How to Write a Good Argument About a Poem
Writing a good argument about a poem is not about finding the one meaning behind the text. You can write a perfectly good argument and come up with a different meaning than the poet intended. But writing about poetry is not a free-for-all. There are some specific steps you can follow to ensure you write an intelligent, well-informed argument for any poem.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Read completely through the poem once, not stopping to think about the meanings of specific words or lines. When finished, put down the paper and think about what you've read. Decide on the overall meaning of the poem. You may want to research the poet and what he has said about the poem to discover the overall meaning.
-
2
Remember the meaning you came up with and read through the poem a second time more slowly. Underline different phrases and lines that support that meaning of the poem. Pay attention to the literary aspects of the poem, such as metaphors, rhyming schemes, and personification. Using these parts of the poem will help fill in and inform your argument. Make notes in the margin if necessary.
-
-
3
Open an electronic typing document or take out a piece of paper. At the top of the page or document, write a one-sentence summary of the meaning of the poem. This is called your thesis statement. The rest of the paper should support the thesis.
-
4
Write the body of the paper. This means writing one paragraph per fact that supports your thesis statement. For example, if a certain imagery or other literary device in the poem supports what you think is the meaning of the poem then you should quote that description and explain why it supports your thesis statement.
-
5
Write an introduction that includes your thesis statement. The introduction ties the thesis statement and body of the paper together by introducing the reader to the topic.
-
6
Finish by writing a conclusion paragraph. This should remind the reader of the thesis and summarize why your evidence proves your thesis.
-
7
Check your paper for cohesiveness, clarity, logic and grammar by reading through it two or three times, fixing errors as you read. Sometimes it helps to take a break between readings.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Don't write your paper at the last minute. After writing it, set the paper aside for a day. Come back to it for editing and revision.
There is no right or wrong answer when trying to interpret what the poem means. If you can support your thesis with facts and a convincing argument, you've written a successful paper. Remember to use author background and literary devices to backup your argument.
Never copy someone else's work without giving credit. This is plagiarism and is illegal. Always put quotation marks around any lines you pull directly from the poem.
References
- Photo Credit writing image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
