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