Macbeth Essay: Prewriting, Introductions, & Thesis Statements

MACBETH ESSAY: PREWRITING, INTRODUCTIONS, & THESIS STATEMENTS

(In Class Essay)

A tragic hero:

1.  is highly renown (noble).

2.  shares in the responsibility of his downfall (meaning he isn’t fully responsible).

3.  is not all bad nor are all of his actions evil.

4.  has a quality, or talent, that makes him great but ironically leads to his destruction (tragic flaw).

5.  elicits pity and fear in the audience/reader.

Writing Prompt: The title page of this play is “The Tragedy of Macbeth.” You have read the play. Do you think it’s a tragedy? In order for it to be a tragedy, Macbeth has to be a tragic hero. Do you think he’s a tragic hero? How do you know? You must make your argument through the evidence in the play and then choose one of the following:

Choice #1: If you believe he is a tragic hero, write an essay arguing that Macbeth demonstrates all five characteristics of a tragic hero AND that the following opposing argument isn’t valid through the use of strong, specific examples from the text:

Choice #2: If you believe he is not a tragic hero, write an essay arguing that Macbeth does not demonstrate some or all of the characteristics of a tragic hero (if only addressing one of the characteristics of a tragic hero, make sure to fully develop this argument with ample evidence) AND that the following opposing argument isn’t valid through the use of strong, specific examples from the text:

NAME:

CLASS PERIOD:

PRE-WRITING: STEP ONE: (20 points) To organize your thinking and gather support for your details, fill in this graphic organizer with specific examples from Macbeth. Include quotations in your chart by referencing. ( Act, scene, line). Each characteristic should have examples that show that it fits Macbeth or examples that show that it doesn’t fit Macbeth.

PRE-WRITING: STEP TWO: Fill in all areas that are bolded (only fill out for the number of body paragraphs you want to use.

Outline

I. Introduction: Hook and background information.

Thesis statement:

II. Body: Characteristic OR Argument:

Examples from play

III. Body. Characteristic OR Argument:

Examples from play

IV. Body: Characteristic OR Argument:

Examples from play

V. Body: Characteristic OR Argument:

Examples from play

VIII. Conclusion: Wrap up. Refer to thesis again.

PRE-WRITING: STEP THREE:

Macbeth Quotations: Write out each one of your quotations from Macbeth in the correct format with the correct parenthetical citation (max 3 lines) and cite the quotes in the in class essay in correct MLA format. Also include which characteristic/argument your quote supports by noting its correct location on the outline that you completed.

DRAFTING: STEP FOUR: Write your introduction. (Your introduction should not include any of your evidence.)