“A Poison Tree”

I. Intro: thesis statement (extended metaphor and theme, author, title)

II. Explain the basic metaphor: how is anger like a growing tree

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

III. Develop the metaphor: apple and revenge

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

IV. Analyze the metaphor: what has happened the speaker’s anger? What is Blake saying about anger through this poem?

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

V. Conclusion

“Mother to Son”

I. Intro: thesis statement, author, title, Literal meaning (her life has been a wooden stair, not a crystal one)

II. Really about having a hard life and having to struggle for each achievement

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

VI. Develop the metaphor: life on the crystal stair = XXXX

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

VII. Develop the metaphor: life on the wooden stair = XXXX

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

VIII. Pride in achievement: why life on the wooden stair can be better than life on the crystal stair.

a. Topic sentence

b. Context of the quotation

c. Quotation

d. Reflection/analysis (several sentences)

IX. Conclusion

Outline for “The Road Not Taken”

I. Intro: poet, title, thesis, surface meaning

II. Central metaphor
a. Topic sentence
b. Intro to the quotation
c. Quotation
d. Reflection/analysis

III. What it means (or does not mean) to travel on the Road less traveled/More traveled
a. Topic sentence
b. Intro to the quotation
c. Quotation
d. Reflection/analysis

IV. Why it’s titled the “Road Not Taken” and why it’s “made all the difference”
a. Topic sentence
b. Intro to the quotation
c. Quotation
d. Reflection/analysis

V. What Frost conveys through the poem

VI. Conclusion (or link up with the last paragraph)

Sample thesis statements:

² In his poem, “A Poison Tree,” William Blake uses an extended metaphor to show us the dangers of letting anger grow out of control.

² In his poem, “A Poison Tree,” William Blake develops a metaphor comparing anger to a growing tree in order to teach us that anger can kill if it is not kept under control.

² In his poem, “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes compares a crystal stairway and a wooden stairway in order to show us that the easy path is not always the best path.

² In his poem, “Mother to Son,” Langston Hughes compares a crystal stairway and a wooden stairway in order to teach us that one should have pride in his life no matter what stairway he climbs.