Elements of Poetry
Poetry is an art form that has no boundaries or parameters. It can be a representation of a situation, an emotion, or anything in between. Assessing poetry is a difficult task, as the interpretation of poetry is highly subjective and often highly personal. To determine the best approach to assess poetry, it is important to first look at the elements of poetry.
The elements of poetry are the components of a poem that are used to create its structure and meaning. These components commonly include imagery, metaphors, similes, personification, alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, and stanza structure. Imagery is the verbal depiction of a sense, emotion, or action. Personification is the assignment of human qualities and characteristics to nonhuman things. Metaphors and similes are comparisons to draw attention to certain qualities of a subject in a poetic way. Alliteration is the use of similar sounds in closely associated words. Rhyme is the use of similar sounds at the end of lines or phrases. Rhythm is the use of stressed and unstressed syllables as a way to create a certain tempo within the poem. Lastly, the stanza is the structuring of the lines into sections.
Functions of Poetry
Once elements of poetry are known, it is important to Figure out the function of the poetry. What is the poet attempting to do? There are four primary functions that poetry can fulfill: narrative, didactic, lyrical, and dramatic. Narrative poetry is used to tell a story; it usually has a plot and characters, and often employs classic poetic structures such as iambic pentameter. Didactic poetry has a moral theme and is meant to instruct or teach. It is often written as advice or for a moral lesson. Lyrical poetry celebrates beauty, love, and life, and relies heavily on imagery and emotions. Dramatic poetry is written in the form of a play, with dialogue and narrative between the characters.
Criteria for Evaluation
Once the elements and functions of a poem are known, it is then necessary to decide which criteria to use when evaluating the poem. Poetry can be assessed by three main criteria: craftsmanship, meaning, and aesthetic. Craftsmanship is an evaluation of the poem’s form, structure, and use of language. Meaning is a subjective evaluation of the theme and moral lesson (if any) that the poem conveys. Aesthetic is an assessment of the poem’s beauty, emotion, and power.
The National Council of Teachers of English has published the Criteria for Evaluating Student Writing, which uses research-based standards of evaluation to score student writing in English classrooms. The Criteria outlines a six-point scale for evaluating student writing, which can be applied to assessing poetry: score one for poor writing, three for competent writing, and six for exceptional writing. The specific criteria for each score level can be adjusted to reflect the evaluation of poetry as well.
Types of Assessments
With the criteria for evaluating poetry outlined, it is time to decide which type of assessment is appropriate for the task. There are three main types of poetry assessments: traditional paper-and-pencil assessments, rubric-based assessments, and performance assessments. Traditional paper-and-pencil assessments are the most common, and have the student answer questions about the poem using a single- or multiple-choice format. Rubric-based assessments are a series of criteria-based questions which require the student to evaluate the poem based on the criteria. Performance assessments are hands-on activities which have the student create or perform something that is inspired by the poem.
Peer Assessment
Peer assessment is a valuable tool for evaluating poetry; it allows students to evaluate their peers’ work by focusing on the criteria outlined in the assessment. It also helps with team-building and fostering a sense of community in the classroom. When assessing poetry as a class, the teacher should assign a peer-assessment partner for each student, provide instruction on how to give feedback, and encourage dialogue between peer-assessors. That way, the students can provide feedback to each other in a constructive manner and learn from their peers while they evaluate their work.
Self Assessment
Self-assessment is another valuable tool for evaluating poetry. It requires the student to evaluate their own work using the criteria outlined in the assessment. It is a valuable skill, as it allows the student to gain an understanding of their own strengths and weaknesses and adjust their approach in future assignments. Teachers should provide guidance on effective self-assessment and ensure that the students are aware of their goals, the criteria for success, and the possible pitfalls to avoid.
Summative Assessment
Finally, summative assessment is used to measure the student’s overall understanding of the material. A summative assessment can be used at the end of a poetry unit to assess the student’s understanding of the elements, functions, and criteria of poetry and to evaluate their craftsmanship, meaning, and aesthetic. For summative assessments, teachers should provide multiple choice questions that assess the student’s understanding of the material and evaluate the poem’s use of craft and its message and meaning.
Formative Assessment
Formative assessment is a valuable tool for assessing poetry throughout a unit, as it allows the teacher to gauge students’ progress throughout the learning process. Formative assessments can include activities and assignments that allow the student to explore the material, such as pre-writing activities, peer-editing, and writing exercises. Formative assessments are often less formal and allow for creative expression.
Scoring and Grading
When grading poetry assessments, teachers should use a rubric that clearly outlines the expectations for each element of the assessment. The rubric should also include a scale for scoring the student’s performance on the assessment that reflects an understanding of the material. Once the rubric is created, the teacher can then score and grade the student’s assessment using the criteria outlined in the rubric.
Analysis and Reflection
As part of a poetry assessment, it is important to encourage students to reflect on their work. After the assessment has been scored and graded, the teacher should provide time for the student to analyze their work and consider how they could have improved upon it. This allows the student to gain an understanding of their own writing process and better develop their skills.
Conclusion
Assessing poetry is a difficult task. However, with a clear understanding of the elements and functions of poetry, the criteria for evaluating it, and the types of assessments that are available, teachers are better equipped to create effective assessments that accurately reflect the student’s understanding of the material. It is also important for teachers to provide opportunities for reflection and analysis, so that the students can gain an understanding of the writing process and how it applies to their own work.
