Poetry
Research Paper
For
this research paper, you will explore the effects of a poet’s life on his/her
poetry.
Step One: Choose
one of the poets whom we have read and discussed in class.
Step Two: After reading
and learning about the poet’s life, find an event/circumstance/personality
characteristic or any other personal thing that you believe had an impact on
his/her writing. For example, perhaps
Emily Dickinson’s unrequited love for Charles Wadsworth impacted her poetry. Or, perhaps Frost’s great love for nature
caused him to use natural imagery to convey the messages of his poems. Or, perhaps so and so’s
addiction to smoking squirrel fur caused him/her to...
Step Three: Find
three separate poems that show evidence of the impact of the event/circumstance/characteristic. This could be theme, images, type of
protagonist... Your thesis will claim
that X in the poet’s life caused a recurrent Y in his/her poetry.
Step Four: Find
criticism about each poem (if possible) that comments on the effect of the poet’s
life on the work. If you cannot find one
for each, find three total so as to meet the source
requirement (seven).
**Format: 1250 words; include three primary sources and
four secondary sources
I. Intro:
2 ¶s
A. ¶ Brief introduction to the poet: General Facts
B. ¶ Transition to and explain the event/circumstance/characteristic
in depth
C. Thesis at end of ¶2
II. Body ¶s:
A-C. Topic Sentence connecting poem and life
1. Briefly
explain the poem
2. Present
connection
3. Support
with quotes from the work
4. Back up
with criticism
5. Reflect
on the impact of the poet’s life on this poem
III. Conclusion ¶: Find a way to leave the reader thinking. Be creative.
*Use poetic
terminology when you can. Produce professional,
scholarly writing.
Schedule
of Due Dates:
Monday, April
27: Poems, Event/Circumstance/Characteristic, and
Sources Due!
1. On a correctly formatted, typed cover sheet, list
your three poems and identify the event/circumstance/characteristic you will
explore.
2. Attach your secondary sources to the back of your
cover sheet. You may just print the
cover page.
Monday, May 4: Workshop
Draft Due!
1. 1250 Words
2. 7 Sources:
Three primary sources and four secondary sources
3. Bring two copies!
Monday, May 11: Final
Draft Due!
1. Submit in pocket folder with dirty draft, every
source, and evaluation sheet.
2. TURNITIN!
Important
Information regarding grading: