Rubric for Evaluating Poetry
Rubric for Evaluation of Poetry
Student Rubric
Starting Out / On My Way / Wow!Words
/ · vague words· ordinary, tired words / · words describe what I mean
· Some words are especially good / · just the right words
· words create clear pictures in my head
Sound / · no rhythm to the words
· sounds like regular reading / · some rhythm is like what I want
· sometimes the sounds reflect the meaning / · the rhythm of the words is like the meaning I want
· sounds contribute to the message
Feelings / · my reader is confused or doesn’t connect with what I wrote / · my reader has a connection with what I wrote / · my reader gets an emotional response to what I wrote
Topic / · I just wrote about whatever came into my head
· predictable meaning / · the topic has some elements that are a little new or fresh
· I looked at things in a bit of an unusual way / · the topic is original/ new
· the way I looked at this topic is fresh and surprising
Teacher Rubric
Starting Out / On My Way / Wow!Poetic Language
and Imagery / · mundane, imprecise vocabulary· clichés, tired expressions
· little use of images or other literary devices / · descriptive but prosaic language
· irrelevant details or missing details
· overuse of some words or devices / · precise and vivid vocabulary
· just the right amount of detail to create images
· effective use of images and other literary devices
Sound and Sense / · no rhythm or inconsistent metre
· reads prosaically / · rhythmic elements, with some inconsistencies or misses
· sound reflects meaning with some inconsistencies / · rhythm and metre are consistent with sense of poem
· sound of words and lines contribute to evocative imagery
Audience Reaction / · reader is confused or indifferent / · reader is interested / · reader responds emotionally to poem
Topic / · subject is predictable and mundane or trivial / · topic has some elements that are a little new or fresh or treated in an unusual way / · topic is original
· perspective on topic is fresh, surprising or unusual
Sandra Falconer Pace, adapted from T. Loftsgard, September 2002