POETRY ESSAY: Final Points:
· annotated copy:
o we mentioned this in class, but we mentioned a lot
§ so you might have missed this
o you do NOT have to submit to me an annotated ("marked up") copy of the poem
o you'll submit just the essay
§ though....it would be wise to mark up the version in your text book
§ as preparation for the paper
· essay structure:
o after the introduction (mentioned in a previous email)
o go through the poem line by line
o reword the line, paraphrase it, put it in your own words
§ (as I was doing verbally with the poems in class - esp. the ee Cummings one)
o also, note any symbols, images, alliteration (or any sounds effects), irony
o any references or allusions
o define key terms (like "ruined" in Hardy's poem)
o note any connotations of words (like "Papa" in TR's poem)
o then move on to the next line
o in the conclusion, draw conclusions on the poem
§ meaning, theme, talent/skill,....
· research:
o research your poem
o 3 TOTAL sources on the WC page (no fewer)
§ the poem itself (use the MLA style for 'work in an anthology" as we did w/the short story paper)
§ plus 2 secondary sources (articles about the poem &/or the author)(maybe a dictionary definition)
§ incorporate this research into the line-by-line analysis mentioned above
o CITE!!!!
§ cite the poem itself (primary source):
§ "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves / Did gyreand gimble in the wabe:" (Carroll 359).
§ (the slash = a line break; the 359 = page # in our book)
§ more than 3 lines of poetry = set up like a block quote:
§ our text book has examples
§ cite your secondary sources:
§ (Smyth par.4). or ("Jabberwocky Exegesis" 'Diction').
§ cite immediately:
§ you CANNOT cite an entire paragraph
§ do NOT end a paragraph with someone else's words in YOUR paper
§ if you borrow info, then cite that sentence (even if that makes 3 sentences in a row)
· others:
o use "quot. marks" around poem titles: Thomas Hardy's "The Ruined Maid"
o follow the MLA 2010 link on our site for the MLA style
o last page = Works Consulted
§ list alphabetically at least 3 source, including the poem in our book
§ reverse indent each source (don't indent line 1 but indent lines 2+ of each source)