AP Literature Poetry Rubric

9-8 / Persuasive discussion and convincing analysis of poet’s use of poetic devices and how they convey meaning.
Consistent and effective control over elements of composition.
Language appropriate to the analysis of poetry.
Textual references are apt and specific.
Perceptive analysis.
Sophisticated writing.
7-6 / Reasonable discussion and reasonable analysis of poetic devices and how they convey meaning.
Less thorough or less precise in their discussion of author’s use of poetic devices than 8/9.
Analysis of relationship between devices and meaning is less convincing than 8/9.
Expresses ideas clearly.
Makes references to the text.
7 has better developed analysis and more consistent command of the elements of effective composition than a 6.
5 / Plausible discussion and plausible analysis of poet’s use of poetic devices and how they convey meaning.
Superficial in discussion.
Vague.
Formulaic.
Minimally supported by references to the text.
Relies on paraphrase.
Minor misinterpretation of the poem.
Has some control of language but possesses surface errors.
Not well conceived.
Not well organized.
Not well developed.
3-4 / Fails to offer an adequate analysis of the poem.
Partial analysis.
Unconvincing analysis.
Ignores the poet’s use of poetic devices to convey meaning.
Ignores the meaning of the work.
Evidence from poem is slight.
Evidence is misconstrued.
Only paraphrases.
Writing lacks control over conventions of composition.
Inadequate develop of ideas.
Accumulation of errors.
Focus is unclear.
Focus is inconsistent.
Focus is repetitive.
Contains a significant misreading.
Inept writing.
2-1 / Some attempt was made to respond to prompt.
Little clarity.
Little organization.
Little support from the poem.
Serious errors in grammar and mechanics.
Complete misreading.
Unacceptably brief.
Little coherent discussion of the poem