Paragraphs for Macbeth

Paragraph 1

Is Macbeth mad in 2.1?

Please use formal analytical paragraph style and look at mad in the formal sense.

Paragraph 2

If you were a director, how would you stage the dagger soliloquy and why?

Please keep the following in mind when writing your opinion paragraph:

• follow paragraph structure,
• give quotations to support your interpretation,
• you may use first person because this is an opinion paragraph,
• you still must use academic language (no slang and don't write as if you were speaking).

Both paragraphs are due and will be typed up on Friday.

Writing a Formal Analytical Paragraph

Soliloquy: A long, usually serious speech that a character in a play makes to an audience and that reveals the character’s thoughts. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/soliloquy)

Writing an analytical paragraph using quotations to support your point

1. Topic sentence: introduce the topic of the paragraph
2. Set up the quote: give required background info so the reader knows why you are giving the quote and can understand the quote
3. Quotation (accurately quoted and cited)
4. Explain how quote proves point
5. (repeat previous 3 steps once or twice)
6.  Closing sentence: sums up point

 Do no refer to yourself in formal analytical paragraph by saying things like "In my opinion" or using "I," "me," "you" etc. Use appropriate academic language (no slang). It is not an opinion paragraph.

Paragraph Structure (General)

·         Topic sentence

·         Support sentences (typically 3 reasons)

·         Closing sentence

Macbeth Act 2 Scene 1

Class Outline

http://folgereducation.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/75thmacbeth362f-dagger.jpg?w=200&h=300

1.  In groups of 4, go over predictions for what you think will happen. Choose one that your group will share with the class.
2. Definition of "soliloquy"
3. Read 2.1
4. Discuss concepts of madness and the dagger soliloquy. View examples below.
5. Using the printed copy of the soliloquy, underline parts of the speech that you think show Macbeth is mad (crazy), and parts of the speech that make you believe he is not mad. This will be used in a written assignment.

Macbeth 1.1-1.5 Quotations

These are the line numbers for the quotations the class thought were the most important.

1.1

1.1.11-12*

1.2

1.2.1-3

1.2.4-7

1.2.8-9

1.2.14-18*

1.2.35*

1.2.37

1.2.43-44

1.2.51-53
1.2.57-59

1.2.63-65*

1.2.68*

1.3

1.3.14

1.3.32-37

1.3.38

1.3.39-42

1.3.49-51*

1.3.52-53

1.3.67-69*

1.3.80-81

1.3.86-90

1.3.91-92

1.3.104-105

1.3.110-111
1.3.120-122

1.3.124-125*

1.3.139-142

 1.3.146-147*

1.4

1.4.4-5

1.4.11-14

1.4.29-30*

1.4.37-39

1.4.47-51*

1.4.53-54

1.5

1.5.15-17*

1.5.38-39

1.5.42-43*

1.5.49-51*

1.5.67-68*

Macbeth! Wednesday and Friday classes

1. Grammar sheets: up to and including Other Uses of Present Tense
2. Recap what has happened so far.
3. Current Characters
4. Read 1.2 and 1.3
5. Get in groups
6. In your groups, look for all examples of imagery that is:

• Light and dark
• Blood

7. As a class, take these up and develop a full list of the first two scenes.
8. Read 1.4 and 1.5
9. Look for light and dark imagery in those scenes.

Essay Writing: Overview of Essay Writing

You will be writing an essay on your ISU book that will be 15% of your final mark.

You will create a 1500-word essay (+/- 300 words) analyzing how a big idea or theme is developed in your novel through the author’s use of various literary devices or elements. Using quotations from the book and your tracking sheets, you will argue for your interpretation of the author's message.

How To Write A Literary Essay

This is not a 5 paragraph essay! This is a 5 section essay! You will have an introduction paragraph, a conclusion paragraph, and in between 3 points. It may be 5 or more paragraphs.

The Essay Format

Section 1: Introduction Paragraph

1. Introduces text and author. May give a 1 or 2 sentence plot summary or background information to help the reader understand the rest of the essay.
2. Ends with thesis (1 sentence) and directional statement (1 sentence).

Section 2: The Body

This is made up of the three points to prove thesis. Each point is explained in at least a paragraph.

·    The first sentence of each point:

o    Should introduce the point (which is found in your directional statement) and how it relates to your thesis.

o    Generally does not include a quote.

·    The support:

o   Claims about the books are supported with quotes and page numbers. The body of each point gives quotations or specific examples with page numbers to support the argument, and explains why each example proves the point. Each of the three main points should have approximately three quotations that are explained.

·    The final sentence of the last paragraph for that point:

o   Sums up the full argument made for that point.

·    All internal paragraphs within a point follow paragraph format—first sentence introduces topic of paragraph, last sentence sums it up.

           

Section 3: Conclusion Paragraph

·    The first sentence rephrases your directional statement by listing again your three points in order. The thesis may be combined into this list or come right after in slightly different words.

·    Rest of the conclusion is final thoughts on how your essay is important in general terms.

·    You should not introduce new information or arguments in the conclusion. Hence, it should usually contain no quotations!

Key Terms

Thesis

·  It is the main argument of the essay.

·  Your entire essay should be dedicated to proving your thesis.

·  It is one sentence and should contain the novel’s title.

·  It is the second last sentence in your introductory paragraph.

Directional Statement

·  The last sentence in your introduction paragraph.

·  It should connect back to the thesis.

·  It should be one sentence listing in order the three points you will develop to prove your argument.

·  You can summarize each point into a few words for this sentence and then expand on the point in the first sentence of that point.

·  You MUST argue each of these points in the SAME order as you introduce them in the directional statement!

·  Stay away from saying “In this essay I will show...” There is no need to refer to the essay itself AND you should never refer to yourself as “I.”

·  Consider starting your sentence with “This is seen in...” “This is apparent when...” “[Name] shows this when...” etc.

Points: these are your three main ways you prove your thesis. They are the body of your argument. Each point can start off with a mini direction statement and wrap up the point however many paragraphs later with a conclusion sentence.

Support: this consists of the (typically) three ways you prove each point. It is made up of quotations and how you explain them.

When to break up a paragraph: When it is natural.

If you are changing the topic a bit within the main point or offering another supporting example you may find a natural point to break up your paragraphs. Make the paragraph break and then be sure to go back to those sentences you separated and adjust them to be proper final or starting paragraph sentences.

HINT: Double space your work as you are writing it. If you get to the point where a single paragraph is more than a page, it is too long. Cut it down or divide it up. 

Mood and How the Character Feels

In many analyses of mood, I often see a bit of a gap in the way mood is proven. As we know, mood (as a literary element) is the reader's emotion/reaction to the text. People often try to explain this by describing the main character's feelings. This may be one of the ways the author creates mood, but if mood is what you are analyzing be sure you explain why the character's feelings have anything to do with mood. You might do this by explaining that the character is the protagonist in the book and the reader is supposed to empathise with him or her. It also helps to try to find an example of how mood is created in descriptions that are not directly related to the emotions of a character.