The Chimney Sweeper Poems by William Blake
Outline and Rubric for Compare and Contrast Essay
9ABC English
Levine
This essay must be MLA formatted.
Prompt #1: Based on what you have learned in World History class about the Industrial
Revolution in England, which poem by William Blake best explains the era best and
why?
Prompt #2: Compare and contrast the two poems by William Blake, both entitled The
Chimney Sweeper.
Expository (Explanatory) Essay Outline (5 paragraphs)
Intro paragraph
1. Attention Grabber (optional)
2. Thesis statement
3. Explanation of thesis statement
4. Information about the poems and poet (1-2 sentences)
5. Information about the Industrial Revolution (1-2 sentences)
6. 3 short reasons why this poem best explains the era
Body (paragrpahs 2,3,4)
1. Thesis of this specific paragraph (one of the short reasons)
2. Explanation of thesis
3. Quote from the poem (evidence)
4. Explanation of the quote
5. Conclusion for that paragraph only
Conclusion
1. Restate thesis statement from the introduction
2. Restate the overview of comparisons and contrasts
3. Final thoughts
4. Concluding sentence(s)
5. Button (optional)
Compare and Contrast Outline (4 to 8 paragraphs)
Intro paragraph
7. Attention Grabber (optional)
8. Thesis statement
9. Explanation of thesis statement
10. Information about the poems and poet
11. Overview of comparisons and contrasts
Comparison paragraph (1 to 2 paragraphs)
Thesis sentence for this paragraph (How the comparisons of the poems suggest a
theme, a significance or nuance)
For each comparison (There should be at least 3 comparisons):
1. name the comparison of the two poems
2. Use a quote from the poem(s) to explain the comparison
3. give details to better explain the quote
4. Conclusion for ENTIRE PARAGRAPH
If you need to write more information or wish to add more than 3 comparisons, please
feel free to add a second paragraph.
Contrast Paragraph (1 to 2 paragraphs)
Thesis sentence for this paragraph (How the contrasts of the poems suggest a theme,
a significance or nuance)
For each contrast (There should be at least 3 contrasts):
1. name the comparison of the two poems
2. Use a quote from the poem(s) to explain the comparison
3. give details to better explain the quote (what do you mean by that?)
4. Conclusion for ENTIRE PARAGRAPH
If you need to write more information or wish to add more than 3 comparisons, please
feel free to add a second paragraph.
Conclusion Paragraph
6. Restate thesis statement from the introduction
7. Restate the overview of comparisons and contrasts
8. Final thoughts
9. Concluding sentence(s)
10. Button (optional)
CATEGORY
4
3
2
1
Introduction The introduction is
inviting, states the
main topic and
previews the structure
of the paper.
The introduction clearly
states the main topic and
previews the structure of the
paper, but is not particularly
inviting to the reader.
The introduction states the
main topic, but does not
adequately preview the
structure of the paper nor is
it particularly inviting to the
reader.
There is no clear
introduction of the main
topic or structure of the
paper.
Body
paragraphs
There are 2 quotes that
back up the examples and
are explained.
There is 1 quote that backs
up the examples and is
explained.
There are no quotes.
There are 3 quotes
that back up the
examples and are
explained.
Conclusion
The conclusion is
strong and leaves the
reader with a feeling
that they understand
what the writer is
"getting at."
The conclusion is
recognizable and ties up
almost all the loose ends.
The conclusion is
recognizable, but does not
tie up several loose ends.
There is no clear conclusion,
the paper just ends.
Mechanics
Writer makes 1 or 2
errors in grammar,
punctuation,
capitalization, or
spelling that distract
the reader from the
content. Essay is in
MLA format.
Writer makes 3-5 errors in
grammar punctuation,
capitalization,or spelling
that distract the reader from
the content. Essay is in
MLA format.
Writer makes 6-10 errors in
grammar punctuation,
capitalization,or spelling
that distract the reader from
the content. MLA format
isn’t accurate
Writer makes more than 10
errors in grammar
punctuation,
capitalization,or spelling that
distract the reader from the
content. No MLA format.
Commitment the writing is
or
definitive and strong
Writer’s Voice with conviction of
the writing is definitive with
some conviction of what
they are writing about. They
what they are writing explain most things
about. They explain
therefore making most of
everything therefore the paper clear.
making everything
clear.
the writing isn't very
there is no strength in the
definitive nor strong with
writing. nothing is clear or
very little conviction of what explained.
they are writing about. They
explain hardly anything
therefore making everything
unclear.
The Chimney Sweeper(Songs of Innocence)
When my mother died I was very young,
And my father sold me while yet my tongue
Could scarcely cry " 'weep! 'weep! 'weep! 'weep!"
So your chimneys I sweep & in soot I sleep.
There's little Tom Dacre, who cried when his head,
That curl'd llke a lamb's back. was shav'd: so I said
"Hush. Tom! never mind it, for when your head's bare
You know that the soot cannot spoil your white hair."
And so he was quiet & that very night,
As Tom was a-sleeping, he had such a sight!
That thousands of sweepers, Dick, Joe, Ned or Jack.
Were all of them lock'd up in coffins of black.
And by came an Angel who had a bright key,
And he open'd the coffins & set them all free;
Then down a green plain leaping, laughing, they run,
And wash in a river. and shine in the Sun.
Then naked & white, all their bags left behind,
They rise upon clouds and sport in the wind;
And the Angel told Tom, if he'd be a good boy,
He'd have God for his father & never want joy.
And so Tom awoke; and we rose in the dark.
And got with our bags & our brushes to work.
Tho' the morning was cold, Tom was happy & warm;
So if all do their duty they need not fear harm.
The Chimney Sweeper(Songs of Experience)
A little black thing among the snow:
Crying weep, weep, in notes of woe!
Where are thy father & mother! say!
They are both gone up to the church to pray.
Because I was happy upon the heath,
And smil'd among the winters snow:
They clothed me in the clothes of death,
And taught me to sing the notes of woe.
And because I am happy, & dance & sing,
They think they have done me no injury:
And are gone to praise God & his Priest & King
Who make up a heaven of our misery.