ELA3105-ABED_1: 3.3 Poetry Analysis

Receive a grade

You've practiced analyzing poetry, so now you are going to expand that analysis into a critical response paragraph. You will need to use the poetry tutorial, as well as your own interpretations and experiences. Remember, poetry is not only interpreted by the mind. It is intentionally written full of emotion, so use the emotion you feel to help you interpret and analyze the poem's theme and message.

You will be writing a paragraph that answers this question: What poetic devices are used to develop the poet's message about the topic indicated in the EQ?

Step 1	Review your annotations of your 6 chosen poems and your thinking notes. Select 1 poem. Make sure you understand the message and have identified several poetic techniques. Select 1 EQ that fits that poem. Review the 3.3 Exemplar because it also shows the writer's planning notes.
Step 2	Make notes about what the poem means on a figurative level. Go below the surface. What is the poem's message on a deeper level?
Step 3	Make notes about the mood. Is the mood constant or does it shift? What emotion is the reader intended to feel?
Step 4	Make notes about the speaker's tone. Does it stay constant or is there a shift in the tone? What seems to be the speaker’s attitude toward the subject? Why might the author have used this tone? What are some specific details from the poem that indicate support for your conclusions?
Step 5	Create a thematic statement that communicates the key idea in the poem.
Step 6	Make notes about the techniques used by the poet in order to enhance the mood and/or reinforce the theme. (Look at areas where you may have jotted "EQ" in the margin.) Structure: How is the poem organized in lines and stanzas? Is there a deliberate use of white space causing the poem to appear a certain way on the page or screen? Sound devices: When the poem is read out loud, do you hear rhyme, a rhyme scheme, rhythm (beat or metre), alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, euphony, cacophony, assonance, or consonance? Figurative language includes similes, metaphors, personification, hyperbole, understatement, puns, allusions, symbolism, juxtaposition, irony, oxymoron, paradox, and imagery. Consider what the poem means on a figurative level. If you need to review other poetic devices, see https://literarydevices.net/figurative-language
Step 7	Use your planning notes to write a critical response paragraph. The focus will be on the poet's message in relation to your EQ and how that message is relayed through poetic devices. A critical response paragraph follows this format: Topic Sentence: Answer the assigned question: What poetic devices are used to develop the poet's message about the topic indicated in the EQ you selected? Evidence/Explanation x 3: Provide 3 pieces of support from the text and explore how that strengthens your argument. Concluding sentence: Wrap up your paragraph. Remember to Mention the poet's name and the title of the poem. Cite any quoted lines you use in proper MLA format. Create flow in your paragraph by using varying types of sentence beginnings and lengths. Refrain from using first person pronouns, second person pronouns, and contractions. Critical response writing is more formal than personal response writing. Typing hints: Double-space your paragraph and indent the first line by pressing the TAB key once. Format your work using an easy-to-read 12-point font such as Arial, Times, or Calibri. Proofread, edit, and revise your work! Review the Proofreading tutorial.
Step 8	Review the rubric. Submit your 3.3 critical response paragraph as a PDF or MS Word file.

Assessment
Exemplar

Click the Assessment icon to see how your work will be assessed.
3.3 Poetry Analysis

3.3 Poetry Analysis

Student Exemplar: 3.3 Poetry Analysis (planning page and final paragraph)

3.3 Poetry Analysis Exemplar

Assignment