Directions: In a well-developed research paper that utilizes academic research and analyzes poetry, consider the following questions:
1. Who was your poet and why were they important? How did the history of their times affect their writings? What “major message” is your poet trying to teach you through his / her poetry?
2. Focusing on three (3) poems by your poet, find a common theme and craft this into your thesis. What message do these poems have for today’s world? Why are they important? This will become the thesis of your RESEARCH PAPER.
My poet is Walt Whitman
SOURCES REQUIRED (minimum)
1. Two book sources (secondary materials / criticism, not poetry). If you do not have access to a brick and mortar library, please use the electronic books from the Meadows Library.
Three poems but you will likely read about ten. (Use the textbook OR www.poetryfoundation.orgLinks to an external site..)
3. Two Internet sources (these web sources MUST be found under the AVL or you may use either Biography.com OR Poetryfoundation.org). Do not use non-academic sources such as enotes, Wikipedia, or Sparknotes in this paper.
CHECKLIST TO SUCCESS (I suggest you print this out)
1. Your paper must be between 2,500 – 3,000 words to get full credit. (If it is significantly shorter, you need to expand; if it is significantly longer, you need to edit.)
2. Paragraph one will be about the history of the period; at the bottom of this paragraph, transition to your writer.
3. Paragraph two will be about your poet (biography) + you will add a thesis. The thesis will likely appear at about word count 550.
4. The middle of the essay, paragraphs three through eight (3 – 8) should focus on poetry only. There should be no biography here. These paragraphs will analyze the poems, one at a time, and include primary quotes as evidence. As a writer, you will demonstrate a clear relationship between the poems that you have selected.
A NOTE ON WORD COUNT: This does not include your “Works Cited” page; you will lose ten (10) points for every one-hundred words that you are short.
4. REMINDER: Thesis at the bottom of the second paragraph (you will have a “dual-introduction”).
5. Reference information + quote information (see sample research essay in textbook). This will help keep your percentage down.
6. Practice sentence variety throughout and use interesting punctuation–something besides commas and periods. (There is a link under USEFUL URLs that shows different sentence types.)
7. Differentiate between the “speaker” and the poet and use words appropriate to the task—or “poetical terms” along with a formal voice. (There is a “Glossary of Literary Terms” in the text.)
8. Must use MLA formatting only. If you review the sample essay, your essay should resemble this. Remember that the font for this class is Times New Roman 12. (There is also a sample document under USEFUL RESOURCES.)
9. Proofread your work / find and fix mistakes (Finish early / get a peer review–go to Discussions and share your essay). Remember that 30% of the grade is from mechanics!
10. Include a fresh and creative conclusion that does not repeat. Remember that your conclusion will be LONGER, a double paragraph. (You may bring back in some limited history or biography.) The best conclusions “step away” from the poems, and discuss how the theme is ever present today & why poetry matters.
11. Use only an objective point of view: There should be no “I” or “We” or “You” or “The reader.”
12. Point of view: Biography & history is past tense; poetry is present tense.
13. Reference the poem itself by summary, paraphrase, and direct quotes. Every single body paragraph that is about the poem should feature at least one direct quote as evidence. (Two or three shorter quotes can also work well.)
14. Set up quotes with commas OR colons only. (Do not use a period before a quote.) Locate quotes toward the middle of the paragraph. If you need a refresher, consult the “Quoting PowerPoint” under USEFUL RESOURCES.
15. DISCRIMINATE YOUR SOURCES: Do not use Wikipedia, Sparknotes, enotes, or Shoomp, or other such sites that have extensive advertising and weak analysis. This is in addition to your poems that you will quote. Poems may come from Internet sites OR books. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE MORE THAN TWO BOOK SOURCES.
16. MOST IMPORTANT: Organize the writing. A clear thesis and related topic sentences will help to keep the writing “on track” as well as keep your reader (me) on the “same page.”
17. Include adequate specific detail. Avoid vague phrases such as “Through the use of metaphors, these help you understand what Whitman is talking about” or “The rhyme in the poem gives it a very clear feeling” etc.
18. Your final Turnitin percentage must be fifteen percent (15%) or less. If it is much higher, please review your essay and fix it if necessary. Please submit your essay WITHOUT the “Works Cited” page.
