Overview of Citing Poetry in Essays
Citing poetry in essays requires understanding of the two main components correctly. Firstly, it’s important to identify the title and author of the poem that has been studied, and secondly, the poem should be correctly formatted. By following several simple steps, students are able to acknowledge the source of the poem in their essays, avoiding any plagiarism.
Identifying the Title and Author of the Poem
When citing a poem, it is important to provide both the author’s name and the title of the poem in the essay. For example; a poem by James Merrill could be listed as- Merrill, James. “Waking Early Sunday Morning”. Depending on the referencing style of the essay, the title of the poem may need to be italicized. When citing a poem from a book or published collection, it is essential to include the book title, editor, and publication date.
Formatting the Poem
Once the title and author of the poem are identified, it is important to understand how to format the poem. It is important to note that the lines of the poem should also be included when citing them in an essay. This allows readers to understand how the poem has been presented and structured. The appropriate formatting depends on the referencing style required in the essay. For example, the poem “Waking Early Sunday Morning” by James Merrill could be formatted like this-
Merrill, James. “Waking Early Sunday Morning”.
The World Is The Home Of Love & Death: Collected Poems, Alfred A. Knopf, 1965.
Including the Poem’s Citation In The Essay
When citing a poem in essays, the source of the poem should be cited in the essay for reference purposes. The citation for the poem should be included either in the introduction of the essay or at the conclusion of the essay. It should contain the author’s name and the title of the poem along with the book or published collection it can be found in. The citation should then be properly formatted according to the referencing style of the essay.
Quoting Accurately From Poems
When quoting accurately from poems it is important to include the line numbers in the citation of the essay. This allows the readers to accurately locate the quote in the poem, and assists with engaging readers with the quoted material. For example, in the poem “Waking Early Sunday Morning”, the quote- “Hummingbirds fly here, and cluster in mid-air”, should be cited as- Merrill, James. “Waking Early Sunday Morning”, lines 11-12.
Understanding Referencing Styles
When citing poems in an essay, it is essential to understand the style required for the essay. Essays may require the use of APA, MLA or Chicago referencing styles. Depending on the style, different guidelines should be followed when citing material in the essay. It is important to familiarise yourself with the different styles and their guidelines.
Using Parenthetical References for Quotations & Allusions
When referencing a poem within the essay, it is important to include the parenthetical references. This allows readers to easily locate the poem and understand the broader context of the quotation or allusion. For example; “The speaker wishes to escape the realities of life (Merrill, “Waking Early Sunday Morning”, lines 8-10). This reference should be included after the quotation within the essay and should be properly formatted according to the referencing style of the essay.
Expressing Your Insights & Analysis In The Essay
When citing poems in an essay, it is important that it is used to support the writer’s insights and analysis. The poem should be used as a tool to build upon the ideas expressed in the essay. This allows the writer to build a strong and meaningful argument within the essay.
Using Examples From Poems To Demonstrate Ideas
As well as providing insights and analysis, citing a poem in an essay also allows the writer to demonstrate their ideas and understanding. By analyzing the poem, the essay writer is able to present and provide evidence through the specific examples found in the poem. This allows the reader to have an understanding of the unique ideas presented in the essay.
Requesting Help From The Academic Institution
However, if a student is struggling to cite poetry in their essays, help is available from their academic institution. By submitting their activities and projects to their lecturers and tutors, they may be able to receive some helpful guidance to ensure their essays are correctly formatted. It is important to take advantage of the help that is made available.
Making Use of Relevant Online Resources
In addition, online resources related to referencing styles can be used to assist with properly formatting the citation of poems. These resources may include sample papers, which can help students understand how to correctly cite a poem according to the academic style. Websites such as the Purdue OWL or Academic Writing Centre may also provide useful information and sample papers.
Developing an Understanding of the Poem
When citing a poem in an essay, it is important to have an understanding of the poem. Analysis of the poem should include an understanding of the poem’s themes and ideas, as well as its literary devices. This allows the essay writer to thoroughly engage with the poem and therefore provide a more meaningful understanding of it.
Analyzing the Role & Impact of the Poem
In order to effectively cite a poem in an essay, it is important to understand the role and impact of the poem. How has the poem contributed to the essay? How can the poem be used to support the essay’s argument? Answering these questions helps the essay writer develop an understanding of the role and impact of the poem in the essay.
Integrating the Poem Into the Essay
When citing a poem in an essay, it is important to integrate the poem into the essay in order to fully engage the reader. One of the most important methods of integration is by producing connections between the citation of the poem and the essay’s main argument or theme. This allows the essay writer to develop a meaningful and well-rounded argument that effectively engages the reader.
Eliminating Any Possibility of Plagiarism
When citing a poem, it is important to ensure there is no possibility of plagiarism. If a student is uncertain about any part of their essay, they should check the source of their citation to ensure the work is properly attributed. This can help to eliminate any allegations of plagiarism which may be made against the student.
