Essay Assignment #1

Due: September 13th

For this essay, you will discuss and analyze Elizabeth Bishop’s poem “In the Waiting Room.” You are expected to write three to five pages, double-spaced with 12-point font (New Times Roman or something similar). The essay should include a clear thesis statement, claims about the poem’s meaning and evidence (quotes) from the poem to support your claims. The paper should be polished and proofread.

In her poem, “In the Waiting Room,” Elizabeth Bishop uses many of the poetic techniques we have discussed in class. In addition, she uses reoccurring images, tone and a specific point of view to compose her poem. Determine through your own analysis what Bishop’s poem is about. Begin by identifying the poetic techniques. Then analyze how the images create a theme in the poem and explain the theme and how it relates to your interpretation of the poem.

Here is my step-by-step guide:
Start by doing a freewrite (at least 5 minutes) on the poem immediately after reading it.
Reread your freewrite and select some key ideas you may have come upon through the freewriting process. Do another freewrite focusing on the key ideas.
Next, ask yourself:
1. What is happening in this poem?
2. What are the reoccurring images?
3. What poetic devices are being used?
4. What is the tone of the poem?
5. What are the themes of this poem?

You may want to freewrite on each of these questions or simply jot down a list of answers.

Once you determine the main claims you will be making about this poem’s meaning, create an outline. You will be turning this outline in on September 1st.

We will be conducting an in-class draft workshop on September 8th. Your draft must meet the page minimum (3 pages) and include complete sentences, an introduction, conclusion and thesis statement.

I expect your final draft:
- To meet the page minimum
- Be proofread closely
- To have a clear thesis statement
- To include claims, which reflect your analysis of the poem, and evidence from the poem to back up your claims