1. Formal Essay Writing: Advice enhancing Macbeth Paper Writing

2. Thesis: Rubric Scoring
Exceeds standard (5)
Approaches standard (2)
**Barely attempts to make an argument
**Poorly written and/or unclear
**Placed appropriately in the paper
** Unique, highly individual and a clear, provable argument
**Coherent and written in an exemplary fashion
**Placed appropriately in the paper

3. Body Thesis Sentences: Body Paragraph Topic Sentences
Without a BTS, you waste an important opportunity to show how that paragraph connects to the whole thesis and shows the development of your argument.
Strong BTSs and CSs are necessary for a 10 in Analysis and Organization

4. Body Thesis Sentences: Body Paragraph Topic Sentences

5. Body Thesis Sentences: Body Paragraph Topic Sentences

6. Body Paragraphs
Without a BTS, you waste an important opportunity to show how that paragraph connects to the whole thesis.
Strong BTS/CS necessary for a 10 in Org.
Write about fiction in the present tense.
Really evaluate whether or not you need a transitional word, phrase, or sentence.
Avoid obvious or “to + word” transitions
You may need more body paragraphs to prove your thesis than you originally plan to use.

7. Introductory Paragraphs
Must introduce the title and the author of the work before any characters, settings, or context
Italicize titles of plays, poems, songs and magazines
Underline (when handwriting) or italicize (when typing) book titles
Never write a title two times in an intro paragraph

8. Introductory Paragraphs
Integrate phrases, using commas, to show relationships between just-introduced characters
Macduff, Macbeth’s confidante, …
Obierka, Okonkwo’s longtime friend, …
Also a good strategy in body paragraphs

9. Avoid the following weaknesses to have powerful literary analysis:
Generalizations
Rhetorical questions
Absolute claims
Speculation
“Shakespeare must have been a fair man …
“Shakespeare believed in equal rights …
“The ending of Macbeth is what the audience wants to see …”
“ … the outcome of Macbeth would have been different.”

10. Body Paragraphs
Always use evidence from the whole play to prove your thesis
If you only reference half the book it looks like you didn’t finish reading or the rest of the book disproves your thesis
Don’t refer to important plot points without using quotations.
Refer to the “exposition” rather than the beginning—speak in a formal literary register.

11. One-Paragraph Responses
A thesis that exceeds the standard is essential.
Evidence must be nuanced and integrated fluently.

12. Editing for Brevity ING words TO BE verbs PREPOSITIONS
“Macbeth is killing …
“Macbeth kills …
“Okonkwo is shooting …
“Okonkwo shoots …
PREPOSITIONS

13. Words to hesitate and thoughtfully consider before using in formal writing
Words that lead to generalization
Words that lead to speculation
many
people
society
similarities
differences
diverse
various
several
everything
would
could
should
might
*Use of speculative words is sometimes appropriate in history but never in language arts