Poetry as Research

Poetry as Research develops an approach that allows poetry writing to be used as a research method for exploring questions relating to second language learners and more broadly for studies within the humanities and social sciences. The book investigates the characteristics of poetry writing and situates poetry writing as a qualitative, arts-based, research process. The book utilizes computational linguistics, qualitative, bibliographic, and philosophical methods and investigates the process of writing poetry, the textual and literary characteristics of second language poetry, poetic identity and inquiry. The developed methodology is exemplified through a poetic inquiry of the study abroad experiences of ESL students. The book provides a comprehensive, informed and innovative approach to the investigation of understandings of personal experience. This book should be of interest to the fields of applied linguistics, stylistics, literary studies, creative writing and composition as well as anyone interested in using writing as a research method.

Geoff. M. Hall, Swansea University:
Original, careful and conscientious, through empirically based arguments Hanauer's new book integrates and advances his own previous work and that of others on second language poetry writing as a process of discovery with educational value for students as well as a window for researchers onto students' felt experience of their learning, including a perceptive chapter on the study abroad experience. Like all the best research, by telling us much about a specific previously under-researched and under-considered area- second language poetry writing - Hanauer also convincingly broaches much larger questions too, to do with second language identities and writing as self-discovery, as well as new directions for qualitative research.
This is an important, readable and persuasive book for researchers, teachers and all those involved in second language teaching, creative writing, and international exchange programs in higher education.