Make sure that you formulate a thesis, develop parts to the thesis, and provide specific evidence from the text to support your argument. This short piece is expected to be well organized with a minimum of grammatical and usage problems. Be sure to consult the sample explication for a model.

Explicating means looking at a poem (or at most 15-18 lines of a longer work, including a long poem) line-by-line and explaining each line, leading ultimately to an explanation of the theme of the piece. In examining the piece, first pick out and look up words with which you are unfamiliar or familiar words that do not make sense in the context of the piece. Then ask yourself questions such as: Who is the speaker? Who is being addressed? What is the literal situation? What are the major images and what do they mean? After answering these questions for yourself, possibly by freewriting, write a rough introduction and begin examining the piece.

In considering word meanings, you might find useful the Oxford or New English Dictionary (OED or NED), found in the reference section of the library. Once you have asked yourself questions on the poet's techniques and have consulted the dictionaries, you will be ready for a line-by line analysis which will lead to an overall understanding of the piece. This understanding should be summed up in your conclusion.

If you consider Gatsby, interpret a particular aspect (theme, imagery, character, structure, etc.) and put it into the context of the overall meaning of the work as far as you have read it. Your conclusion should show how the piece you've explicated furthers the plot and a theme of the work.

Format: To be used with all papers for the course. Use 1.5 or double spacing, paying attention to word rather than page limits. Margins should be 1" on all sides, and page numbers should be on the top, right. Don't use cover pages or skip lines between paragraphs. The latter should be indicated by the regular paragraph indent. Use moderate length paragraphs of between 1/3rd and 1/2 pages in length. Avoid short paragraphs of 2-3 lines or long paragraphs that take up most of a page or more. The top of the first page should include your name, my name, the course title, and the date of submission. Every paper needs to be accompanied by an early draft that has been significantly revised.