Essay

Writing Proficiency Evaluation

Questions for Reading Set A: Poetry and War

Monday, June 7, 2010 at 10:00 A.M.

Please choose one of the questions listed below. Answer the question in an essay of at least 8-12 paragraphs. It is essential that your essay includes specific references to the articles in the reading set, and that you attribute any material that you summarize, quote or paraphrase to its source using the page numbers in the reading set. Base your essay on the information contained in this set of readings, not on your experience, on outside readings, or on courses that you have taken. Be sure to summarize and define any appropriate key terms related to your position. You may use only a dictionary (hard copy, no electronic devices can be used) and your reading set.

Question 1: Jay Parini states, “. . . poets cannot simply choose to separate themselves from the life of their times. . . . [I]t has always been part of their job description to point to things wrong and right about the human condition in its present manifestation” (pp. 18-19). In what ways do the poems about World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War in this reading set reflect the responsibilities and “job description” that Parini assigns to poets? Your essay should make specific reference to at least 4 of the readings (poetry or prose) in this set.

Question 2: Paul Fussell, in his “Introductions” to The Norton Book of Modern War, suggests that each war generates its own particular poetry. Drawing on Fussell’s commentary about the poetry of World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War, explain how the poems in this reading set reflect each particular war. Your essay should make specific reference to at least 4 of the readings (prose or poetry) in this set.

Note: Before you turn in your exam, please make sure that the following information appears in the upper right corner of your blue book cover and the upper right corner of your first page:

The time of the session, either A.M., or P.M.;

The reading set (A);

The question number (#1 or #2) that you are writing about.

The exams are graded anonymously; so, your name and student identification number should be written only on the outside front cover of your exam books, not on the inside of the books. If you use more than one book, write “1 of 2” and “2 of 2” on the front covers of the books.