Choosing from the Options--A Month of Poetry

The assignment so cavalierly-- or perhaps carelessly-- erased from the board (notice my tactful use of passive voice to avoid assigning blame) read something like this:
On the next four Wednesdays of class (spring break IS an excused absence), you need to hand in a typed or handwritten poetry explication and a TPCASTT sheet. Your poems should be selected from writersalmanac.org, and you may choose any mix of modernist, Romantic, Shakespearean, metaphysical, etc.


**Though I want you to use and write up the TPCASTT format to shed additional light on each poem and add specific substance to your essays, I recommend you use the Idea Machine for your organizational guide as you write. Remember to pull out all the stops and liberally use pertinent literary terms, along with the additional modifications on p123 of Cracking the A.P. Also use my re-worked Idea Machine form to reconcile the seemingly disparate suggestions in the book.

**Time yourself and keep the actual writing to 40 minutes. You may PLAN your essay ahead of time as much as you want--in fact, I'd like you to ponder the TPCASTT form, Cracking the A.P.'s "Idea Machine," Foster's insights from How to Read Literature Like a Professor, etc. You also may run off the poem and mark it up as much as you want. If you do a little research ahead of time, don't borrow too heavily from anyone's observations because without proper citations you'll be guilty of plagiarism--and you're not supposed to cite sources on the A.P. exam.

**Hand in a copy of the poem itself with your assignment..

**REMEMBER: the more specific detail the better. Also remember to use--and I quote--"vivid verbs and tasty nouns." Show off your knowledge of literary terms, and remember, even if you suspect one or two of your assertions may be a bit airy or thin, just support them with evidence and KEEP TALKING. Look energetic and enthusiastic.

You KNOW I never give assignments just to take up space or time, so even if this method seems a little tedious initially, the practice should prove invaluable on your actual test day (coming up in six or seven weeks).