Assignment 6

Due Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, Sunday of Unit 6
Points: 100

Overview:

For this assignment, you will analyze a children’s poem of your choice and then answer a set of
questions. There are 16 questions included, each worth 6.25 points.

Instructions:

• First, choose one (1) children’s poem to evaluate (some options are provided in the Readings
and Resources).

• Then, in the assignment link in Blackboard, discuss each of the following questions using
full sentences, and provide examples from the poem. If a question does not apply to your
poem, explain why it does not apply to the poem. Do not leave any items blank.

1. First, provide the title and author of the children’s poem that you chose. Then answer:
How does the rhythm of the poem reinforce and create the meaning of the poem?

2. If the poem rhymes, does it sound natural or contrived? Explain.
3. How does the sound of the poem add to its meaning?
4. Does the poem use alliteration? Onomatopoeia? Repetition? To what effect?
5. How does the poem create sensory images of sight, touch, smell, or taste? List some

of the poem’s sensory images.
6. Are the sensory images included related to a child’s delight within those particular

senses? How?
7. What is the quality of imagination in the poem? Does the poem make the child see

something in a fresh, new way, or does it rely on tired clichés? Provide examples to
support your answers.

8. Is the figurative language appropriate to children’s lives?
9. Are the similes and metaphors used ones that a child would appreciate and

understand? Provide examples.
10. What is the tone of the poem? Does it patronize childhood by looking down on it? Is it

didactic and preachy? Does it see childhood in a sentimental or nostalgic way? Offer
examples to support your answer.

11. Do you think the poem is appropriate for children? Will it appeal to them, and will they
like it? Why or why not?

12. How has the poet created the emotional intensity of the poem?
13. Does every word work to heighten the feelings conveyed?
14. Does the shape of the poem contribute to the poem’s meaning? How?

CHS203 – Children’s Literature and Language Arts

Unit 6 Assignment: Analysis of a Children’s Poem

15. What is the purpose of the poem? To amuse? To describe in a fresh way? To
comment on humanity? To draw parallels to our lives?

16. How well has the poet achieved the poem’s purpose?

Requirements:

• Use your own words and include the in-text citation for any resources you may use when
answering some of these questions.

o For example, if you are citing your textbook, use the in-text citation: (Kiefer & Tyson,
2019) and the reference: Kiefer, B. Z., Tyson, C. A., Parsons Barger, B., Patrick, L. &
Reilly-Sanders, E. (2019). Charlotte Huck’s children’s literature: A brief guide (3rd ed.).
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

• Be sure to use appropriate paragraph breaks and keep your writing free from spelling and
grammatical errors.

Be sure to read the criteria below by which your work will be evaluated before you write and
again after you write.

Assignment Question Rubric

Each question of the assignment will be graded using the following criteria:

CRITERIA Deficient Needs Improvement Satisfactory Proficient

(0% – 59%) (60% – 79%) (80% – 89%) (90% – 100%)

Content

(40%)

Subject matter is
minimally
addressed.
Opinions are
offered, but
arguments lack
scholarly backing.

Subject matter is
adequately
addressed.
Arguments are
partially supported
by scholarly
research.

Subject matter is
fairly well
addressed.
Arguments are
supported by
scholarly research
but could be
further elaborated
with specific
details.

Subject matter is
thoroughly
addressed.
Arguments are
well elaborated
and fully
supported by
scholarly research
and specific
examples.

Structure and
Flow

(40%)

Flow is poor.
Paragraphing is
inappropriate.
Transitions are
minimal or absent.
Significant
redundancy is
evident.

Flow is adequate.
Paragraphs may
be too long or too
short. Transitions
are minimal, and
redundancy is
evident.

Flow is good.
Paragraphing is
mostly
appropriate.
Transitions are
present, and
redundancies are
minimal.

Flow is excellent.
Paragraphing is
clear, and
transitions are
smooth and
consistent.
Inappropriate
redundancies are
absent.

Clear and
Professional
Writing and APA
Format

(20%)

Errors impede
professional
presentation;
writing and
formatting
guidelines are not
followed.

Numerous errors
exist that interfere
with a
professional
presentation.

Writing and
formatting
guidelines are
being followed but
have a few errors
that do not
impede
professional
presentation.

Writing and
formatting
guidelines are
being followed
and are clear and
professional. APA
compliant with no
to minimal errors
when applicable.