"A way of happening": students reading poetry with XML

English departments frequently split their content focus between literature and composition. The practical application of two areas in the classroom comes across as literature and writing. While the study of literature has historically been the focus of English departments, a discussion of the need to improve undergraduate reading skills, particularly in relation to literary texts, has been developing. This dissertation explores the poetry reading practices of undergraduate students through the use of XML templates. Participating students were asked to read, annotate, and comment on five poems in a series of explication exercises. Analysis of their readings demonstrated a propensity to identify rhyme, metaphor, and poetic meter. Internal comments made by the student were also analyzed and divided into four types of comments: rephrasing, markup, comment, and questioning. Of these types, students most frequently made rephrasing or markup comments. Of the 90 students participating, 8 cases were selected for close analysis. These student cases showed a variety of reading levels and foci, with most finding an initial way into the poems through use of narrative analysis. While students are frequently exposed to literary texts in secondary school, their readings demonstrate a lack of critical reading training; first year students and upperclassmen were often focused on thematic concerns or the surface of the poems narrative. The study suggests several areas for further experimental research into student reading and the use of markup tools as an educational application of technology.