English 1302 Dr. Sampada Chavan
Assignment Sheet for Poetry Analysis Essay (10%)
The purpose of this assignment is to argue how the use of 1-2 particular elements in a poem
helps to develop a specific theme in the poem. Essentially, you will answer the questions,
“What is the theme of the poem, and what difference does it make to our understanding of
the theme with the elements you notice?” You will not simply make an observation about
how an element is used in the poem or an observation about what the theme is, but rather
answer the question, “SO WHAT?” You must make clear what the poem’s theme is directly in
your introduction. In the body of your essay, you will show how these elements help get that
theme across. For all parts of your argument, support your interpretation with specific
textual examples. The ideas you express will be unique to your understanding of the poem,
and will reflect an extension of the discussions we had in class.
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Choose one (or two) of the poems we discussed in class and re-read it. Pre-write to
discover what you believe is the poem’s/poems' most significant meaning and the ways
in which that meaning is conveyed (which you will likely discover are generally
inseparable). This meaning will be your essay’s thesis statement.

Develop a strong, clear thesis statement that articulates the message in the poem/s
you have chosen. Your thesis statement should answer this question: What is this
poem about? Your essay should then support that thesis.

Explain your ideas about the poem/s in a well-organized essay. Compose body
paragraphs that effectively support your interpretation of the poem/s and explain how
the poem/s conveys this message. Consider the questions about the poem’s speaker,
audience, setting, plot, structure, imagery, diction, language, tone, sounds, rhythms,
etc. It is often helpful to divide the poem into more accessible parts, though you
should not depend solely on the poem’s superficial structure for your essay’s
organization (i.e., avoid writing chronologically as you would in a poetry explication by
starting out “In line one, the poet says …,” “In line two, the poet says …,” etc.) rather
use parenthetical citations as used in the MLA format.
Quote or paraphrase the poem/s, your primary source, to support your thesis, and
correctly integrate your quotes. List your poem on a Works Cited page and format
your paper according to MLA style.
Use at least one outside source (your secondary source) as a direct quote from a
scholar.
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Your essays will be graded on the following factors:
 A strong thesis statement with an essay that explores the thesis in its entirety
 Grammar and MLA formatting
 Quotes from your primary text and your secondary scholarly source
 Length (2-3 pages)