ENGL 1102

Prof. Bishop

Spring 2010

Due Date: 4/12 or 4/13 depending on class meeting day

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Objective: Using the skills of explication and analysis, students will formulate arguments about the depictions of women or men in two poems previously discussed in class or listed on the course schedule.

Guidelines: Students will select two poems, explicate those poems, and write an analytical essay of at least two full pages that addresses the significance of the depictions of women or men in those texts. The essay must adhere to MLA formatting. Grades will be determined using the course rubric.

Students may choose any pair of poems from the course reading list, with a couple of exceptions. Students may NOT analyze Arnold’s “Dover Beach” and Hecht’s “The Dover Bitch;” students may NOT select more than one Denise Duhamel poem.

This assignment should be done in two parts. The first part, the explication, is a necessary component; however, it will not be graded. Instead, the grade for this essay will come from the argument the student presents in the form of an analytical essay, which will incorporate the explication. In the analysis of the poems, make clear and concise connections between the poems and how these poems might relate to feminism (or depictions of men and/or women).

Tips:

· Work slowly and methodically through the explication of the poems. This will give you material essential for analysis.

· Try to gather as much data as possible before drawing connections.

· Once you have gathered the essential information, ask driving interpretive questions about the data you have compiled. From there, you can move toward analysis.

· Remember, you only need two full pages, so make sure to gauge your study accordingly.

· No outside sources may be used. Only classroom or Vista materials are permitted for this assignment. Any essay citing an outside source will fail for not following instructions.

· The essay must be in MLA format, including font, margins, heading, header, double-spacing, title, page numbers, in-text citations, and a works cited page.

· Please review the rubric for specific grading criteria.

· Email the professor at jebishop@highlands.edu if you have questions.

· Do not make this harder than it has to be! Relax, trust your analytical skills, and try to make interesting (albeit well-supported) connections.