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Analytical Writing Guide

Fr. Mark Information

Class Activities.  The following are the main activities for our Great Poets Class, although there will be some flexibility in shifting emphases so that activities remain meaningful and dynamic.   

Annotations.  Through frequent annotations of poems you read, you will begin to see how a poem can "grow on you," take on different shapes and meanings according to the events of your life.  You will gain a deeper understanding of the variety of poetic perspectives within a single theme, knowledge about the poet's life and intellectual debates of his time.  You will be asked to bring in your annotated texts occasionally (e.g., A Book of Luminous Things) so that we can discuss your insights.

Journaling Before Class.  Many of you have written your reflections on course readings before class through journaling by E-mail  You will be able to read each others' reflections frequently on the works we cover by going   to the public folders for Honors:    E-Mail Folder List > Public Folders > All Public Folders > Academic > Honors > Honors 250 Great Poets.  Once you have located the folder, you can drag it to your Outlook Shortcuts Bar to the left on your Outlook Screen for easy access.  Normally you will write brief entries on Thursday evenings and Sunday evenings before each class so that they can be posted for other class members to read before our get-together.  Occasionally you will be asked to respond to others' entries.   At the end of each month seminar members will meet individually or in pairs with the instructor to review the highlights of your entries.

In-Class Discussions.  Your thoughtful preparations ahead of time and volunteering  in class will provide for the most meaningful group discoveries.  Often our most important ideas will come about through members' interactions and careful refinement of your perspectives and convictions.  Try to balance the clarity of your convictions with an intellectual flexibility which allows you to say, "Ï think I am going to change my mind on that issue!"  Attendance is important for the vitality of group interaction; more than two unexcused absences will affect your final grade for the course. 

Term Paper on a Poet.  At midterm you will be asked to write a five-page paper on a poet who has struck you as important or especially meaningful to you.   You will need to cite at least two of your favorite poems by this poet.  The purpose of this paper is to give you some depth in understanding a single poet and to provide you with a springboard for further research and reading on the poet later in life.  In reviewing these papers, I will focus on 1) originality, creativity and freshness of thought, use of relevant details, how your topic and argument hold your reader's attention; 2) organization, clear sense of beginning, ending, thesis and transitions 3) honesty, naturalness, personal commitment and clear voice in your writing; and 4) word choice, sentence structure and grammar (your writing is fluid and concise with few glaring errors of grammar and punctuation, spelling and usage).  

In-Class Presentations.  Occasionally during the term you will be asked to give a dialogue-presentation with another student about a poet featured in any of our required books.  Your presentation will include 1) visual aids from videos, recordings, the web or other media; 2) a bit about the author's life and themes 3) a dialogue presenting and comparing two or three poems.   In the second part of the semester you will do a final presentation on a topic you agree upon with another student and the instructor.       

Poems By Heart.  Canadian poet Molly Peacock says that she has about a dozen poems which serve as her talismans for life. These poems have a complex existence within her, shedding light on the most perplexing aspects of the human condition.  Through learning at least ten poems by heart, each from a different theme, you will begin to choose such talismans for your own life, poems which you can take with you and ponder for years to come. We will cover several of the following themes:  Poetry and Artistic Expression, Human Wildness, Nature, Family Relations, War and Holocaust, The Experience of Love and Sexuality, The Beauty of Things,  Death and the Afterlife.  The Existence of God.

Final Book.    For your final project you are asked to create your own "book" from what you have learned from the poets of this semester by gathering your e-mail essays. After you have re-read your entries, please think about what order you want to use for presenting them: Some students enjoy thinking of major themes plus a chapter of their talismans with commentary; a chapter on their own poetry (at least three poems); their term paper; and other chapters, whatever works for you. Please include a Table of Contents page, organized either chronologically or thematically, each section or essay having a page reference. The pages of your book should be numbered as in any book.
     Once you have completed your table of contents, please write a Prologue of several pages, drawing your reader into your book and creating a thesis statement about what you intended to accomplish with this book. Your thesis will most likely center on the main purpose of the course - "How can we approach world poets for ideas and feelings on how we can lead better lives as individuals, as partners, in community and as a member of the global community?" Or: "How does an understanding of poets beyond the Anglo-American frontier help us lead better lives?"
     In order for your book to cohere, you may wish to revise or edit some of your essays. In retrospect, many students find that they have a deeper or more nuanced sense of the importance and message of the poets we covered toward the end of the semester. You are responsible only the essays which appear in our public folder, although you may wish to add additional poetry of your own.
     Then write an Epilogue, which includes your final thoughts about our seminar and the works we have covered. In any part of your writing you may wish to include a new poem or two which express your feelings and thoughts.
     Finally, bind your book together in some way which reflects the importance of your thought and work. A black spiral binding at Office Max costs about $4 and they perforate the pages of your book on the spot and bind it for you. Kinko's and other office supply places also offer this service. Use whatever binding works best for you. I would like to keep one of your copies to treasure and show to future generations of students. If you would like a copy as well, please make the appropriate number of extra copies.
     The purpose of preparing this book with its prologue and epilogue is to give you time to think more inclusively about what you have learned this semester -- in place of a final exam -- and to prepare you in a small way for your future senior thesis, master's thesis or doctoral dissertation.

Grade

Your grade will be composed of the following elements:

Journaling Before Class  20%
In-Class Participation and Presentations  20%
Term Paper on a Poet  20%
Poems By Heart  20% 
Final Book Project   20%

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