Explication Process
Purpose: An explication is a detailed, line-by-line summary and analysis of a poem, short story
or play scene. If the story or play is too long (over two pages), select and focus on a passage
(about a page or long paragraph) from the story. Write a 2-3 page explication of this poem,
page, paragraph or scene.
Introduction: Clearly identify the poem, short story or play, and provide a thesis about its
meaning(s) or purpose. If you are focusing on a selection (scene, page or paragraph) from the
text, explain why you chose that particular passage, and how it is important to the larger
meaning of the story, play or character.
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Background: Provide any relevant background information or context (historical, biographical
or literary) that the readers would need to know to understand this passage, poem or story.
Include relevant information about the author, audience, historical context, and the form that the
author is using.
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Focused Summary: Provide a detailed, line-by-line summary and analysis of the poem, story
or play scene. In particular, describe and respond to the meanings of the words, images, tones
and conflicts that the author uses in the poem, story or play.
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Explore Choices: Focus on a specific line or sentence, and explore the choices that the author
made in diction (word choice), syntax (word order), imagery, tone, and point of view. How would
the characters, dialogue, descriptions or plot of the poem, story or play be different if the author
had made different choices?
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Connections: Make connections with the author’s biography, with other poems or stories by
this author, or to writings by other authors on the same issue or conflict.
If this explication is about a selection from a longer poem, story or play, then how does this
passage relate to the text as a whole?
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Editing and Documentation: Use correct spelling, grammar and in-text MLA documentation of
all quotes and sources. If you quote from a poem, include both line number and page number; if
from a story, just page number; if from a play, include scene and page number.
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Average Score
1-2 = F (0-50)
Student either did not complete this assignment, or did not follow the directions.
Purpose: No clear purpose, introduction or conclusion.
Organization: No logical connections or transitions
Content: More than 10 factual inaccuracies.
Editing: More than 10 major grammar or editing errors.
3-4 = D (50-69)
Student completed assignment, but performed below average.
Purpose: Poorly stated purpose, introduction or conclusion.
Organization: Unclear connections or transitions.
Content: 5-10 factual inaccuracies.
Editing: 5-10 major grammatical or editing errors.
5-6= C (70-79)
Student completed the assignment; performed average or minimal work.
Purpose: Clearly stated purpose, introduction and conclusion.
Organization: Clear transitions between paragraphs.
Content: Clear summary but no detailed explication
Editing: No major grammar errors. A few spelling or punctuation mistakes.
7-8= B (80-89)
Student completed the assignment, and performed above average.
Purpose: Clearly stated purpose, and a thesis, introduction and conclusion.
Organization: Clear transitions and connections between ideas.
Content: Detailed explication of words, phrases and imagery.
Editing: No major grammar errors or spelling mistakes.
9-10 = A (90-100)
Student performed exceptional and original work and critical thinking.
Purpose: Clear and original purpose, thesis and critical thinking.
Organization: Original connections and relationships.
Content: Detailed, line-by-line explication of diction, syntax, point of view.
Editing: Complete portfolio