Your essay should be based around a strong thesis statement. The thesis statement should be a perspective of your own that you argue and seek to prove throughout the course of the essay. If you are struggling for ideas, consider some of the prompts below as starting points:
• The voice in “The Road Not Taken” reflects on the choices that he has made, and how they have affected the life he lives now. Do you feel that he seems satisfied with his choices? How does his attitude compare to that expressed in “When Death Comes”? Consider the end of this poem, and how the speaker repeatedly tells us what she does not want.
• Each of these writers is writing at a very different time in history, and will have different cultural perspectives. To what extent does this have a bearing on the subject matter that they present, if at all? Do you believe that religion has a part to play in any of their attitudes? Is there proof of this in the texts?
• John Donne speaks directly to “death,” and Mary Oliver describes death as like a “hungry bear.” What is the purpose and effect of presenting death in these ways? Is it to help make death easier to comprehend? Is it to give death a physical form in order that we can react to it?
Essay requirements and advice:
• Avoid just writing a summary of the poems. However, you should introduce the poems, briefly, at an early stage in the essay.
• Use your textbook (Exploring Literature) to include quotations from the poems to back up your argument. Use MLA in-text citations wherever you use quotes from the poetry. Include the book on a separate “Works Cited” page in MLA citation style.
• Refer to the class syllabus for information on how to format your paper, and the grading criteria that will be used.
• 3-4 pages means at least 3 full pages long and no longer than 4 full pages. A paper not within this limit will receive a failing grade. The “Works Cited” page is not included in the page count.
• As per the syllabus, late essays will not be accepted without official written permission from the University. Bear in mind that we will be reading other texts and writing an in-class essay before the deadline, so be aware of this and allow yourself plenty of time when planning your writing schedule.
• If you want to get advice on formulating your thesis statement, structuring your essay, using citations, etc. then visit the Writing Center (above the coffee shop in the library) or visit me during office hours.
