Tips for Writing the AP Lit Poetry Essay. 1. Focus on the process. Writing is a process, just like literary analysis. Think less about finding the right answer or discovering the correct meaning of the poem, because most of the time there isn't one. When writing a poem analysis essay for AP Lit, the following fundamental concepts should be kept in mind: Understanding the poem. Identify and explain its literary elements. Connect the elements of the poem to its theme. Analyze it, 9. Explore themes. 10. Analyze the speech and the context. 11. Find inspiration. Writing a poetry research paper can be a daunting task for students. Even for experienced writers, the process of writing a poetry research paper can be intimidating. However, there are some useful tips and guidelines that can help you ensure that,