Read ‘Channel Firing’ by Thomas Hardy which is on page 284-85. Here is my Loom video on the poem. (Links to an external site.)

Read the criticism by Holder on the SMC database which is right here.

It is also here too.

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Drawing upon all of the ideas and concepts that have been covered in class, (mainly in my Chapter One) along with anything you may have picked up from the Harvard Writing Center website…do some real brainstorming, generate a THESIS: and then support that THESIS in a college level paper in which you will ESSAY your ARGUMENT. The paper will obviously draw on the poem and Holder’s analysis for support and will also include a consideration of a counter-argument. No other criticism is to be used. If you need a quick refresher: look at the sample paper in the textbook again: one poem, one critic, one thesis = a paper.

In this case the paper needs to be 5 pages. Use the ‘Architecture of an Essay’

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Here’s a video of me going over the Architecture of An Essay framework: Make sure you watch it: Architecture of an Essay video guide (Links to an external site.)

The paper is a college level essay, therefore it does not

a) tell the plot of the poem….

b) summarise the criticism….

c) talk about how much you liked/disliked the poem and/or the poet. (Clearly: I liked it/ It was boring: is not an argument, it is merely an opinion: a college paper is not an opinion, it is built from an argument which is reasoned. IF you need a refresher on Developing a Thesis : here’s Harvard. ) (Links to an external site.)

Also : this is the Sheridan Baker Thesis Machine

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: you can work through the five step process to build a thesis.

It will:

a) use the poem to support YOUR ARGUMENT

b) use the criticism to support YOUR ARGUMENT.

I will be using the English Department’s Grading Rubri

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12 point font etc…as always… regular margins.

I don’t like to give a prompt: but to help you and to keep you focused on Hardy and Holder (instead of writing about “Life” or ‘War’ etc…) : here is a springboard for you to jump on and dive into some brainstorming to find a thesis:

According to Holder, “Unless the comic undercutting of the original atmosphere of the poem is recognized, along with the irony attached to the figure of God, ‘Channel Firing’ might be read as a fairly straightforward and unrelentingly serious condemnation of humankind for continuing to make war, a judgment coming from within a Christian perspective.” Discuss.

All of us are only using two things: Hardy and Holder (the critic): so at some level whatever your thesis you will probably need to understand the above quote. Ignore it at your peril!

Reminders: Holder is a critic, he has written a critique. ‘Channel Firing’ gets ‘single bunny ears.’ The poem is a poem, not a story, not a novel, not a book, not a review.

Good Luck