Reading - Analysis of a Poem


Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Discuss the implications of the message of a poem for aging.
  • Evaluate the poem for insight into aging from a scholarly perspective.
  • Relate the context of the poem to information/knowledge from the course.

Instructions

This assignment will have you reading poetry! In my opinion, poetry is one of the most impressive forms of writing because in GOOD poems there is a lot said in very little words...a very valuable and powerful thing.

  1. The following website lists 37 different poems about aging.
  2. You need to visit that site and select a poem to use for this assignment.
  3. Using the rubric below, write a paper about the poem.

Click here to visit the website with the 37 different poems

Click HERE to read a poem by Hannah Kavanaugh called "The Art of Childhood"


Rubric for the Analysis of a Poem Paper

Title Page
Includes name, course name, semester, date, professor's name, the name of the assignment.
10
The Poem
Copy the title, poem (word for word) and author.
10
Interpretation

Reflect on the meaning, both surface and deeper meaning, of the poem in regard to aging.

20
Relate

Identify a concept from the class that relates to the central theme of the poem and describe how the poem may shed light on this concept, make it more understandable, or understandable on a different level.

20
Discuss
In light of the subject matter of Mental Health and Aging, describe how this poem may be of particular importance to a person aging with mental illness. Reflect on how you might use this poem as a tool to help a client.
20
Mechanics
Spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc.
20