I wouldn't include the whole poem...

The prompt was : How do you see yourself as a writer?
My answer was: A poet.
But I used Para 1-2 as a narrative for how I came to like poetry and why I had disdain for other forms of writing. Then I continued that narrative in poem format ,simple ABAB structure, and finished with 2 paragraphs explaining how much poetry has affected my writing style and my last sentence answers the question.

why should I not include it? for reference.

"I wouldn't include the whole poem..."

No, you'd post it here instead ;)

Because generally, when you quote something in a paper, you're expected to then comment on or otherwise use ALL of the quote...

And if the paper's only 750 words, it doesn't sound like you have space to properly address all the issues of the entire poem, since you're quoting the whole thing.

Another reason is that doing that can come across as your trying to pad out your paper.

No Obiwan I wrote the poem. so I am telling a narrative for my second paragraph and then for 6 stanzas i continue the narrative and then finish it in my third paragraph. Then I conclude in the 4th.

Paragraph 1: Introduction
Paragraph 2: Narrative begins
Stanzas 1-6: Body of narrative
Paragraph 3: Narrative concludes
Paragraph 4: Conclusion of paper.

Depends on the professor (or the syllabus if you haven't seen the professor much yet). Some like improvisation, others might expect you to stick to the script.

If you are including the poem, make sure you work it into the rest of your narrative. It shouldn't just be some great poem you thought of.

Well if you are insistent on using the poem I would either not count it towards your word total, or include it as an opening or ending for more of an impact, again not in the word total. I wouldn't put it in the middle. Like Obi says though, it's hard to throw in a poem that long and explain all of what it means to you while still addressing the other points you mentioned within a 750 cap.

So introduction to the narrative deals with how I discovered poetry when a teacher made me read and write it. I describe how much I enjoyed the works of Poe, Dickinson, Lord Alfred Tennyson, Frost and Whitman and Then my 6 stanzas go into the process I use for writing explicitly describing how I wanted to be like the listed poets. Each Stanza had a nod to their poetry in it. for example my Poe stanza says:
I desired to be like Poe,
sullen, and macabre to the core.
A tapping that we all know.
The Raven at my chamber door.

In the final stanza the Lord Alfred Tennyson stanza I say

Finally like Lord Tennyson,
I’m onward like the light brigade.
The subject of my poem a denizen,
of my no longer blank page.

This is followed by how poetry became my past time which develops into my conclusion of thee ntire paper.

What is the professor looking for, and how well do you know him/her?

I wouldn't write about my disdain for any form of writing; they all have their place. If you prefer writing one over the others, that's fine. It doesn't mean that the others are inferior or worthy of contempt.

Be careful on two counts:

1) Make sure that the professor doesn't see it as an attempt to sidestep the assignment. If you see yourself as a poet, that's great, but in college English courses (at least the Literature and Composition ones) the essay rules and you'll have to write clear ones.

2) Make sure that it doesn't come off as arrogant.

If you include the poem; it had better be an excellent poem.

If you know the professor, then you can get away with more. I wrote and entire essay once on five lines (of a five hundred page novel). I made an 'A', but the prof, knew me well enough to know that I had read the novel. I walked in on the first day having bought all and read two of the novels on the syllabus (a big plus for a "17th Century Novels" course).

My advice is just answer the question in a straightforward manner. You'll have time to feel out the professor and decide what to do (and avoid) later. Keep your audience in mind.

But I will take your advice into consideration ill write a second paper and compare the two. with some other peoples. Thank you all. More opinions the merrier. (I did a bad job of explaining myself in the thread)

You could always email the professor and ask. :)

Thats even more brilliant thank you Armand

Yeah, definitely ask...

I know two professors of mine, each of whom I've had three times, and thus know pretty well--

One of them always asks for a shorter paper...but in practice, the 20-page beasts that I write for him almost always do better than when I stick to the shorter suggested limit he prefers, because he's notorious for asking and writing "How?" at every single statement you make. You have to leave as little room open for a "How?" to pop up in the paper, and for me, that means that each and every thing I argue is defended, sourced, that the sources have sources, that the arguments have arguments supporting those sub-points' validity themselves as well as why they're included at all, why I referenced someone, etc.

So, while he prefers a 6-8 page paper, I've almost always gotten better grades with him by writing 16-20+ page ones, just because I know what he wants vs. what he says he wants.

On the other hand, I have ANOTHER professor who wants 4-6 or 5-7 pages.
Period.
End of sentence.
4 FULL pages, or 7 pages MAX.
If it's 7 page and one line on an 8th page, there WILL be wrath, because she specified 7, damn it, and you're expected to follow instructions!

Both are awesome profs, but operate differently, so know thyself...and know thy prof. ;)

Commander - It all depends upon the professor/teacher. I was in an honor's level English course in college and did something similar for an assignment - broke from the conventional mold, and wrote my paper in the form of a script for a "talk show". I aced the paper, but I had a younger, female professor. She discussed it with me when she returned it, and said while she appreciated my creativity, she said than an older, more conservative Professor would have shredded me for what I did.

For another English class, I once wrote an argumentative paper making the point that pasta dishes needed to be banned from the dormitory cafeteria, generally speaking because it was disgusting to listen to people slurping up noodles and getting pasta sauce all over their shirts. Again...an unconventional paper...and it was a 4.0 and was included in the following year's class syllabus...but only because it was well written, and was turned in to a Prof that was open to such shenanigans.

So I say go for it - particularly since your choice here is directly related to the topic and is a demonstration of the answer.

Thanks Krellin. ...... Wait.... weren't you.... you are back?

I'm a neutered zombie...

Talk to Thucy from what I understand he's been in Jamaica can help reverse the affects of the voodoo that made you a zombie. probably involves the same weed he's smoking before he posts.

I'd rather be be the defecated on by a thousand elephants than turn to Thucy for anything.

why a thousand elephants? that just seems so out of left field.

It's a gift...I can't explain it.

So what have you done since you left? playdiplomacy.com? what brought you back?

Be careful of how your express your 'disdain' for other types of literature, as the professor might be partial to one of the types that you 'disdain' (using your words). I don't see much reason to even go into a negative - just explain the positives of poetry in your view.

I wouldn't include the poem. As one who has taught college courses (not literature though) I would knock it because a good chunk of the paper isn't addressing the question asked - How do you see yourself as a writer. If the poem is an illustration of your poetry skills and that you're good at it, etc. - don't include it. It's ancillary to the question asked. If the poem expresses your view about how you view yourself as a writer, include it. That meaning should be apparent in the poem Now, if your entire answer was just a poem that actually answered the question - That would be awesome. But if you had a minimum length of 750 words.... eh, that's a long poem.

English majors are weird.

Also why are you complaining about a mandatory composition course if you claim you're a poet?

@Putin. Im not an english major my college believes that we should be well versed in many fields. Im International Relations. I hate writing about literature. I will write a research paper like no tomorrow, and poetry obviously. but I hate analyzing text, I do it myself in my head and I get bored putting it on paper.

So are you lying about being a poet then? Or do you write IR papers in verse?

No I enjoy poetry. I write poetry often. I don't enjoy writing about other peoples writing. I enjoy writing about ideas and concepts. both poetry and research papers give me that ability.
For example I can choose a random concept like death think about it for a few hours and just start writing a poem. I can also take a broad concept like death and research it for several hours and write a research paper. The IR papers I completed so far as well as the other Poli-Sci papers I've done have been about broad concepts connected with specific examples. for example the concept of sovereignty in relation to Ukraine, Iraq, Syria, or Afghanistan. Now please don't treat me like a fool. I am not one of these people on here you can just start harassing. I watch you in these forums and I know how you work. If you want a real conversation without accusatory or aggressive rhetoric I am right here. But otherwise don't waste my time.