Names:_____________________________________________ Block:_______________________
“I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud”
English 9 Honors: Oelerich
Analysis Paragraph (Mini-Essay) Assignment
In a small group you will be writing a mini-essay. Please address the following prompt in your essay:
What is the overall theme or message in Wordsworth’s poem? Using at least two known poetic devices,
explain how Wordsworth uses poetry to express his message.
This assignment will count as TWO quiz grades and will be assessed on the 4-column Rubric.
The Format: (Use the corresponding outline; each group member must complete his/her own!)
1. First Sentence: Restate question/prompt in first sentence including “T”AG (Note: for poetry, titles are
in “quotation marks”)
2. Second Sentence: Summarize the content of the poem to provide context
3. Claim: Provide a claim including the theme and a list of 2 poetic devices; i.e. word-choice, imagery,
symbolism, use of figurative language, etc.
4. Examples: Provide two clearly introduced, properly quoted/cited, and clearly explained examples from
the poem to prove your point.
5. Connect: Make sure your examples have answered the question at hand. Analyze the content of the
lines you have quoted in connection with the author’s message. (In your analysis remember to first
explain the device/content then connect it to the theme)
6. Conclude: Provide a 1-2 sentence concluding statement that summarizes the theme and devices.
Name:________________________________________
Analysis Paragraph (Mini-Essay) Outline For Poetry
Topic:________________________________________________________________________
Claim Development:
First sentence of the paragraph: Write an opening statement that addresses the prompt and connects it to
the work you are writing about (“T.”A.G.).
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Second sentence: Briefly summarize the content of the poem to provide context.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
CLAIM part one: What is the position you are taking on the topic? (THEME)
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
CLAIM part two: Which poetic devices illuminate the author’s point? (List 2)
a. _____________________________________________________________________
b. _____________________________________________________________________
A combination of part one and two above is your claim and the second sentence of the paragraph: Write a
complete claim statement below including your position (theme) and two poetic devices.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Examples: Supporting the claim
Write a sentence that summarizes your first example/poetic device: SEE LINE a.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
A quotation that supports this example can be found on line: _____________________________
Write a sentence that connects this quotation to your claim (both content and device):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Write a sentence that summarizes your second example/poetic device: SEE LINE b. Include a transition!
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
A quotation that supports this example can be found on line:_____________________________
Write a sentence that connects this quotation to your claim (both content and device):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Conclusion:
Write 1-2 sentences connecting the poetic devices back to your claim/theme.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
IDEAS AND CONTENT
Exemplary
Needs
Improvement
Unsatisfactory
Original, clear, arguable
Articulate, clear
direction
Clear but not arguable/ good
idea but awkward
Unclear/unfocused or missing;
does not answer the question(s)
asked
All evidence supports
thesis/claim; thoughtful
and placed in context
Most evidence supports
thesis/claim; wellchosen and placed in
context
Some evidence supports
thesis/claim; relevant and
some context provided
Requires more relevant
evidence; missing context or
examples
Rich, insightful, shows
a careful reading of text
Strong, shows
thoughtful
understanding of text
Clear, but off topic at times/
could be further developed
Summarizes plot; is repetitive
and/or confusing; makes vague
generalities
Strong, succinct: orients
the reader
Coherent
Gives some context
Underdeveloped
Ideas organized to build
upon one another
Logically organized
Order makes sense, but could
be stronger
Order is somewhat illogical
_____
Coherent and intriguing,
summarizes and
connects major ideas
Strong; ties major ideas
together
Recognizable; restates major
ideas
Simply restates the thesis/claim
or some of the main points;
missing
_____
Confident, compelling,
appropriate voice;
powerful language
Sincere, appropriate
voice; carefully chosen
words
Sincere voice, but informal;
functional language
Disconnected, informal; vague
or confusing language
Negligible errors in
sentence structure,
agreement (sub/verb,
pronoun/antecedent),
verb tense, spelling,
punctuation (including
quotations).
Few errors in sentence
structure, agreement
(sub/verb,
pronoun/antecedent),
verb tense, spelling,
punctuation (including
quotations)
Some errors in sentence
structure, agreement
(sub/verb,
pronoun/antecedent), verb
tense, spelling, punctuation
(including quotations)
Excessive errors in sentence
structure, agreement (sub/verb,
pronoun/antecedent), verb tense,
spelling, punctuation (including
quotations)
CLAIM
_____
EVIDENCE
Context
_____
Lead-in
_____
Excerpt
_____
ANALYSIS
Significance
Proficient
_____
Connection to Another
Moment
_____
ORGANIZATION
Introductory Sentence(s)
_____
Organization of Paragraph
_____
Concluding Sentence(s)
LANGUAGE
Fluency
MECHANICS
Spelling and Grammar
_____