Compare and Contrast Essay
Compare and Contrast Essay
Overview: Students will learn about poetic interpretations of universal themes (love, hurt, joy, dreams, and hopes) and how those interpretations impact the author’s writing. The students will look at the work of two artists who address the same universal theme in their writing. They will then complete a compare and contrast essay talks about each author’s approach to the theme.
In class, the instructor will lead students through an analysis of a selected poem, an in-depth exploration of the social context that inspired the poem, and an investigation of the universal theme present. Following these discussions, students will explore a second poem provided by the instructor as an example of another work that deals with the same universal theme. Students should note the ways each poem deals with that theme and discuss the similarities and differences in their essay.
Length Requirements: 3-5 pages
Audience: Imagine that you’re writing this paper to present at Undergraduate Research Day.
Sources:
Choose one pairing of a love song and a love poem to use for this paper:
1. Fine China by Chris Brown & I Knew a Woman I Knew a Woman by Theodore Roethke
2. Lotus Flower Bomb by Wale & she being Brand by e.e. Cummings
3. Thinkin Bout You by Frank Ocean & Calamus (In Paths Untrodden) by Walt Whitman
Poem A
Poem B
Documentation: Because you are imagining yourself as a writer in the humanities discipline, you should adhere to the guidelines of MLA documentation style.
Writing Process and Due Dates:
Discovering Ideas: Choose one of the three topics listed above to write about in your essay. In a word document, write a couple of sentences that tell me what you chose and why. Feel free to do background research on the song or poem if you are unfamiliar with either. Due 4/15/13 by midnight via CAMS
Planning: Use the handout labeled “Comparison and Contrast Organization Strategies” to prepare an outline for your essay. Due
Overview: Students will learn about poetic interpretations of universal themes (love, hurt, joy, dreams, and hopes) and how those interpretations impact the author’s writing. The students will look at the work of two artists who address the same universal theme in their writing. They will then complete a compare and contrast essay talks about each author’s approach to the theme.
In class, the instructor will lead students through an analysis of a selected poem, an in-depth exploration of the social context that inspired the poem, and an investigation of the universal theme present. Following these discussions, students will explore a second poem provided by the instructor as an example of another work that deals with the same universal theme. Students should note the ways each poem deals with that theme and discuss the similarities and differences in their essay.
Length Requirements: 3-5 pages
Audience: Imagine that you’re writing this paper to present at Undergraduate Research Day.
Sources:
Choose one pairing of a love song and a love poem to use for this paper:
1. Fine China by Chris Brown & I Knew a Woman I Knew a Woman by Theodore Roethke
2. Lotus Flower Bomb by Wale & she being Brand by e.e. Cummings
3. Thinkin Bout You by Frank Ocean & Calamus (In Paths Untrodden) by Walt Whitman
Poem A
Poem B
Documentation: Because you are imagining yourself as a writer in the humanities discipline, you should adhere to the guidelines of MLA documentation style.
Writing Process and Due Dates:
Discovering Ideas: Choose one of the three topics listed above to write about in your essay. In a word document, write a couple of sentences that tell me what you chose and why. Feel free to do background research on the song or poem if you are unfamiliar with either. Due 4/15/13 by midnight via CAMS
Planning: Use the handout labeled “Comparison and Contrast Organization Strategies” to prepare an outline for your essay. Due