Poetry – Sonnet Assignment
The best way to understand and remember how sonnets are written is – to write one. You are going to write a sonnet using the
Shakespearean/English style. Part of your goal is to demonstrate that you understand the elements of a sonnet, and part is to express
yourself using poetic language and devices.
Write about something or someone you love. It can be a person, an animal, a place, an activity, a memory – anything at all. Make sure
to do more than summarize or describe something – express your feelings and thoughts.
Here are the elements you need to include:
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•
•
•
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Your poem must be in iambic pentameter (unstressed/stressed syllables x 5 in each line)
Your poem must use the correct rhyme scheme (abab/cdcd/efef/gg)
Your poem must have 14 lines (4 quatrains and a rhyming couplet)
Make sure you clearly express your subject, speaker, tone, and message
Incorporate imagery and literary devices to enrich your sonnet.
See rubric on the back of this page to make sure you’re incorporating everything you need to.
Shakespearean Sonnet Rubric
Criteria
Iambic
Pentameter
Rhyme Scheme
Rhyming couplet
Content
Mechanics
Total:
5
4
3
1-2
Extending
Flawless use of Iambic
Pentameter (14 lines, 10
syllables per line).
Follows the Rhyme
Scheme: abab/cdcd/efef/gg
Contains clear conclusions.
Creatively and expressively
completes the poem.
Clear subject, speaker, tone, and
message.
Fully Meeting
1-2 errors
Mostly Meeting
3 errors
Beginning
4 or more errors
1 error in rhyme
3 errors
4 or more errors
Concludes the poem
with clarity.
Conclusion is not yet clear
Does not contain a
conclusion
Clear subject and
message.
Contains a subject, and
message.
Subject and message
are not yet clear.
Expressive, well-made writing.
Writer uses imager and literary
devices to craft the poem.
Expressive, clear
writing. Writer uses
imagery, and/or
literary devices to
craft the poem.
Poem does not yet
include sufficient
imagery or literary
devices.
No grammatical, spelling or
punctuation mistakes.
1-2 mechanical errors.
Poem is still clear and
easy to understand
The poem shows some
creative expression and
craft. Poem includes at
least one example of
imagery or literary
devices.
More than 3 mechanical
errors. Errors interfere
with the sense of the poem
at times.
/25
More than 6 errors.
Errors interfere with
sense of poem
frequently.