Name:_________________________________________Date:___________________________Period:_________ Poetry Compare/Contrast Essay Assignment As the culmination to our poetry unit, we will write a five-paragraph compare/contrast essay that addresses two of the poems we have discussed in analyzed in class. Although all of these poems are different and present different themes and ideas, all of the poems illustrate the intensity of language and the ability writers have to say much in so few words. It will be your job to choose two of the poems and compare AND contrast the way each poem addresses a specific theme, message, or idea AND the use of poetic devices, structures, or forms in each poem. You will focus in on BOTH meaning or theme AND one or two devices or structures. Poems discussed in class: “Introduction to Poetry” by Billy Collins “Eating Poetry” by Mark Strand “A Loaf of Poetry” by Naoshi Koriyama “Ars Poetica” by Archibald MacLeish Sonnet 18 “My Mistress’ Eyes” by William Shakespeare “We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks “Jenny Kissed Me” by James Henry Leigh Hunt “We Wear the Mask” by Paul Lawrence Dunbar “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allen Poe “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou Well written essays will include: Introduction paragraph with a hook and a strong thesis statement o Strong thesis statement should compare and contrast both poems, be specific, and state a clear, supportable argument 3 body paragraphs that have evidence from BOTH poems in each paragraph and very strong analysis of the evidence that ties back to thesis Conclusion paragraph that restates major ideas, makes final connections and contrasts between the poems, and leaves the reader with an “ah ha” moment The biggest focus for this compare/contrast essay will be your ability to provide supporting details to your points and clearly explain and analyze these supporting details. You should use our TCEST 2.0 format to help you organize your ideas in your body paragraphs. We will brainstorm similarities between the poems and look at example essays and thesis statements as we write our essay. Deadlines: Idea organizer and brainstorming Venn Diagram with your 2 poems of choice: _________________________________ Outline for essay: ______________________________ Rough draft of essay: _____________________________ Final draft of essay:_________________________________ Name:_________________________________________Date:___________________________Period:_________ POETRY COMPARE/CONTRAST ESSAY RUBRIC Writes clear, strong, and well-supported thesis statements/topic sentences in essays and paragraphs A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CApproaches FFB Thesis/topic Thesis/topic Thesis/topic Thesis/topic Thesis/topic Thesis/topic sentences sentences is sentences clearly sentences stated, sentences not sentences confusing demonstrate new strong and stated and well though not as clearly stated and/or not aligning thought, are effectively defended in the clearly as could and/or not well with body of powerfully worded, defended body be, some defense defended in paragraph/essay. and exceptionally throughout the throughout the body. defended in the body body. body. Supporting Details and Analysis A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CApproaches FFB Each paragraph has Each paragraph Each Most paragraphs Some paragraphs Paragraphs lack extremely relevant has relevant and paragraph has have evidence have evidence but supporting evidence and specific evidence specific evidence and and explains the the evidence lacks and/or no and thoroughly evidence and explains the evidence and explanation or explanation of any explains and analyzes explains and evidence and this evidence is analysis or of the evidence evidence at a high analyzes its connection loosely evidence does not level to flawlessly evidence to to topic connected to the actually connect to connect to topic connect to topic sentence and thesis thesis or topic sentence and thesis sentences and thesis sentence thesis statements Demonstrates ability to compare and contrast works of literature A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CApproaches FFB The paper compares The paper compares The paper The paper had Evidence from Provides no and contrasts items and contrasts items compares and some attempts at evidence of both texts is clearly and with a high clearly with contrasts items compare and/or weak and does understanding. evidence from the level of thinking. The clearly, but the contrasting but it The response not make true poems. The paper paper points to supporting does not use makes no compare/ includes only the specific examples to information is support from the connections contrast information relevant illustrate the general or onepoems. There is between the connections, comparison. The paper to the comparison. sided plot summary poems missed the includes only the and some mark of the information relevant information that assignment to the comparison. is not relevant to the comparison. Writes using strong, grade-level appropriate vocabulary to enrich meaning of the text A+ A AB+ B BC+ C CApproaches FFB Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary is Vocabulary choice Vocabulary is powerful and powerful words appropriate to functional, is flawed or below limited, very engaging; words convey the assignment, author’s grade level, repetitive word convey intended intended author’s meaning meaning is choice, reader message in precise, message in meaning easily general comes sometimes becomes lost in interesting, and precise way. understood. across, but not impaired, several words that were natural way. Uses at Uses at least 1 as clearly, a words overused or chosen least 2 advanced advanced few words are repeated tone/poetic device tone/poetic overused words. device words Grammar: Avoids informal writing mistakes and errors such as apostrophes A B C Approaches FFB No informal writing 1 informal writing 2 informal writing 3-4 informal writing 5 or more informal errors or apostrophe error, no apostrophe errors, no errors AND/OR 1 writing errors AND/OR errors errors apostrophe errors apostrophe error 2 or more apostrophe errors Identifies and analyzes themes: ______/10 Identifies and analyzes figurative language ______/10 Name:_________________________________________Date:___________________________Period:_________ Prepared with all portions of assignment (rubric, final draft, rough draft, peer review, brainstorm) _______/10