Compare/Contrast Writing: Romeo and Juliet Adaptations Goal: You will write a compare/contrast essay on the various adaptations of Romeo and Juliet. The different versions you will write about are: Romeo and Juliet, the play by Shakespeare 1968 Franco Zeffirelli Movie Clips 1996 Baz Luhrmann Movie Honors Choice Movie Writing Prompt (Questions can be reordered by student preference): Give a description of each of the different movies and the play. What is each movie versions like? Give some director information. How did the movies and the play relate to one another? What was similar between the movies and the play? What was different between the movies and the play? What artistic decisions did the different directors make? Why might the directors have made these decisions? Were there any aspects of the movies that were better than the play or vise versa? What was memorable about the play or movies? Is there anything that you would have imagined differently than how it was shown in the movies? Which version did you like best? Which version do you believe portrayed the best story? Which version portrayed the conflict best? Citation Format: You must use at least 1 quote in your essay along with other examples from the text/movies. In all, you should use at least 3 quotes/examples. Actual Quote: Thy drugs are quick, (5.1. 22 23)= Act 5, Scene 1, Page #s You don t have to include Shakespeare or the play name since we are just writing about one text. Example from Movie/Text: In the Luhrmann version of Romeo and Juliet, the Director features the Capulet and Montague characters in different colors and costumes than in the Zeffirelli version.
Individual Checklist: Create an outline/organization for your paper. Your essay should be at least 3 paragraphs or 1 single spaced page long. Include some type of Introduction with Hook, Thesis Body Paragraphs (No Min/Max) about prompt below Don t use I, my, me, mine Make it sound like a formal review! Include some type of Conclusion with Concluding Statement, Wrap it all up Use Transitions http://essaytransitionwords.org/compare and contrast/ or use other sites Use of Directors names/years of release, description of Director s style 2 Cited Quotes and at least 2 examples from the play/movies Pass in Movie Notes, Plan/Outline and Writing Piece Peer Editing Checklist for Compare and Contrast Essay Author of the Essay Person Completing Peer Edit Directions: Read through the entire essay for a clear understanding of what the essay is trying to communicate. Then, answer the following questions. 1. Is there a hook? Is it related in some way to the rest of the essay? Make comments or suggestions for improvement. 2. Is there a thesis statement? What is the thesis statement? 3. Have the versions being compared been properly introduced or explained in the introduction? Does the author talk about the directors and the different movies? 4. Does the introduction flow? Does each sentence relate in some way to the next one? What could the author do to improve the introduction? Explain. 5. Do the body paragraphs follow a logical pattern? Are the ideas communicated in a way that the reader can easily follow? Explain.
6. Is the essay organized? What was the organization? Are the body paragraphs broken up in a way that makes for clear understanding? 7. Did the author use analysis in their paragraphs? Are the topics used in the each body paragraph supported well? Are there any significant details that were left out that could better support the essay? 8. Does the author use at least 2 cited quotes and 2 other examples in the essay? 9. Does the conclusion sum up the major points of the essay without using the exact same wording? Does the conclusion include a modified thesis/ focus statement? How is it different from the thesis statement in the introduction? Make suggestions for change, if necessary. 10. Look for fragments and run ons. Look for spelling, grammar, capitalization, punctuation errors. Make note of them on the essay but do not fix them. 11. Leave a note on the person s Google Doc of feedback and give them this sheet.
Comparison Writing Piece Rubric Name: Criteria 4 A Exceeds 3 B Meets 2 C Partially 1 D/F Not Yet Organization Student created a thorough outline and passed it in. Essay has a clear and creative organization of many paragraphs which is followed throughout the piece. Student created an adequate outline and passed it in. Essay is at least 3 paragraphs long with an organization that is followed throughout the piece. Student created some sort of outline and passed it in. Essay is less than 1 page long. Essay is lacking in organization and this is not followed throughout the whole writing. Essay does not have an organization at all and is not outlined in any way. Introduction Essay has a complete and creative introduction with hook and thesis statement. Different versions are mentioned and explained in the introduction. appropriate introduction with most introduction with some introduction that is lacking in these requirements or that does not exist at all. Conclusion Essay has a complete conclusion which restates the thesis and thoughts on different version along with a concluding statement. appropriate conclusion with most of these requirements. Essay has a conclusion with some Essay has a conclusion that is lacking in these requirements or that does not exist at all. Similarities Many similarities are writing. Analysis of these similarities is well thought out with a lot of explanation. similarities are writing. There is adequate explanation of thoughts. Some similarities are writing. There is some explanation of thoughts. similarities are writing. Analysis and explanation is lacking. Differences Many differences are writing. Analysis of these differences is well thought out with a lot of explanation. differences are writing. There is adequate explanation of thoughts. Some differences are writing. There is some explanation of thoughts. differences are writing. Analysis and explanation is lacking. Transitions Many appropriate transitions are used throughout the appropriate transitions the Some transitions are used throughout the transitions are used throughout the Evidence/ Examples More than 2 Cited Quotes or 2 Examples 2 Cited Quotes and 2 Examples are used throughout Less than 2 Cited Quotes or Examples Less than 1 Cited Quote or Example is used throughout Proofreading/ Editing/ GUM Essay has been proofread and grammatical errors are few to none. Essay has mostly been proofread and features a few errors. Essay has not been fully proofread and features a good amount of errors. Essay has not been proofread at all and features many errors. Final Grade: Feedback: