To write a text-based argument. Begin by reading Chapter 3, “Developing an Argument” carefully and following the plan in our textbook. You need to select a poem (this time choose one from the Anthology section of our text (pp 974-1000), so there has been no previous discussion of it), make a claim about it, and use the lines of the poem as evidence to support your claim. You will be providing a close reading of the poem, once again proceeding through the steps of:
•interacting with the reading
•exploring your ideas
•developing a thesis
•creating a plan for your paper
•generating a first draft
•revising your draft
•editing and formatting your paper.
Your finished paper should be a minimum of 4 pages in length (1,000 words) and it may rely on outside source material, providing you are careful to follow the guidance in our text and avoid plagiarism, but in any event it should present a close reading of the entire poem as well as an argument for that particular reading. Show off your growing knowledge by using as many appropriate vocabulary words as you can. If you present them in bold type, I will be sure not to miss them.
Be sure to state the poet and title in the first sentence (with the page number in a parenthetical note).
The poem what I choose:
Poet: (Carl Sandburg)
The fog comes
on little cat feet
It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.