The final paper for WR 150 “Modern and Contemporary American Poetry” builds upon the analytical, argumentative, and research skills introduced in the first two papers. In order to enlarge the scope and complexity of their arguments, students are asked to conduct a more substantial exploration of multiple poems or a longer poem by any American poet of their choosing. Similar to Papers 1 and 2, students must find their motivation for writing in the arguments of others; however, this time students are not provided any exhibit or argument sources for their consideration. Paper 3 requires students to locate and engage with all source material independently. Beyond this, the paper has to be 2000–3000 words in length and use at least five sources, at least two exhibits and two arguments.
Molly Doomchin’s paper “Sylvia Plath: The Dialogue between Poetry and Painting” demonstrates an extraordinary amount of critical and creative thinking, particularly her use of the “academic gap” as her motivation to write. After conducting a substantial amount of exploratory research, Molly found that most of what has been written about Plath has to do with the more sensational or psychological aspects of Plath’s work, with poems such as “Daddy” and “Lady Lazarus” receiving primary attention. Molly’s paper also ambitiously blurs genres; it is both literary and art criticism, offering exemplary close readings of linguistic and visual exhibits in support of her claims. Ultimately, she has composed a source-based academic argument that both general and scholarly audiences will find thoroughly engaging and enjoyable to read.
— JASON TANDON
WR 150: Modern and Contemporary American Poetry