English 2235 / Spring 2007

Essay #2

Reading Assignment:

Writing Assignment:

Write an essay of at least three (3) but no more than four (4) pages which responds to or answers one (1) of the following questions:

1.) How does Ed-Bok Lee's poetry "fit in with" or "connect to" the poetry of one or more of the other poets we've studied this semester? (Robert Frost, William Carlos Williams, Langston Hughes, Marianne Moore, T. S. Eliot, Gwendolyn Brooks, Allen Ginsberg, Sylvia Plath.)

2.) How do the poems in each section (I, II, III, IV) relate to one another to create a "unified" section, and how does each section "move to" or "relate to" the other sections?

3.) How does Ed-Bok Lee both make use of and adapt or modify the traditional "technical elements" of poetry that we've been studying this semester? (Rhyme, end-rhyme scheme, alliteration, assonance, run-on line, end-stopped line, stanzas, forms, meanings of words, diction, syntax, etc.)

4.) What do your "favorite" poems from Ed-Bok Lee's book have in common, or how do they "connect" to one another? To prepare for this essay, pick 3-4 of your "favorite" Ed-Bok Lee poems, hopefully from at least 2 different sections, and study them closely for similarities, connections, relationships, etc.

5.) How did hearing Ed-Bok Lee perform and talk about his poetry enhance or influence your understandings and interpretations of his poems? Specifically, what elements in his performance and discussions led you to formulate particular thoughts or influenced how you thought about particular poems?

6.) Would you recommend Ed-Bok Lee's book to others? To whom specifically? Why? (What are the reasons for your recommendation?) And what are some "opposing arguments" to your position? While this looks like the typical "book review" and may thus seem easier, I will be looking closely to be sure you have a rigorous argument that addresses "both sides" of the argument but that also has a very clear position that is well supported.

Evaluation:

Your essay will be evaluated based on (1) the clarity of your central argument and main ideas, (2) the strength and clarity of your evidence and explanations, (3) the clarity of your organization and the smoothness of your transitions, and (4) your use of language -- reasonable "correctness" in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and mechanics. In other words, your ideas and how you present and explain them are most important; "grammar" is only taken into account to the degree that it detracts from your presentation. Making unusual connections, offering rigorous analysis, shedding new lights on the texts, showing imaginative thinking, or sparking controversy are all encouraged. Keep in mind that you are able to use Ed-Bok Lee's book and your notes as you write your essay; not only should you go beyond the ideas we talked about in class, but you should also be careful that you are accurate in your use of the author's name, quotations, and factual details from the text.

Formatting:

Your essay should be double-spaced and word-processed -- with 1.0" margins on all four sides and a 12-point "normal" font (e.g., Arial or Times New Roman). Follow MLA style as closely as possible. For instance, no title page is needed: simply put your name, my name, the course, and the date in the upper-left-hand corner of the first page (also double-spaced). As for page numbers, use the header function (in the "View" drop-down menu) and put your last name and page number in the upper-right-hand corner of each page. Finally, a works-cited page will not be necessary, since we will all be working with the same text; however, in-text parenthetical citations are encouraged, especially after quotations and other very specific references.

Schedule: