Name Date Period

Preparing for Response to Poetry Essay

Directions: Go through each item and complete the tasks.

Read the poetry prompt and answer the following:

1.  Be specific. What is the prompt asking? (figurative language, author’s style, tone, speaker’s attitude towards subject, etc.)

2.  What literary devices do you have to use in your analysis (if any)?

3.  What literary devices are suggested you use (if any)?

After reading and analyzing the poem, work through each item below:

1.  In a complete sentence state your position. Your position must answer #1 and you must use powerful diction. YOUR ESSAY MUST PROVE WHATEVER POSITION YOU HAVE TAKEN.

2.  Choose 8-10 quotes that you believe will support your position.

a.  At least 2 quotes must address tone and/or tonal shift.

3.  Write commentary (CM) words next to your CD selections.

4.  Identify the literary device for each quote you have selected. Please make sure you have identified the REQUIRED literary devices from the prompt and that you have also thought about the suggested literary devices from the prompt.

CD (concrete detail—quote) / CM (commentary) / Literary Device
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

5.  Evaluate and organize your CDs (quotes, textual evidence) into 3 categories that will potentially become your body paragraphs. Consider the following…

a.  Using poetic devices, commentary, or structure, etc., organize your quotes into 3 separate categories. Write your categories below.
(1)
(2)
(3)

b.  Of the 3 categories above, # in order from strongest (1) to weakest (3) evidence supporting your position—the strongest will be your 1st body paragraph

c.  Write a topic sentence for each category (body paragraph)—it must have a subject and an opinion (your commentary) based on the analysis of your CDs (quotes)

i.  topic sentences do not begin as such: Imagery is used in this selection. This sentence does NOT have commentary.

Topic Sentence #1:

Topic Sentence #2:

Topic Sentence #3:

6.  Go back to #1 and reread your position. Write a thesis statement. Be sure to include the title of the poem and the poet if provided.

Thesis: