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