Poem:
Response Writing to Poem, "The Future," by Billy Collins
Poem: "The Future," by Billy Collins
Assignment: Write a response to the poem noticing as many details, emotions, and themes as possible. Quote from the poem in your response paper. Your analysis should include evidence from the text to support your views. All references and quotations must be clearly cited using the MLA parenthetical form of citation. Also include a Works Cited page. Follow the MLA general format directions.
With regard to this assignment, the concept of writing a response paper to a piece of writing (in this case, a poem) is discussed: the idea of making general statements and supporting those statements with specific examples is demonstrated-a skill that should be mastered as it applies to all core subjects/areas of study with regard to researching a topic.
Parenthetical citation (notation) is examined, in terms of the formatting-and necessity, as it is a requirement of the assignment-as well as the procedure of constructing a Works Cited page listing all sources used to provide supporting documentation. Parenthetical notation and a Works Cited page are absolutely necessary if one does not want to be inadvertently guilty of plagiarism.
This posting discusses a specific poem, but the steps can be applied to any writing where interpretation and supporting documentation is requested.