Why should high school students write sonnets?

High school students should write sonnets in order to meet a variety of local and national standards, including applying knowledge of language structure and figurative language, and using a variety of writing strategies for a specific audience or purpose. Writing sonnets can also reflect a student's knowledge of sonnet forms.

Writing poems may appeal to students as an alternative to traditional essay assignments, while still requiring a challenging use of economic language and adherence to a specific form. Additionally, assigning a creative assessment, such as writing a sonnet, gives students an outlet for their emotions and enables them to personalize their assignment.