Reference no: EM133960449

Assignment: Poetry Analysis Thesis & Outline

You will closely read (and reread) your chosen poem, considering its mode, patterns of figurative language, and other literary elements while annotating and explicating the text. This portion of the assignment serves as your notes or foundation for the written composition, so be mindful to genuinely engage with the text and investigate its contents.

Part A

Next, you will use your annotations and notes to discern a connection between the devices identified and an overall theme of the poem. Refer back to the preliminary work with this type of skill with Discussion to help guide your process. It is during this step that you will create your working thesis statement and select the details that best support it.

Part B

Use this section as the framework for creating an analytical outline. Your finished outline should include the following elements, but remember, your thesis statement and topic sentences are the only full sentences you need to include in an outline:

I. First, outline an introductory paragraph that offers key background information about the poem then narrows down to your chosen focus regarding the poem. Consider using the format suggested in your Literary Criticism Assignment. As with any introduction, your thesis should be the final sentence. Compose a well-crafted thesis statement: One sentence that identifies the connection of literary device(s) to a theme within the text. Remember, your thesis should be specific and argumentative.

II. Next, include the main point of each your topic sentences (Main Ideas) to begin your body paragraphs. These should focus on specific ideas and elements from the poem that provide evidence and support for your overall interpretation of the poem (your thesis). Keep in mind that topic sentences are also specific and argumentative; they are essentially the thesis for that body paragraph. (Be sure to have at least three body paragraphs with three topic sentences total.)

III. For each topic sentence, you will provide AT LEAST one textual example (Evidence) to support your claim. In an outline, you don't need to write full sentences here; just include enough information that your references are easily recognized (for yourself and your instructor). Be sure to provide the MLA parenthetical citation for each example, as you would have to include citations in an essay if you were to write one using this outline. Be sure to keep the number of examples per paragraph to no more than two.

IV. To follow each textual example, you will need to provide Analysis or explanation of how and why the examples you selected support NOT ONLY the topic sentence argument BUT ALSO the thesis for essay overall. The analysis portion of the paragraph is the longest, most in-depth portion of the body paragraph. For the outline, you will not need to fully develop your analysis; you will simply need to outline the reasoning that ties your Evidence to your topic sentence and thesis, or Main idea.

V. The final step of the body paragraph is the Link or transition; this signal informs your reader that this paragraph is finished and provides the segue to the next topic. Be sure to include how you plan to transition from paragraph to paragraph at the end of each body paragraph in your outline. Keep in mind that your final body paragraph will not transition to a new topic paragraph but to the conclusion; it will read a little differently than the others. Get the instant assignment help.

VI. To close your outline, be sure to outline your concluding paragraph. This paragraph should echo your earlier thesis statement but not simply restate it. Your conclusion should identify the larger significance of your essay: Why is your argument or information important for others to read and consider. What should your reader do after reading your argument? So what?