Practice Essay

Below are the steps that you should be utilising when preparing and writing an essay response. Today you will be starting an essay response which will be due to me by Monday. You are responding to the following question:

William Shakespeare's tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet, appeals to teenage audiences in 2010 because the themes that are explored are similar to the issues that young people are encountering in their daily lives. To what extent is this statement valid?

 

Essay Development Steps:

Step 1: Underline key words/phrases

 

Step 2: Determine whether you need to ask any questions about the task.

 

Step 3: In your own words, explain what you believe the question is asking.

 

Step 4: Brainstorm possible responses/key ideas/main points

Step 5: Devise a thesis statement (this answers the question).

Step 6: Devise topic sentences for each main body paragraph (need to link directly to thesis statement).

Step 7: Find evidence for each main point.

Step 8: In dot point format, explain how evidence links/proves main point.

Step 9: Is there a way your first main point links to second and so on

Step 10: Are there any conclusions/evaluations to be made after considering all main points?

 

*Completed at least up to step 10 before test*

Step 11: Attempt introduction. NB. This statement needs to be clear.

Step 12: Attempt main body paragraphs.

-Topic sentence

-Explain

-Evidence

-Expand/elucidate/evaluate

-Concluding/linking statement

 

Step 13: Attempt conclusion. Revisit your thesis and main points but don’t simply re-write. A conclusion implies that you have come to a final resolution of some sort.

Step 14: Look back at question and plan, then read over essay to ensure you have

a)Answered the question

b)Completed all steps of your plan

Step 15: Make any changes that that were needed after previous step.

Step 16: Proof-read and edit - focus on technical elements: spelling, grammar, tense, sentence structure, expression, capital letters, punctuation, word choice, paragraphs deal with 1 idea only, underlined text title.

Step 17: Final read through

Weekend Homework Week 3-4

Write a persuasive paragraph that responds to the following statement:

Juliet would not have been forced to take such drastic action if she simply communicated with her family. Ultimately, Juliet, her mother and her father needed to sit down and have a nice long talk.

The sun, the moon, the stars

For homework, write an extended response (using the same guidelines as the previous paragraphs) that addresses the following statement/question:

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare makes effective use of imagery that is related to the sky. How does this imagery help the audience to gain a greater understanding of the characters and/or central themes.

This task is due to be posted on your blog by no later than Friday.

Please note that I am giving you a large space of time to complete the work. This is so that you can plan, write and revise your response. You should not be leaving it until Thursday night and then quickly throwing a couple of lines together.

I am also providing this timeframe so that you can also spend time revising the sections of the play that we look at in class each day.

Work for Friday 15th October and homework for the long weekend

Hi girls,

While I am away at QG Athletics you are to spend the lesson completing the following task:

Following the same format/instructions as the homework task from earlier in the week (that dealt with respect in the Capulet family) you are to plan and then write a paragraph response to the following statement.

Romeo is an impulsive character and his actions are influenced by his emotions.

Your response should be based on what we have read so far and you should aim to work individually.

For homework over the weekend, you should aim to expand upon your character profile for Romeo and begin one for Juliet, using the questions that were provided for Romeo and Benvolio.

If you are not sure on any of these elements please e-mail me and I will try and help you via e-mail.

Respect your elders!

Image taken from: Google Images on 13/10/10

From what we have read so far, write an extended response (at least one well-developed paragraph) that explores the following statement:

As Romeo and Juliet progresses, the audience is positioned to see that in the Capulet household respect for the family elders is paramount. 

As you develop your paragraph, ensure that you include/complete the following:

1. A clear topic sentence that answers the question

2. Depth and detail in your analysis - please note, I am asking for analysis NOT a recount of the play

3. Reference to one or more characters (you may also like to take the time to comment on any differences that can be seen when considering how this theme relates to different characters)

4. Relevant evidence that helps to support your main points

5. Synthesise your evidence - take the time to explain why it is relevant. Please note, this does not mean your simply include a quote and then translate it into what you deem 'normal' English. You are writing for an informed audience who understands the language in the play

6. A closing statement that adequately sums up your response

7. Take the time to proof-read and edit

This is due on your Blog by Friday 

Please note, there is a possibility that I will not be here on Friday; however, I am still expecting that the task is completed. This is because there will be a new piece for you to work on over the long weekend and I would like to look at this response over the weekend.

Weekend Homework - Due Monday of Week 2

You have a couple of things to do over the weekend girls.

1. Catch up on any work that is incomplete from earlier homework. This includes going back into your posts and proof-reading and editing if I have made a comment about this on your blog.

2. Complete your character map that was started in class on Thursday - most of you have already finished this but I would like to see them first thing next week. This will obviously be done on paper not your blog.

3.Based on what we have listened to and read so far, I would like you to start two character profiles. One for Romeo and one for Benvolio. In your character profile, I would like you to consider the following things:

* How would you describe this character's personality?
* How is this character viewed by other people in the play?
* What relationship does this person have to others in the play?
* What does this character's main role seem to be?
* Are there any specific themes that you can identify that are linked to this character?

As your develop your character profiles you should be aiming to include quotes to support your claims and explain why the quotes are significant (I.e. Synthesize) While you will obviously keep going in and editing these profiles as the play develops you need to be publishing each time you make an addition so that we can share ideas as a class. Make sure that you reference quotes with the Act Number, Scene Number and Line Numbers (Act V, Scene III, Line 33-35 OR V, III, 33-55 OR V.II.33-35)

As I mentioned in class yesterday, I would strongly recommend that after each lesson you go back over what we have read in class that day. You can either read directly from your text book or you may prefer to use the No Fear Shakespeare site. This site provides two versions of the play, side by side, so that you can see the original version next to a contemporary interpretation. This may help you to develop your understanding. However, make sure that when quoting you use the original.

The link to the site is:http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet/

Homework Task - Tuesday 5th October

Your homework tonight is to complete the activities from today's lesson (you may not be able to access the Prologue from home so if you didn't get to this you can skip it - but you must finish the section on "Love Story").

Once you have finished the class work, you need to complete the following creative/empathy exercise:

One of the central themes in Romeo and Juliet revolves around relationships and love, but it also links to the influence of family members on such a relationship. You are to write a diary entry that explores the following scenario.

It is 2010 and a girl in her late teens has started dating a guy that she believes is her true love. Unfortunately, her parents, family and friends don't approve of him and are trying to force her to dump him. Her parents have even gone so far as to say that they will disown her if she doesn't cut all contact with this guy. In her diary she writes down her feelings about the whole situation. What does she write?

In your response, consider where in the world this girl lives, what her family situation is, what her social status is, what it is about the guy that her family and friends dislike, etc.

Opening Lesson for "Romeo and Juliet"

Image taken from: http://www.google.com/imgres on 5/10/10

For the first lesson of this term we will be looking at the themes of Romeo and Juliet and how these themes, alongside the classic story, have influenced popular culture. Specifically, we will be looking at Taylor Swift's song, Love Story and briefly at Baz Lurhmann's 1998 film adaptation of Romeo + Juliet.

You will find a copy of the song lyrics, along with links to YouTube clips and associated questions on Blackboard. You need to go into the main Romeo and Juliet folder in Units of Work, then click on the folder entitled, Exploring the world of Juliet and her Romeo. The file you are looking for is called, Introductory Lesson for Romeo and Juliet. It is at the top of the page.

You need to post the answers to the questions on your blog.

Please be aware that we will be using the Blogs quite extensively this term so you will need to be vigilant in checking the class blog and keeping up to date with your work.

Can I also please ask that those girls who were not in class at the end of last term take the time to do the assessment of last term's unit and my teaching? Thanks :)