Download Poetry Paragraph - Issaquah Connect

Defining Poetry
Name________________________________Per__
You are going to write an analytical paragraph explaining how a poem fits with a particular idea
of what poetry should be or do.
Instructions
1. Pick a definition of poetry from the list of quotes, or from your own writing, that fits one
of the two poems, “Altazor” or “What He Thought.”
2. Write an analytical paragraph explaining why the poem fits the definition.
3. Begin with your thesis. (A possible thesis would be something like this: “Altazor” by
Vincente Huidobro exemplifies Novalis’s idea that “Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by
reason.”)
4. Include at least three specific examples from the poem with fully developed analysis
explaining why the examples you have chosen match the ideas in the definition.
5. Refer to the rubric on the back.
Submit your paragraph to turnitin.com. Paragraphs not submitted to turnitin.com will receive
60%.
Analytical Writing Paragraph Rubric
Name___________________________________
Thesis
3
Thesis is a specific, arguable and insightful idea about the text.
2
Thesis is specific and arguable.
1
Thesis is a general statement about the text that may contain an opinion, but is too broad
to be a strong argument.
0
Thesis is a summary statement, or there is no clear thesis.
Evidence
6
Evidence is detailed, well-chosen, and used to develop thesis, not to show plot.
5
Evidence is clear, specific, and supports thesis, but examples may be slightly more
obvious or conventional.
4
Evidence shows understanding of text, but reveals plot rather than supports thesis.
3
Evidence shows lack of understanding of text, or there is a lack of evidence.
Analysis
6
Analysis develops ideas expressed in the thesis by closely analyzing quotes. All ideas are
fully, clearly explained.
5
Analysis clearly explains how evidence supports the thesis, but does not further develop
ideas. Some evidence is closely analyzed.
4
Analysis remains focused on the thesis, but not all ideas are fully expressed. Analysis
may not address the quotes used.
3
Analysis repeats evidence or thesis, does not support thesis, or there is no analysis.
Style
5
Prose is articulate and original. Word choice is precise and sentence structure is varied.
Quotes are fluidly embedded and evidence and analysis are woven together.
4
Prose is clear with correct word choice and some varied sentence structure. Quotes are
embedded. Evidence and analysis are not as smoothly woven together.
3
Prose and word choice are clear, but fairly bland. Most quotes are embedded. Transitions
between evidence and analysis may be choppy.
2
Prose is awkward, choppy or unclear. Word choice or sentence structure is confusing.
Quotes are not embedded.
Pitfalls: Points will be taken off for:


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Formatting errors, including citation errors or lack of citations
Grammar or spelling errors
Use of 1st and 2nd person pronouns (I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, we, us, our)
Total_______/20