Rick Reads The Life's Work of an English Teacher

Poetry

Writing Assignments

Prompts, checklists, sample essays, and rubrics for the poetry explication and the essays that compare two poems.

The poetry explication

Background reading, a list of poems to choose from, a checklist for each stage of the paper, and the grading forms.

Background: Writing an Explication

How to prove a reading of a poem: the purpose of an explication and the kinds of evidence it uses.
Poetry Explication Essay writing

Guided Notes: Writing About Literature

Questions that guide students through the opening sections of Perrine's chapter on writing about literature.
Poetry Explication Worksheet

Best Bets for Poetry Explication

A list of poems in Perrine's Literature that work well for an explication, with advice on choosing one.
Poetry Explication Reading list

Checklist: Analyzing the Poem

A checklist for taking notes on a poem before writing, using Donne's "The Flea."
Poetry Explication Checklist John Donne

Blank Plan for Poetry Explication

A blank outline for planning an explication: thesis, introduction, topic sentences, and details.
Poetry Explication Worksheet

Checklist: Drafting the Explication

A checklist for drafting the explication.
Poetry Explication Checklist

Checklist: Revising for Content

A peer reviewer's checklist for revising an explication for content.
Poetry Explication Checklist Revision

Checklist: Revising for Style

A checklist for revising an explication for effective expression.
Poetry Explication Checklist Revision

Checklist: Revising for Mechanics

A checklist for revising an explication for grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Poetry Explication Checklist Revision

Grading Form: Poetry Analysis

The grading form for a poetry analysis, scored on content, style, and mechanics.
Poetry Explication Scoring rubric

Grading Form: Tone Analysis

The grading form for a tone analysis, scored on content, style, and mechanics.
Poetry Tone Scoring rubric

Explicating “The Flea”

The daily schedule, questions for analysis, a sample plan, a student model, and revision and grading guides for an explication of Donne's poem.

Explication Schedule

The daily steps for writing an explication of Donne's "The Flea," from the first reading to the final paper.
Poetry Explication John Donne Schedule

Questions for Analysis: The Flea

Sixteen questions that guide a close reading of Donne's "The Flea," from speaker and tone to diction and imagery.
Poetry Explication John Donne Close reading

Sample Plan: Larkin

A filled-in plan for an explication of Larkin's "A Study of Reading Habits," with thesis, topic sentences, and details.
Poetry Explication Philip Larkin Student sample

Student Model: The Flea

A student's explication of Donne's "The Flea," stanza by stanza.
Poetry Explication John Donne Student sample

Revision Guide: The Flea

What to fix when revising an explication of "The Flea": content, style, and mechanics.
Poetry Explication John Donne Revision

Teacher Response to Explications

Sample comments on quotations, style, grammar, and punctuation in student explications.
Poetry Explication Revision Essay writing

Grading Form: Explication

The grading form for an explication, scored on content, style, and mechanics.
Poetry Explication Scoring rubric John Donne

Comparing two poems: Keats and Frost

An AP-style prompt on two star poems, two sample essays, and the rubric.

Essay Prompt: Keats and Frost

An AP-style prompt that asks students to compare Keats's "Bright Star" with Frost's "Choose Something Like a Star."
Poetry Comparison and contrast Essay prompts John Keats Robert Frost

Sample Essay: "Stars" (Score 7)

A sample essay on the Keats and Frost star poems that scores a 7.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Student sample

Sample Essay: "Stars" (Score 9)

A sample essay on the Keats and Frost star poems that scores a 9.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Student sample

Rubric: Keats and Frost

The scoring rubric for the essay that compares the Keats and Frost poems.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Scoring rubric

Comparing two poems: Yeats and Updike

An AP-style prompt on two poems about birds, notes on each poem, model paragraphs, and the rubric.

Essay Prompt: Yeats and Updike

An AP-style prompt that asks students how Yeats's "The Wild Swans at Coole" shapes Updike's "The Great Scarf of Birds."
Poetry Comparison and contrast Essay prompts W. B. Yeats

Notes on "The Wild Swans at Coole"

Answers to the questions for analyzing and evaluating Yeats's "The Wild Swans at Coole."
Poetry Comparison and contrast W. B. Yeats Close reading

Notes on "The Great Scarf of Birds"

Answers to the questions for analyzing and evaluating Updike's "The Great Scarf of Birds."
Poetry Comparison and contrast John Updike Close reading

Organizational Pattern: Comparison and Contrast

Steps for organizing an essay that compares the Yeats and Updike poems.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Essay writing

Model Paragraphs: Yeats and Updike

Model introductions and body paragraphs for the Yeats and Updike comparison.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Student sample

Rubric: Yeats and Updike

The scoring rubric for the timed essay on the Yeats and Updike poems.
Poetry Comparison and contrast Scoring rubric