Langston Hughes The Negro Speaks of Rivers Essay

Do a close-reading of Langston Hughes’ “The Negro Speaks of Rivers.” Your essay should have a thesis at the end of the first paragraph. Your thesis must logically result from a careful consideration of the poem. Your thesis should tell us something complex that you realize about the poem based upon your analysis.

The body of your essay should explain and develop your thesis through analysis of how the poem works. Each paragraph of your essay should direct our attention not only to what the poet says, but also to the way in which he says it. As you draw our attention to specific literary elements—including such elements as imagery, metaphors, similes, rhyme, sounds, allusions, punctuation, etc.—make sure to explain how those elements connect to your thesis. In other words, tell us how an analysis of those elements provides you with deeper insight into your idea.

Finally, your essay should have a conclusion that both ties together your analysis and gives us something new to think about.

Throughout your essay, when you include references from the poem, include the line numbers in parentheses. When you include a quotation that includes two or more lines, use a slash to demonstrate line breaks.

Essay 3 Plan: Map of your essay Due Monday 10

Once you have read the prompt (which appears before this assignment) and thought carefully about it, type a plan for your essay. Do not write your essay yet. Instead, write out answers to the questions below using the following headings.

INTRODUCTION

–How will you draw us in and introduce us to the essay’s main topic?

–What will your thesis will be?

BODY

–For each paragraph of the essay, think about the evidence you will use, the idea the evidence will help you convey, and how that idea connects to your main idea or thesis. Tell us the following, using the headings below:

EVIDENCE: ___(specific detail from the poem)

IDEA: __________________

CONNECTION TO THESIS:_______________

BODY

–For each paragraph of the essay, think about the evidence you will use, the idea the evidence will help you convey, and how that idea connects to your main idea or thesis. Tell us the following, using the headings below:

EVIDENCE: ___(specific detail from the poem)

IDEA: __________________

CONNECTION TO THESIS:_______________

BODY

–For each paragraph of the essay, think about the evidence you will use, the idea the evidence will help you convey, and how that idea connects to your main idea or thesis. Tell us the following, using the headings below:

EVIDENCE: ___(specific detail from the poem)

IDEA: __________________

CONNECTION TO THESIS:_______________

You should have at least 3 specific quotations from the poem as evidence. Make sure to write in complete sentences. Do not use sentence fragments or phrases.

CONCLUSION

–What type of evidence might you include in your conclusion? What idea might you leave us thinking about?