Look for recurring themes in the poem. Are there any important concepts the poem addresses? Common recurring themes and concepts are: love, death, war and peace.
Categorize the poem by genre. Is it an epic, sonnet, ode, satire, elegy or lyric?
Use an encyclopedia to discover what literary movement the poem belongs to. For instance, certain recurring themes are trends of individual movements, such as Modernism, Romanticism, Neoclassicism or the Renaissance.
Consult the Norton Anthology of Poetry to analyze the rhyme and meter of the poem. Is the rhyme scheme identifiable, such as "ABAB"? Does each line use a set number of syllables, such as iambic pentameter, which uses five feet consisting of two syllables each?
Determine whether the poem uses literary devices to affect the outcome of the poem. For instance, look for metaphors, similes, personification and irony that the author uses as a device for getting his point across.
Discover the cultural context, if any, that the poem has. For example, how does John Donne's poetry relate to the religious climate of seventeenth-century England?
Consider all of the elements found within the poem to create a thesis to base your paper around. The thesis is the main focus of the essay, and is used to provide context and direction for your essay.
Outline the essay with the main points and examples you will use to prove your thesis. Commonly, outlines follow a number-letter format such as:
II. Main point
A. First example
B. Second example
C. Third example
Begin the essay with a strong lead sentence that hooks the reader. Continue the introduction by providing the context for the essay, stating the thesis and transitioning into the body paragraphs.
Write the essay according to your research and outline. Write active sentences with varying structures to keep the audience attentive. Avoid redundant statements such as, "He was a man who..."
Create a works cited list in the Modern Language Association style. Cite each reference by the author's last name, first name, title of book, place of publication, publisher, year of publication and medium of publication. Be sure to italicize the title of the book.