Poetry Essay

Due Monday at beginning of class.

By referring both directly and indirectly to at least three poems in the DiYanni text, creatively discuss and define “poetry.” This discussion should take the form of a two to three page (typed, DS) essay in MLA format. Use MLA header and page numbering. See your text or Purdue OWL for reminders regarding these structures. Use a creative but short title which captures your thesis. This essay must have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. It must not be in “5 Paragraph” style. It should feature creative transitions between paragraphs as well as within the body paragraphs as well.  (200 points)

Three poems to consider are:

Collins’ Introduction to Poetry

Moore’s Poetry

MacLeish’s Ars Poetica

To directly refer to a line of poetry within the text of your writing, be sure NOT to use floating quotes. Rather, blend your words with the poet’s to create a singularly smooth sentence:

Lorde’s speaker expresses a sense of youthful frustration when she notes that, “Nobody even stops to think about my side of it.” Here, she posits the notion that she is merely trapped by her age—an age neither fully adult nor protected by the ironic securities of youth. Moreover, Lorde’s poem paints the world of adulthood as one dominated by deathlike ignorance.

Key points of grading focus: primary use of present tense, powerful verbs, sentence variety, commas after dependent/subordinate clauses at the beginning of sentences. Comma splices, fragments, and run-ons are all "highlighted" by your word processing software...do not ignore the squiggly lines under your words!!!

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