In Mrs Tilscher’s Class – ‘Mini Essay’ Plan
Q. Choose a poem that deals with a childhood experience. Discuss to what extent
the poet’s description leads you to a clear understanding of the poem’s theme.
Paragraph Plan
Introduction – turn the task around to write your intro. Mention the title of the
poem and the poet’s name. Mention the techniques you are going to discuss.
e.g. A poem which deals with a childhood experience is ‘In Mrs Tilscher’s Class’
by Carol Ann Duffy. The poem describes the happy, secure classroom of her early
years and the care and love shown by her teacher. She uses various techniques
such as word choice, imagery (simile, metaphor and personification) and
onomatopoeia to help the reader understand these themes.
First main paragraph – three sentence summary of the poem
Second Main Paragraph – Paragraph on the technique of precise word choice
to show how CAD evokes the childhood experience.
Third Main Paragraph – Paragraph on the technique of simile – show how
CAD makes the classroom seem attractive to a child by choosing a simile and
FULLY explaining how it evokes the childhood experience.
Fourth Main Paragraph – Paragraph on metaphor (see 3rd para for structure)
Fifth Main Paragraph – Paragraph on personification (see 3rd para for
structure)
Sixth Main Paragraph – Paragraph on onomatopoeia – show how CAD’s use
of onomatopoeia helps bring out the theme of childhood experience.
Conclusion – sum up your ‘mini essay’ by briefly revisiting each of the
paragraphs and showing how the childhood experience is made more interesting
and vivid by them.