Billy Collins Writing

Narrow down your Collins poems to one you like in particular.

Now write a response paper in which you describe WHY you like the poem.

Be sure to use the literary language as you write, demonstrating that you understand the terms we use.

Here are some questions that might help you generate ideas.

How does the poet use TROPES to communicate his ideas?

What words would you all the most important in terms of their CONNOTATIVE value? Why?

What is Collins trying to tell us in the poem about what it means to be a human being.

What lines did you like most of all? Why?

Write your paper at Google Drive. Create a new document and then SHARE it with me at rhetorx1@gmail.com.

A response paper is less formal than an analysis. You can use first person. You can write about your own opinions of the poem.

However, the response paper is still edited writing. You should write in paragraphs. You should refer to or even quote the poem where you can. You should use the poetic terms we have learned to help you express your ideas. For instance, you might say something like: "In the second stanza, Collins uses images and similes to....."

Length: about two pages, word processed, standard font, double spaced.