Macbeth example essay

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

Goals today: 12th Jan 

practise writing a literary essay 

You will have two questions and you will choose one. 

You bring No Fear Shakespeare and you can bring your own dictionary. 

Mrs Nusser 

What resources and steps will you take to prepare for your Macbeth essay?

Requirements 

Use a minimum of two quotations per paragraph. You can choose quotations from the list on the test or find your own quotations. Be sure to copy them correctly. Use in-text citations (act.scene) and a Works Cited in MLA-style. 

Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. 1606.

Line numbers are not required. You can use the No Fear Shakespeare edition as your source but refer to the original text.

Be sure to write in Arial 12, line distancing 1,5. Write your name, subject, teacher's name and date on top (left margin).

When finished, upload your essay in SOM Assignments (plagiarism check) 5 minutes before the end of the test. 

Example essay Question

How does Shakespeare portray the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

Your essay must contain a clear organizational structure that gives your most important points their own body paragraphs.

You will have one introduction paragraph, two or three paragraphs each with a main point and a conclusion. 

 

Begin by Brainstorming before you begin writing.

A Venn diagram is a great visual tool for brainstorming an essay where you compare and contrast two characters or ideas. 

 

One circle shows the characteristics of the first subject, and another circle shows the characteristics of the second subject; an overlapping section between the circles contains characteristics shared by both subjects.

How does Shakespeare portray the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

Macbeth

Lady Macbeth

similarities

Text

Brainstorm Macbeth's characteristic and Lady Mcabeth's , write their similarities in the middle where the 2 circles overlap. Think of useful quotes. 

Write down one characteristic of Macbeth and one of lady Macbeth and one thing they have in common.

Step 2 develop a thesis statement

Once you’ve brainstormed the similarities and differences between your subjects and you have looked up some quotes, you will begin to understand the relationship between them.

Your Thesis Statement will answer the essay question AND it will state what the essay is about!

 

Thesis statement tip!

Make a question about the subject and then answer that question. Your answer is your thesis statement. 

E.g What makes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth become more different during the play? 

Lady Macbeth feels more guilty as the play progresses and Macbeth becomes more ruthless. This is seen through their reactions to Kind Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff's murders. 

Thesis statement tip 

Take the question and write an answer in one sentence. Your answer is your thesis statement.

How does Shakespeare portray the relationship between Macbeth and Lady Macbeth?

Lady Macbeth feels more guilty as the play progresses and Macbeth becomes more ruthless this affects the power balance in their relationship. This is seen through their reactions to the murders of King Duncan, Banquo and Lady Macduff. 

Write your thesis statement:
a statement declaring what your essay
will be about

Remain faithful to the structure of an essay : introductory paragraph, body paragraphs, conclusion

Write the Introduction.

A good introductory paragraph sets the tone for your entire essay.  introductions start with a hook—such as a rhetorical question or a bold statement. 

After your hook, introduce the play title, author and date of performance. Give a very short summary of the important points that the reader needs to understand what you will examine in your essay (plot, characters, events) 

Your thesis statement should come at the end of the introduction.

Write your Introduction beginning with a hook, introducing the main points you want to make and finally the thesis statement

Write the First Body Paragraph.

Begin with a topic sentence that explains one area of comparison between your first subject and your second subject. For example, if your subjects are two different characters you could use one paragraph to describe the first character using examples and explanation and your second paragraph could describe the second character. The third paragraph topic is similarities, you can start by broadly describing each similar character trait and then explain their differences.

Or

Comparative essays usually take their subjects through several points of comparison. Therefore, plan on writing two or three body paragraphs that tackle your two subjects from a variety of angles. You could look at ambition, conscience, power 

You can then devote at least two sentences to how the characters are similar and two sentences to how they are different.

Link your paragraphs with linking words.- see TEAMS files.  

Write down what your main points will be of your three body paragraphs

Write the Conclusion.

A great literary essay needs a great conclusion. 

By this point, you will hopefully have proven your thesis about how your two subjects are both different and/or similar. 

Your concluding paragraph is your chance to share any final insights and to reinforce the thesis of your overall paper. Do not introduce brand new information in your concluding paragraph.

Write your conclusion.

Study the themes

Prepare the themes and study the characters and plot. 

Prepare and understand the organisation of a literary essay. 

Review linking words and academic vocabulary