Writing as Inquiry: How might the practice of writing poetry function as an epistemic tool for poets?

Writing as Inquiry: How might the practice of writing poetry function as an epistemic tool for poets?

Haiku--theses and dissertaions

Creativity research

ABSTRACT
Like many creative endeavors, writing poetry is often considered an act of personal expression. Some have said that it is also an act of inquiry; that poets use their
writing skills to make meaning. In order to study this claim empirically, I conducted an exploratory study to
characterize the cognitive processes of poets as they go about their normal business of composing a poem. In this study, I ask: In what ways, if at all (and to what extent), has the process of writing a poem functioned as a process of inquiry for these poets? I also study how, if at all, the poets perceive that sustaining a practice of
writing poetry has impacted their meaning making in
other areas of their lives, and their perceptions on whether they have conducted inquiry through their writing practices. I examine the poet responses in light of
trends found in other data from the study.

DeVito, Becky

Harvard University

2010

All rights reserved. This thesis is republished here with the kind permission of the author.

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eng

dissertation