However, if you find information from another source and borrow ideas, then you must acknowledge that with an in-text citation.

Students will select one of the following poems and write a 600 – 700 word analysis. Each of these poems is easily found online. Simply do a Google search for the poem of your choice.
“The Tiger” – William Blake
“A Dream Within a Dream” – Edgar Allan Poe
“The Road Not Taken” – Robert Frost
“The Owl and the Pussy Cat” – Edward Lear
“Mother to Son” – Langston Hughes
“I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” – Maya Angelou
“As Soon as Fred Gets Out of Bed” – Jack Prelutsky
Developing Your Analysis
• Create a clear, well-defined thesis statement. As demonstrated in class, your thesis should be presented in one sentence. The thesis should state your opinion and focus and forecast the essay’s main points. In your thesis statement you could tell me the three way that the poet expresses his or her idea or theme. Remember that these points will in turn become your topic sentences for each of your body paragraphs.
• Use appropriate strategies to “paint a picture” of the poet’s intent such as utilizing passages from the poem to illustrate your analysis. Remember that paragraph unity and cohesion dictates that you talk about one thing and one thing only in a paragraph.
Format: Your final draft should be 600-700 words, at least five paragraphs long, typed, double-spaced, carefully proofread, and formatted in MLA style. Follow the sample format found on page 588 of The Norton Field Guide to Writing, and include in-text citations and a Works Cited page.
Sources: Your essay may not require additional sources other than the source you find your poem from. However, if you find information from another source and borrow ideas, then you must acknowledge that with an in-text citation. If outside sources are used, don’t merely string together information from them. Synthesize your own ideas, knowledge, and conclusions into the outside sources you wish to use to help illustrate the point you wish to make. Do not use web sites like Wikipedia, Ask.com, or Yahoo Answers. Source material should contribute something to your paper that you cannot: specific facts, clarification or emphasis of a point, a voice with authority in a specific area, or illustration of the controversy or complexity around your concept.
• Use a combination of summary, paraphrase, and direct quotes.
• Although it is understood that you must use passages from the poems, minimize the number of direct quotes in the paper. Most should be no more than a single sentence in length. Anything longer than this should be summarized in your own voice.
Grading Criteria
Your essay will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
• Clear and focused thesis statement and topic sentences.
• Effective usage of relevant passages from the poem to demonstrate the author’s ideas or intent.
• Proper use, citation, and documentation of source material using MLA format.
• Effective essay organization to create a clear line of reasoning.
• Clear and precise sentence-level rhetoric (grammar and style).