Too often we think of poetry as something from a long time ago, collected into literature books, and forced upon students. But this is not what poetry is. Poetry allows readers to experience thoughts

American Literature essay

Too often we think of poetry as something from a long time ago, collected into literature books, and forced upon students. But this is not what poetry is. Poetry allows readers to experience thoughts and feelings in a small amount of time. It is perfect for our fast-paced world today.

Choose 1 . . .

OPTION #1

In a multi-paragraph essay with an introduction and conclusion, compare and contrast a poet or poets from the Harlem Renaissance with a BIPOC (Black, Indigenious, and People of Color) poet or poets from today (last 30 years). Be sure to introduce the backgrounds of the poets and analyze textual examples of the similarities and differences in the poetic devices they use and the contents of their poems. Conclude with what their legacy is on discussions or representations of race.

OPTION #2

In a multi-paragraph essay with an introduction and conclusion, explain the problems that a poet or poets from the Harlem Renaissance and a BIPOC (Black, Indigenious, and People of Color) poet or poets from today describe in their poetry and their life and what solutions their poetry provides to fix those problems. Be sure to quote from several poems to support your findings. End with how society would be different if people heeded the advice of these poets.

OPTION #3

The idea of the single narrative can reinforce stereotypes. In other words, a single narrative for Black people would be poetry that only deals with overcoming racial animosity. A more well-balanced approach would include all other aspects of life: food, culture, love, friendship, family, school, accomplishments, struggles, etc. In a multi-paragraph essay with an introduction and conclusion, explain how a poet or poets from the Harlem Renaissance and a BIOPOC (Black, Indigenious, and People of Color) poet or poets from today reveal the full picture of life in America in their poetry. End with why this portrait is important for all Americans to read and to understand.

Requirements (See links to videos to help you).

Use MLA headers, page numbers, and title

Double space your work and use a 12 pt font

Use at least 4 paragraphs total, but can be more

Use textual evidence from multiple poems in proper MLA format (Most important video to watch!)

Explore the theme in about 2-3 pages (You can go over).

Read your work aloud to check for typos, left out words, missing transitions, punctuation, etc.

Include a Works Cited page with at least 4 sources

Helpful Sources (Or Research Your Own)

Poets of the Harlem Renaissance

BIPOC Poets Today

Poetry Foundation List

Poets.org List

Female Poets of the Harlem Renaissance 

13 Young Black Poets You Should Know

Young Black Poets

Poets.org List (Set up by poem, but it will show you other work by the same artist when you click on it).

Six Black American Contemporary Poets You Need to Know

10 Must Read Poets of Color

Rubric

Qualities

Secure (4)

Proficient (3)

Developing (2)

Beginning (1)

Intro & Conclusion

Contains all:

*Effective attention getter seamlessly integrated into introduction

*Provides context on poets and their societies

*Makes an arguable claim (thesis statement)

*Conclusion reiterates main arguments

*Conclusion provides closure, a look forward, and answers the “so what” question (shows why this matters).

Contains most:

*Effective attention getter seamlessly integrated into introduction

*Provides context on poets and their societies

*Makes an arguable claim (thesis statement)

*Conclusion reiterates main arguments

*Conclusion provides closure, a look forward, and answers the “so what” question (shows why this matters).

Contains some:

*Effective attention getter seamlessly integrated into introduction

*Provides context on poets and their societies

*Makes an arguable claim (thesis statement)

*Conclusion reiterates main arguments

*Conclusion provides closure, a look forward, and answers the “so what” question (shows why this matters).

Contains little:

*Effective attention getter seamlessly integrated into introduction

*Provides context on poets and their societies

*Makes an arguable claim (thesis statement)

*Conclusion reiterates main arguments

*Conclusion provides closure, a look forward, and answers the “so what” question (shows why this matters).

MLA Style Setup

Contains all:

*Creative, original, title

*MLA style header with appropriate information

*Page numbers with last name 

Contains most:

*Creative, original, title

*MLA style header with appropriate information

*Page numbers with last name 

Contains some:

*Creative, original, title

*MLA style header with appropriate information

*Page numbers with last name 

Contains little:

*Creative, original, title

*MLA style header with appropriate information

*Page numbers with last name 

Textual Evidence

Quotations and paraphrases provide strong support, back up generalizations, and prove topic sentence and thesis

Quotations and paraphrases provide support, back up generalizations, and prove topic sentence and thesis

Quotations and paraphrases provide some support, back up generalizations, and prove topic sentence and thesis

Quotations and paraphrases provide little support to back up generalizations, and prove topic sentence and thesis

Variety of Sources

Does not rely upon one or two sources too much. Makes good use of all 4 or more sources cited in the Works Cited Page

Uses information from 4 sources cited in the Works Cited page, but not as evenly as possible.

Uses information from 3 sources.

Uses information from 2 sources.

Transitions/Logic

Consistently uses meaningful transitions to seamlessly connect information in a logical order

Often uses meaningful transitions to connect information in a logical order

Uses clichéd or somewhat unnatural transitions (such as chronological) to connect information in a mostly logical order

Uses few effective transitions between paragraphs or information.

MLA In-text Citations

Direct quotations are properly set up and explained using proper MLA format and punctuation

Most direct quotations are properly set up and explained using proper MLA format and punctuation

Some direct quotations are properly set up and explained using proper MLA format and punctuation

Few direct quotations are properly set up and explained using proper MLA format and punctuation

Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling

The response demonstrates a strong command of conventions: 

*few, if any, errors are present in usage and sentence formation 

*effective and consistent use of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling 

The response demonstrates an adequate command of conventions: 

*some errors in usage and sentence formation may be present, but no systematic pattern of errors is displayed 

*adequate use of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling 

The response demonstrates a partial command of conventions: 

*frequent errors in usage may obscure meaning 

*inconsistent use of punctuation, capitalization, and spelling 

The response demonstrates a lack of command of conventions: 

*errors are frequent and severe and meaning is often obscure

Works Cited Page

Properly titled and includes 4 citations are properly formatted

Properly titled and includes 4 citations are almost properly formatted

Contains some errors in citation style and/or may contain fewer than 4 sources

Contains a several errors in citation style and/or may contain fewer than 4 sources