A free poetry analysis rubric: thesis and interpretation, use of textual evidence, analysis of poetic devices, structure, and conventions.
| Criterion | Points |
|---|---|
Thesis and interpretation Presents a defensible interpretation of the poem’s meaning or effect. | 4 |
Textual evidence Quotes and references specific lines accurately to support claims. | 4 |
Analysis of poetic devices Explains how devices (imagery, meter, rhyme, figurative language) create meaning — not just identifies them. | 5 |
Organization Coherent structure; paragraphs build on one another toward the thesis. | 3 |
Conventions Correct grammar, punctuation, and proper citation of the poem. | 4 |
| Total | 20 |