How to write an introduction

How to write an introduction

Choices play a greater role in the downfall of characters in Macbeth than fate. Discuss.

Rewrite the question in your own words - use synonyms Choices play a greater role in the downfall of characters in Macbeth than fate. Choices: preferred, prime, exclusive, appoint, designate, elect Play: performance, show, entertainment, Greater: bigger, larger, better, higher, leading Role: act, appearance, character, part, performance, portrayal Downfall: breakdown, collapse, destruction, undoing, overthrow, deterioration Characters: personality, nature, cast, person, style, spirit Fate: chance, circumstance, consequence, destiny, future, outcome

Your turn: The three weird sisters orchestrated Macbeth s demise. Discuss. orchestrated demise

Your turn: The three weird sisters orchestrated Macbeth s demise. Discuss. Orchestrated arrange, coordinate, manage, setup, compose, put together Demise collapse, departure, dissolution, downfall, extinction, failure, passing, termination

Establish your contention Do you agree? Do you disagree?

Strategy: Do you agree? Yes Yes Yes However Do you disagree? No No No However

Your contention should avoid saying I think or I believe. You should be able to state it confidently and clearly without resorting to the first person.

Brainstorm - main points

Planning your introduction

Sentence starters The play Macbeth (1606) by Shakespeare communicates/illustrates/conveys... Macbeth by Shakespeare demonstrates that the more powerful the individual is, the more likely they are to pose a danger to others.

Universal message communicated

Introduction- How it looks: Contention. Introduce text and author. Context - background information. Mapping sentences - main point 1, 2, 3. Reference to universal message and link back to the topic. Lady Macbeth is the real villain of the play. Do you agree? Set in (where is the novel set?) during (when is the novel set?), the playwright Macbeth by William Shakespeare (write a broad statement that reflects what the play is about). Shakespeare highlights/communicates/reveals that (reword the essay topic in another way and show your point of view). The characters reveal that (synonyms from the essay topic) can have positive and negative outcomes. Mapping Sentences: state your three main points and how they relate back to the topic in one or two sentences. Your first point could be about to what degree Lady Macbeth shows villainous characteristics. Second point about how the witches play a role in influencing Macbeth and your third point could be that although Lady Macbeth and the witches display villainous traits, Macbeth is ultimately the true villain of the play because...

How to write a conclusion

The final paragraph should... Tie up your ideas and return quite clearly to the initial topic. Do not just summarise your views here. A good strategy is to provide a clear, logical and thorough response to the topic by re-expressing it to suit the way you have developed your argument. This strategy demonstrates that you have clarified, defined and proved the issues involved thoroughly in the main body of the essay. Never introduce new ideas that have not been developed earlier in the last paragraph. Finally, remember to finish confidently and assertively!

Sentence 1: restate your main contention. Sentence 2: restate main points (mapped sentences) Structure Sentence 3: -what effect did this have on the text -shows how they worked together/how does the author use these aspects of the story to suggest something more?/the wider implication or lesson that can be taken away from the text Sentence 4: restate the contention again!

Shakespeare highlights/communicates/reveals that (reword the essay topic in another way and show your point of view). The characters reveal that (synonyms from the essay topic) can have positive and negative outcomes. (State your three main points and how they relate back to the topic in one or two sentences). Finish with your contention again. SAMPLE

Macbeth - conclusion example Brief recap - Macbeth begins as a virtuous character but progressively becomes more ruthless throughout the play. Reference to the larger issue Shakespeare shows the importance of Macbeth s decisions on his ultimate demise. Evaluation of the main arguments The witches predicted Macbeth was to be King, however he made the choice to kill King Duncan after persuasion from Lady Macbeth, he then concocted the killings of Banquo and Macduff and his family. Highlighting the most important aspects It was these choices that led to his guilt, the death of Lady Macbeth and his decapitation. In this way Shakespeare shows the importance of making choices that are morally and ethically correct.

How to embed a quote

The usage of quotations in essays demonstrates: Your knowledge of the text, credibility of your argument, an interesting and thoughtful essay, and the strength of your writing skills. However, quotations must be used correctly, otherwise you risk: irrelevant quotations, overcrowding or overloading of quotations, plagiarism, and broken sentences.

Questions you must ask yourself when weaving quotes into sentences: 1. Does the quote blend into my sentence? 2. Does my sentence still make sense? 3. Is it too convoluted for my readers to understand? 4. Did I use the correct grammar?

How it looks: Macbeth: a study in power In Macbeth, Shakespeare depicts the tragic consequences of Macbeth s lust for power. Whilst initially an honourable and loyal soldier, and full of the milk of human kindness, Macbeth s vaulting ambition to become King leads to the murder of the honourable King Duncan. Whilst Shakespeare depicts Macbeth s deep and dark desires as sinister, he also draws upon the historical context to portray the witches as instruments of darkness and Macbeth as the victim of their hurly burly. Together with Lady Macbeth s cloak of evil these forces conspire to disturb Macbeth s moral stability.

Power Quotes and their meaning: https://prezi.com/lzwi7ucw6_eh/power-in-mac beth/

The Essay Prompts...

Planning your text response essay Step 1: Write the essay prompt at the top of your page. Step 2: Underline the key words Step 3: Discover what these key words mean. Look them up in a dictionary. Find any synonyms/antonyms. Step 4: Rephrase the prompt and put it into your own words. What is it asking you? Step 5: Take note of the choices and restrictions the prompt provides you. What do you have to talk about and what choices do you have? Step 6: Brainstorm your ideas and arguments. Don t forget to brainstorm possible evidence! Step 7: Decide on which idea you will allocate per paragraph Step 8: Write your contention statement this sums up your main idea or opinion in response to the prompt. (What you would say if you had to answer the essay prompt in one succinct sentence?).