Through Walt Whitman’s Eyes - Free Verse Poem Rubric
Content
Free Verse
Poem
Characteristics
4 - Advanced
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Ideas
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
Voice
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Proofread
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Publish
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3 - Proficient
Utilizes personification in a
way which conveys
author’s emotion to
audience
Uses an onomatopoeia to
represent a noise within
the poem relating to author
Connection to topic
obvious
Context contains emotion
and mood that is fully
expressed through the use
of personification,
onomatopoeia

Self-selected technique
(e.g., rhythm, repetition,
structure) creates unity
among entire poem
There was no need for
revision regarding both
requisites: embedded
expressive/ figurative
language and
cohesiveness of poem
Typed or written neatly and
contains no smudges,
eraser marks, or other
distraction that take away
from reading poem
2 - Partially Proficient
1 - Non-proficient
Utilizes personification but
does not convey author’s
emotion to audience
Uses an onomatopoeia to
represent a noise within the
poem

Utilizes 1 of the 2
required characteristics
(personification,
onomatopoeia) within
poem
 No attempt at utilizing
personification or
onomatopoeia within
poem


Connection to topic clear
Context contains emotion
and mood that may not be
fully expressed through the
use of personification,
onomatopoeia

 Connection cannot be
determined
 No attempt to use
personal expression of
emotion or mood to fit
context of poem

Self-selected technique (e.g.,
rhythm, repetition, structure)
creates unity throughout 75%
of poem
Attempt to revise was made
to both requisites: embedded
expressive/ figurative
language and cohesiveness
of poem
Correct use of proofreading
marks is evident in draft

Typed or written neatly and
contains only 1 of the
following: smudge, eraser
mark, or other distraction that
takes away reading from
poem

Connection to topic
inferred
Attempt to express
emotion and mood in
poem, but
personification or
onomatopoeia attempt
does not aid in personal
expression
Self-selected technique
(e.g., rhythm, repetition,
structure) creates unity
throughout 50% of poem
Attempt to revise was
made to only 1 of the 2
requisites: embedded
expressive/ figurative
language and
cohesiveness of poem
Some use of
proofreading marks is
evident in draft
Typed or written neatly
and contains 2-3 of the
following: smudges,
eraser marks, or other
distractions that take
away from reading poem

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
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


 Self-selected technique
(e.g., rhythm, repetition,
structure) creates unity in
less than 50% of poem
 Attempt to revise was
made, but the lack of
revision did not ensure
there was embedded
expressive/ figurative
language and
cohesiveness of poem
 No use of proofreading
marks is evident in draft
 Not typed / written neatly
and contains more than 3
of the following: smudges,
eraser marks, or other
distractions that take
away from reading poem