1. Do a close reading of the poem; annotate it; think about it in as many ways as you can.
2. What kind of argument can you make about this poem? What themes emerge in your annotation? Consider doing further brainstorming, freewriting, etc.
Ex: speaker’s attitude about baby seems to change
3. Develop a thesis statement around which you can organize your observations about the poem.
Remember that a thesis statement must be specific, arguable, and not a question.
Ex: In “Morning Song,” Sylvia Plath uses changes in imagery and word choice to suggest the speaker’s changing attitude about her newborn child.
4. List and organize your supportive evidence. Make a rough outline of major points and support.
Ex: List of evidence
elementàmothàcat
“bald cry”à”handful of notes”
“among the elements”à”rise like balloons”
“our”à”my”
“drafty museum”àintimacy of the bedroom
Organizing schema (for outline)
· from beginning to end of poem (compare images in consecutive stanzas)
· topically (according to list above)
5. Draft the paper.
6. Revise (then revise, then revise); edit; proofread.
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