelf.
Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Day Month Year
Title of Essay
I. Introduction Begin with the title of the poem and the author. Give some background information concerning the poem.
Thesis Statement: The sentence should establish the elements of the poem that you will develop in the essay such as imagery, symbolism, irony, tone, or theme. You may include as many elements as needed. One example would be the following: Robert Frost uses imagery, personification and symbolism to describe the simplicity and pleasure of nature and the conflict with life’s responsibilities.
II. First Body Paragraph Section
A. Topic Sentence: Write a topic sentence that relates to the thesis.
B. Supporting Details
List some examples or quotes from the poem that will be used in the paragraph
III. Second Body Paragraph Section
A. Topic Sentence: Write a topic sentence that relates to the thesis.
B. Supporting Details
List some examples or quotes from the poem that will be used in the paragraph
IV. Third Body Paragraph Section
A. Topic Sentence: Write a topic sentence that relates to the thesis.
B. Supporting Details
List some examples or quotes from the poem that will be used in the paragraph
V. Conclusion: Restate Thesis: Points to Include:
1. Restate the thesis
2. Briefly summarize the ways in which the poem illustrates the thesis
3. Make a concluding comment.
Works Cited
The Works Cited list will only include the poem in your essay.
