English Language Arts 12

Poetry Project
For this project you will choose a poet from the list provided to research, prepare and present a
presentation to the class. Your research can include information about the poets life and influence, but
the main aspect of this project to analyze their work. Your project must answer the following questions:
1. When did they live? What significant moments occurred in their life?
2. What were their most significant works?
3. What did you learn from reading their works?
Poets

William Butler Yeats

e.e. cummings
Dylan Thomas
H.D. (Hilda Doolittle)
Jack Kerouac

Sylvia Plath
Langston Hughes
Ezra Pound
Maya Angelou
Elizabeth Bishop

You must also complete the following tasks:

1. Read and analyze 2-3 of their works.
2. Select one work on which to do a close reading.
-What is the rhyme scheme?
-What type of meter is used?
-What type of poem is it?
-What is the theme of the poem?
-What do you think was the authorial intent behind the poem?
-What devices were used and how were they used (symbolism, metaphor, etc.)
Your presentation can be on any presentation software you prefer (Prezi, Powerpoint, Keynote, etc). It
must include a list of Works Cited to demonstrate academic rigor.

Due Date: Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Rubric
CATEGORY
Comprehension

4
Student clearly
understands the

3
Student seems to
understand most of

2
Student
understands some

1
Student has trouble
understanding

poem and
accurately answers
questions related
to the story.
Analysis

Insightfully
describes several
dominant elements
and poetic devices
used by the poet
and thoughtfully
relates how they
are used by the
poet to reinforce
the theme,
meaning, mood, or
feeling of the
poem.

Interpretation

Forms a creative
hypothesis about
the symbolic or
metaphorical
meaning of the
poem and is able
to support this
with evidence
from the text.
Answers are wellstated, and
supported with
evidence from the
reading. No errors
in grammar,
sentence structure,
or spelling. MLA
style is followed in
citation.

the poem and

accurately answers
most questions
related to the
poem.
Accurately
describes a couple
of dominant
elements and
poetic devices
used by the poet
and accurately
relates how these
are used by the
poet to reinforce
the theme,
meaning, mood, or
feeling of the
poem.
Forms a somewhat
reasonable
hypothesis about
the symbolic or
metaphorical
meaning and is
able to support this
with evidence
from the work.
Answers are wellstated, but rarely
supported with
evidence from the
poem. Minor,
grade-appropriate
errors in grammar,
sentence structure
or spelling. MLA
is mostly followed.

The presentation
style is engaging
and creative. It
demonstrates a
strong effort.

The presentation
seems unrehearsed
at times but is
overall strong and
creative.

Writing Skills &

Mechanics

Presentation

parts of the poem

and accurately
answers some
question related to
the poem.
Describes some
dominant elements
and poetic devices
used by the poet,
but has difficulty
describing how
these relate to the
meaning or feeling
of the poem.

most parts of the

story or answers
are incomplete.

Student identifies
the literal meaning
of the work and/or
can relate how the
work makes
him/her feel
personally.

Student finds it
difficult to
interpret the
meaning or mood
of the work.

Answers are not

clearly stated.
Several
mechanical errors
inappropriate to
grade level, but
not strongly
affecting
readability. MLA
style is followed
rather
unsuccessfully.
The presentation is
uneven and fails to
hold the attention
of the audience.

Answers do not
make logical
sense. Mechanical
errors strongly
affect readability.
MLA style is not
followed.

Has trouble
identifying the
dominant elements
and poetic devices
used in the poem.

The presentation
lacks any effort to
make it engaging
and creative.