Name: ______Period: ______

Sonnet Writing Project

Create a sonnet tutorial and include two sonnets.

Compose: Create your tutorial (60 points) on how to write a sonnet. Review this site for assistance on tutorial writing. Include twooriginal sonnets according to the Italian or Shakespearean formatting. Follow the rules for sonnets provided-(hint-you already wrote a Shakespearean, now let’s revise to meet the criteria in this project.).

Identify: Indicate the types of sonnet you wrote (Shakespearean or Italian). Label each line according to the rhyme scheme you used.

Explain: Describe your analogy. What argument or idea is presented? How is it resolved?

Sonnet Grading Rubric

Category / 5 / 4 / 3 / 2
Format: / Flawless use of iambic pentameter (14 lines, 10 syllables per line) / 1-2 errors / 3 errors / 4 or more errors
Iambic Pentameter
Rhyme Scheme / Follows the rhyme scheme:
Petrarchan/Italian
Octave-eight lines (abba/abba)
Sestet-six lines (cde/cde or cdc/cdc)
Shakespearean
Quatrains (abab/cdcd/efef)
Couplet (gg) / 1 error in rhyme / 2 errors / 3 or more errors
Argument/Idea / Contains a clear build up to an argument/idea/question according to the type of sonnet being written. / Contains somewhat of an argument but missing parts. / Argument is unorganized. / Does not contain an argument .
Content / Clear subject, speaker, tone, and message. Contains the words provided by classmate.
Very creative – uses imagery and creative use of figurative language (metaphor, simile, etc.) / Clear subject and message.
Demonstrates use of speaker and tone.
Creative and imaginative / Contains a subject, and message.
Speaker and tone may be unclear.
Somewhat Missing words from classmate.
Creative and imaginative / Does not contain a subject or message.
Does not demonstrate use of a speaker.
Lacking in creativity

/20x 2=40

Rules for Sonnets

  • Poem must have of 14 lines only
  • It must be written in iambic pentameter (duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH-duh-DUH). Five iambs per line.
  • It must be written in the following rhyme schemes. Every A rhymes with every A, every B rhymes with every B, and so forth.
  • Elizabethan/Shakespearean
  • Quatrains-three, four-line groups (abab/cdcd/efef)
  • Couplet-two final rhyming lines (gg)
  • Petrarchan/Italian
  • Octave-eight lines (abba/abba)
  • Sestet-six lines (cde/cde or cdc/cdc)

A sonnet also has an analogy — it builds up a certain way.

In an Italian sonnet, the argument builds up like this:

  • Octave-the first eight lines and presents an idea, question or proposition. Write it here:
  • Sestet- the final six lines and provides a conclusion, answer, or resolution. Write it here:

In a Shakespearean sonnet, the argument builds up like this:

  • First quatrain (first four lines): An expositionintroduces the main theme and main metaphor.
  • Second quatrain (second four lines): Theme and metaphor extended or complicated; often, some imaginative example is given.
  • Third quatrain: a twist or conflict, often introduced by a "but" (very often leading off the ninth line).
  • Couplet: Summarizes and leaves the reader with a new, concluding image.