Helpful Notes and Don

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Helpful Notes and DontsRomeo and Juliet
Literary Analysis Essay

• Ms. Mathews
• English 9 Honors

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Overview

1. Before Writing
2. Basic Writing Expectations
3. Introduction Paragraphs and Thesis Statements
4. Using Quotations Appropriately
5. Evidence
6. Transitions Between and Inside Paragraphs
7. Conclusion Paragraphs

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Tips for BEFORE you begin writing...

• Consider the question carefully, and ask
  yourself
• What is the question asking you to do? (Make
  sure you understand each part of the assignment!)
• What themes/symbols/motifs are involved?
• Can you answer this question intelligently?
• Can you find textual support for your argument?
• Brainstorm for a few minutes!!
• Look up quotes in the text consider how to piece
  them together to form a strong argument
• Make an outline of your ideas
• THEN you can begin writing

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Basic Writing Expectations

• Formatting (just do it right!)
• Tense (LPT!)
• POV (3rd only!)
• Contractions (DO NOT do it!)
• Titles (seriously?!)
• A person is a WHO, not a THAT.
• Romeo is someone WHO goes after what he wants.
• Use clear, concise diction.
• Avoid weak words, clichés, and informal tone.

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General Style Tips

• Avoid rhetorical questions and exclamation points
  in formal writing. (They are cheesy!!!!!!)
• Remove extra THATs from your writing.
• Romeo knows he will need to do something that he
  might not otherwise consider so that he can be
  with the woman he loves.
• Avoid vague or wishy-washy statements
• He can be described as
• Romeo seems to be
• It appears as though
• One can see
• Avoid repetition, redundancy, and saying the same
  thing multiple times. (get it?)

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Introduction Paragraphs

• The introduction should fill readers in on the
  important information they need to know before
  reading your essay.
• You are literally introducing readers to the
  play
• Reader, this is Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and
  Juliet, this is the reader. (Well, not really
  the second part)
• You may provide a BRIEF overview of the plot,
  but do not retell the entire story.
• Introduction paragraphs should be more than one
  sentence of background a thesis. Aim for
  approximately FOUR sentences.

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What NOT to do in the Introduction

• Do not gush excessively about how wonderful the
  text is. After all, who are you to judge
  Shakespeares work? He is a heck of a lot more
  famous than you!
• But seriously, avoid judging the work as
  excellent, brilliant, exceptional,
  magnificent, or any other cheesy adjectives.
• In short, you do not need to convince me it is a
  brilliant piece of literature I would not have
  assigned it if it was not. Do not be a suck up. ?

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Strong Introduction Examples

• Set during the middle ages, Shakespeares play
  Macbeth is a story about political intrigue and
  regicide. Macbeth and his wife Lady Macbeth
  embark on a murderous path in search of power.
• Shakespeares tragic play Macbeth, traces the
  rise and fall of an ambitious Scottish lord. At
  the beginning, Macbeth is a well honored general
  and thane of the King of Scotland however, after
  a peculiar run in with a trio of prophetic
  witches, Macbeth begins to question his
  subservient nature and begins also to wonder
  whether he should be king.

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Thesis Statements

• Thesis statements must be defendablethey cannot
  be FACTUAL
• The Capulets and the Montagues dislike one
  another is not a thesisit is a FACT!
• Romeo has no control over who he falls in love
  withnow that is an opinion!
• A thesis should contain a TAG Title, Author,
  Genre
• In Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet, yadda
  yadda yadda
• blah blah blah in the play Romeo and Juliet by
  William Shakespeare.
• If you are referring to a specific part of the
  play, indicate that in your TAG In Act II of
  Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet,

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More about Thesis Statements

• Your thesis must be ONE sentence!
• I realize some of you may have learned to write a
  separate thesis and method statement however, it
  is best to combine them into one concise
  statement.
• It must also be clear, concise, and defendable,
  not simply a fact.
• In English 9 Honors, the thesis statement appears
  LAST in the intro paragraph.

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Even more about Thesis Statements

• A truly insightful thesis should not simply
  regurgitate the prompt.
• In Shakespeares play Macbeth, Macbeth and Lady
  Macbeths relationship changes.
• This is only a level one thesis it doesnt
  provide any insight into how or why the
  relationship changes.
• A Level Two thesis provides an extension
• In Shakespeares play Macbeth, the initially
  unnatural balance of power between Macbeth and
  Lady Macbeth ultimately shifts when Macbeth no
  longer feels remorse for his murderous actions
  and Lady Macbeth experiences the tangible effects
  of her sins in the form of hallucinations and
  sleepwalking.

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Incorporating a Method Statement into the Thesis

• A method statement indicates to readers HOW you
  plan to prove your thesis or the specific points
  or events you will address.
• Basic Thesis Macbeth changes from a war hero
  to a tyrant in Shakespeares play Macbeth.
• Thesis with Method Statement His decisions to
  murder Duncan and Banquo, as well as his
  irrational slaughter of Macduffs family
  demonstrate Macbeths downward spiral from a war
  hero to a cruel tyrant desperate to maintain
  power in Shakespeares tragic play Macbeth.

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Assertions

• The assertion in your body paragraph is your
  claim.
• A strong assertion is the MOST IMPORTANT part of
  your paragraph.
• Make sure your assertion is worded CLEARLY!
• If you 1) do not have an assertion, 2) have an
  unclear assertion, or 3) have a weak assertion,
  your argument WILL SUFFER.
• If you do not have a strong assertion to guide
  you, you will not have anything substantial to
  say, and you will most likely flail around in
  different directions without arguing anything
  concrete.

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Using Quotations Appropriately

• Make sure you use enough of the original quote so
  it makes sense in the paragraph you are writing
  (no quote frags!)
• After killing Duncans guards, Macbeth exclaims,
  Th expedition of my violent love (II.iii.129).
• This is not a complete quote OR a complete
  thought
• Do not use square brackets to translate
  Shakespearean phrasing into modern language
  brackets should only be used to clarify or add
  necessary information

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Using Quotations Appropriately

• Do not use quotes longer than four typed lines
• When giving context, do not simply list
  act/sceneprovide a brief explanation of
  situation.
• Be sure to provide the quotes context IN the
  couching sentenceotherwise you will slip into
  plot summary after the quote, when you should be
  providing commentary.
• Example When Macbeth wavers in his
  determination to kill Duncan, Lady Macbeth
  questions his masculinity, saying, When you
  durst do it, then you were a man (I.vii.56).

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Placement of Quote Context

• Consider the following. Which example
  demonstrates proper context and commentary?
• Example One Macbeth says, Be innocent of the
  knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou applaud the
  deed (III.ii.51-2). Macbeth is telling Lady
  Macbeth not to worry and to let him take charge
  of their plans.
• Example Two Macbeth reassures Lady Macbeth that
  he will take care of their plans Be innocent
  of the knowledge, dearest chuck, till thou
  applaud the deed (III.ii.51-2). Macbeth has
  asserted his power, regaining his role as man in
  their relationship.

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Couching Quotes

• Couching a quote means effectively introducing a
  quote into a written composition
• When you couch a quote, you make it comfortable

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How to Couch Quotes

• Use a COMMA to separate a quotation from an
  introductory phrase. Capitalize the first letter
  of the first word of a complete quotation.
• As Piggy disgustedly watches the boys scramble to
  the top of the hill to start the fire, he can
  only say, Like a crowd of kids- (38).
• Use a COLON to introduce a quotation when your
  introductory phrase and the quote are both
  complete sentences.
• As the boys gather after their close call with
  the fire, Piggy comes to a startling realization
  That little un that had the mark on his face
  where is he now? I dont see him (46).
• Use no punctuation mark if you include a partial
  quote as part of your sentence. Notice that the
  first word in the quotation is not capitalized.
• The twins, Sam and Eric, were so
  indistinguishable from one another that the boys
  begin to call them samneric (63).

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Evidence

• The quotes you find must make sense when used
  together.
• Consider the best order in which to integrate
  your quotes. (Chronological order is usually
  best)
• Do NOT abbreviate quotes in shorthand to save
  time.
• You MAY, however, add clarifying info in
  brackets or remove unnecessary info by
  inserting an ellipsis ( . . . )
• Remember to COUCH and CITE each quote
  appropriately. Include adequate CONTEXT too!
• Analyze (explain the significance of) each quote
  AFTER you have couched/cited it, not before.

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Evidence and Commentary

• After you have introduced a quote, write at least
  TWO sentences of commentary.
• Commentary is NOT a summary of the plot.
• Commentary is YOUR ANALYSIS of the significance
  of the quotes you have presented in the context
  of the entire work.
• Do not simply spit out my class discussion points
  verbatim use your OWN brain, your OWN words,
  your OWN thoughts!
• If you are using two quotes that work well
  together, there should be a natural progression
  from the commentary about one into the
  introduction for the next.

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Commentary is NOT Plot Summary
After murdering Duncan, and returning to his
chamber with bloody hands, Macbeth exclaims,
Will all great Neptunes ocean wash this blood
clean from my hand? (II.ii.78-9).

• Plot Summary ? BAD
• Macbeth is worried about the blood on his hands
  because he thinks it will never be washed away,
  even by the ocean. He has just killed Duncan and
  is feeling uneasy.

Commentary ? GOOD Macbeths concern is not
actually for the physical blood on his hands
rather, his remorse is a result of killing
Duncan. The blood on his hands symbolizes this
guilt, a feeling that will take more than water
to wash away.
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Transitions Between Paragraphs

• Do NOT rely on contrived transitions to link two
  paragraphs.
• Furthermore, Additionally, Secondly, In
  conclusion, etc.
• Use TOPICAL transitions between body paragraphs.
• To transition between paragraphs, refer to a
  word, phrase, or idea from the LAST sentence of
  the previous paragraph in the FIRST sentence of
  the next paragraph.

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Strong Transition Example 1

• He is so frightened about feeling even guiltier
  that he invokes darkness to hide his conscience
  from guilt.
• Although Macbeth and his wife call upon darkness
  to conceal their actions, it is common knowledge
  amongst characters in Macbeth that unnatural
  events and murderous actions occur when night
  falls.

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Strong Transition Example 2

• With the night assisting them, Macbeth and Lady
  Macbeth feel much better about killing their
  great king.
• After the murder of Duncan, Macbeth and Lady
  Macbeth call on darkness once more, this time to
  help cover up their murder.

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Strong Transition Example 3

• By undermining his masculinity and bribing him
  with her affection, Lady Macbeth gains complete
  control over Macbeths decision.
• This controlling element of their relationship
  continues throughout the play, but Lady Macbeths
  role switches to the subservient one.

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Strong Transition Example 4

• In this marriageMacbeth plays the woman and his
  wife the man.
• Although Macbeth possesses womanly qualms, he
  soon reverts back to a more manly state, while
  Lady Macbeth becomes more delicate and troubled
  by comparison.

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Transitions WITHIN Paragraphs

• Use transition words INSIDE paragraphs to link
  together ideas and sentences.
• Do not jump from one idea to the next without
  drawing readers along.
• In this assignment, many people switched tracks
  too quickly, leaving readers confused.
• Use transition words like Furthermore, Similarly,
  Additionally, Consequently, etc. to move from the
  first half of a body paragraph to the second half
  (from evidence/comm 1 to ev/comm 2).

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Conclusion Paragraphs

• A strong conclusion must start with the restated
  thesis.
• Do not repeat your thesis word for word simply
  rephrase the idea (you do not need a full TAG)
• Your conclusion should NOT simply repeat all your
  previous points, but should
• EXTENDtake your analysis one step further
• EXPANDconnect to a larger theme or idea
• It should NOT jump to an entirely new topic.

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Conclusion Paragraphs

• End your essay by somehow relating the topic you
  are writing about to life, to the world at large,
  or to a message or moral the author is trying to
  impart to readers.
• You are NOT introducing a new topic, simply
  extending the one you have already presented.
• This will be the profound thought that sets your
  essay apart from the average analysis.

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Grammar FUN!

• What the heck is PV? (Passive Voice)
• John threw the football ? active voice
• The football was thrown by John ? passive voice
• Which constructions is WORDIER?
• We will study this rule in detail later this year
  . . .
• What do semicolons do?
• They LINK two closely related COMPLETE SENTENCES
• They do NOT introduce quotations!