How to Write a Paper on Poetry

When writing a paper on poetry, it is important to start with a strong thesis and keep your observations focused. After all, most papers at the undergraduate level are in the 5 to 10 page range, and the poem you are writing about was probably the topic of a thesis. Your professor doesn't expect you to know everything; so impress him with what you understand best and you'll get an "A." Read on to learn how.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

1. Get a sense of what the poem is trying to say and how it makes you feel. Though not material for the paper itself, it is an important starting point. Think about what aspects of the poem interest you, what parts you don't understand or even what annoys you. You have a lot of latitude, so write about something you want to explore.
2. Choose the most focused thesis you can think of for the length of the paper. For example, you could limit discussion to the use of one symbol or type of imagery, a specific rhetorical device or one aspect of the narrator's perspective.
3. Read and re-read the poem to isolate all parts of it that apply to your thesis. In your notes, write down the line number and the reason you are making a note in the first place.
4. Think about how the imagery, tone, rhythm or perspective fit in with the overall picture of what the poem is trying to express. Successfully making this connection is what will get you a good grade.
5. Outline your paper, saving your most convincing points for last. As you structure your paper, you can organize it much like you thought about it, building up examples of the technical aspects to culminate in a greater understanding.
6. Write your paper, following whatever style guidelines your professor requires. If you've done your reading, thinking and outlining beforehand, this should be the easiest part of the process.
7. Get a smart friend to proofread your work. If you're working from a short poem, you might as well have her read that too. Sometimes, you can get so deeply involved in a poem that you overlook obvious aspects of it that might be important to include in your paper.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't discuss how a poem makes you feel in your poetry paper. Though this is an excellent place to start as you think about what to write, your professor will expect a critique of the poem's formal aspects.
• Resist the urge to read poetry as a narrative. Merely "translating" what the poem means will earn you a bad grade.