Homework for Monday the 7th of November

Another (not so mini) essay. The point of this is to explore the different types of question you may encounter in the real exam, so you're not relying on one, memorised essay.

Here goes....

Now we will focus on exploring a theme. Your next task is to write a (sort–of!) mini-essay (700 – 1000 words) which shows how an important theme is introduced, then developed.

This is tricky, because you must be able to confidently navigate the play and find appropriate evidence. Take your time over the research you do for this essay, as you will be able to use the evidence again on other essays.

I advise you to pick either LOVE or FATE as your chosen theme, although death and conflict are possibilities for those looking for a challenge!

Find the scene where the theme first becomes clear. Show how the theme is made apparent in that scene through reference to the text.

Now plan out the rest of the essay. Pick THREE further points in the play which further develop your chosen theme. Try to pick examples from different acts, deal with them in chronological order, and take the last example from as close to the end of the play as you can.

For each of these three paragraphs, show how the playwright has developed the theme –try to make an evaluative comment in each paragraph, where you assess how successfully the theme is being developed.

Remember your short, TAGL based introduction, and your brief, evaluative, SUMMATIVE conclusion.

Your essay question is:
Choose a play whose main theme is made clear early in the action.
Show how the dramatist introduces the theme and discuss how successfully he or she goes on to develop it.

Answers to questions on drama should address relevantly the central concern(s) /theme(s) of the text and be supported by reference to appropriate dramatic techniques such as: conflict, characterisation, key scene(s), dialogue, climax, exposition, dénouement, structure, plot, setting, aspects of staging (such as lighting, music, stage set, stage directions . . .), soliloquy, monologue . . .

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Some admin stuff

Ola,

A few reminders/ requests:

1. Remember your NAB is on Monday morning. If you happen to be absent, you will sit it the next day you are in, in someone else's classroom, so try to make it.
2. Under this post are notes to help you in the NAB. If you were absent on Thursday, take the time to read over them please.
3. Second mini-essay is due on Monday (balcony scene). I am still waiting for some first mini-essays, and some personal study drafts...
4. Any of you who are applying for uni just now, PLEASE comment on this post or email me to tell me which course you are applying for. I have to fill out a form to say how suitable y'all are for your chosen course, but I don't know what you've all chosen!

Erm, that's all for now. Expect to see the answers to the acts 4 and 5 questions being added to the blog over the weekend(you'll have to go back and look at the original post for each to find them).

adiós para ahora,

Ms B

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Sneaky Preview....

Hey All,

Here's what we're doing tomorrow. It'll help you prepare for your Textual Analysis NAB on Monday. I apologise in advance for the inevitable typos, but my touch typing's not what it once was ;-)

Ms B

Textual Analysis – Tips for Success
1.Check the points:
(1) –1 piece of information (e.g. a quote OR an explanation.)
(2) -2 pieces of information (e.g. two short quotes) or 1 quote with comment/explanation
(3) – Not too common. 2 pieces of information with explanation, 3 pieces of information, or 1 piece of information with extensive comment.
(4) Usually 2 quotes with comment/ explanation
(5) If you are asked to give evidence/refer to text in a 5 mark question, go for three quotes with comments. If it says you ‘should’ comment on certain techniques, you MUST comment on ALL of those techniques to get full marks.


2. Know how to ‘translate’ the question.
•Evidence does not necessarily mean quote, but you must refer to something that happens in the text. In a ‘give evidence’ question, you should comment on the evidence you give, to show how exactly it proves the point you are trying to make.
•Close Reference to Text means you must quote directly from the text, and you will have to comment on how the quotes prove a certain poin.
•If asked only to pick out quotes, there is no need to comment. Read the question carefully!
•An expression is a SHORT quote. If you quote too much, it doesn’t prove that you are able to effectively select from the text.
•If you are asked an either/or question and the answer is not clear cut, you should try to give evidence for both sides of the argument before coming up with the final choice.


3. Common techniques
•Word Choice – Quote and comment. Why is a particular word a good choice? What particular connotations does it have? ‘Language’ is usually pretty interchangeable with ‘word choice’. Make sure, if you are asked to comment on how words have a certain effect, that you DO that! Don’t just quote (you won’t often get ANY marks for just quoting.)
•Tone – mood, feeling, emotion – don’t miss these ones. As long as you understand what tone means, they’re easy!
•Imagery – Try to name techniques being used (e.g. simile, personification, metaphor), but if you can’t remember, just explain the effect of the image as fully as you can (you should do that even if you do know the technique name. You’re not being rewarded for knowing the name of the technique, you’re being rewarded for understanding the effect it has at a certain point in a certain text!

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Welcome Back

Hi All,

Hope the mini-essays are going well, I'm looking forward to reading them.

Here's the plan for the coming week:

Monday: Romeo and Juliet, The Balcony Scene (mini essays due).
Tuesday: Romeo and Juliet (continued).
Wednesday: Personal Study (1st draft due).
Thursday: Textual Analysis techniques.
Monday 31st: Textual Analysis NAB.

See you tomorrow,

Ms B

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Quick correction...

I was brought to my attention (ta Sio, whoever you are) that the full list of questions for Thursday's homework was not showing in the post. This problem has now been fixed.

Ms B

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Mini Essay Task

This homework will be set on Monday the 10th of October (best day of the whole year, btw) and is due in the first day back after the October break. You will be individually assigned which task you will be doing.

As always, I'm available to help out in person, on the blog (via commenting) or at ariadnestar@gmail.com .

Have Fun!

Ms B



Mini Essays

•In order to gauge you current essay writing skills, you will be set a mini-essay writing challenge.
•You will be given a VERY basic essay topic for Romeo and Juliet. You will need to
– Create your own paragraph plan
– Decide which of the playwright’s techniques are relevant
–Make sure you cover understanding, analysis and evaluation in your essay
•Your essay should be approx. 500 words long, and in 3-6 paragraphs.
•Feel free to ask for help if you don’t know where to start, but you must make your best attempt to do this on your own – it will give me a clear idea of the skills that the class most need to work on.

You will be assigned one of the following 4 tasks. It is my intention to let you share your finished work with the class and take part in some peer-assessment.

1.Compare and contrast Lady Capulet and Juliet’s nurse.
2.Discuss/describe Romeo as a lover before and after he meets Juliet.
3.Give an account of Friar Lawrence and his function in the play.
4.Who, in your opinion, is most to blame for this tragedy.

Techniques you may wish to look at include:
Characterisation/ Character development
Use of contrast
Use of dramatic tension
Setting (time and place)
Language style/choice (e.g. oxymoron, rhyme scheme, word choice, the way language reveals character etc.)
Themes of love, conflict, death and/or fate
Setting (time and place)

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Educational Fun...

...or something like that.

Here's a challenge.

Try the quiz at this site: http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/quiz.html and see what score you get out of 25. I got 25 (phew!) although I admit to a couple of lucky guesses.

Feel free to comment with your score...go on. 20 or over would be very respectable...

Ms B

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Next Bunch of Questions.....DueThursday 13th October - on PAPER please (you'll need your jotters for homework over the hols)

Romeo and Juliet – Act 5

Act 5 Sc 1
1. Romeo asks Balthasar if he has any letters for him from Verona. If the friar had given Balthasar the letter instead for Friar John, how might the play have turned out differently?
2. “Is it even so? then I defy you, stars!” What do you think Romeo is feeling at this moment? How could an actor deliver this line to express Romeo’s emotion.
3. Romeo says that he remembers seeing an apothecary’s shop in Mantua and thinking that he might sell poison. Why do you think Romeo had this forethought?
4. At the end of this scene, what does Romeo claims is the true poison? What do you think he means by this?

Act 5 Sc 2
1. Explain in your own words, as fully as you can, the reason Friar Lawrence’s letter did not reach Romeo.
2. Friar Lawrence fears that the non-delivery of his letter may do ‘much danger’. What do you think he is worrying about?
3. What items does Friar Lawrence ask Friar John to bring him? What are they for?

Act 5 Sc 3

1. Is it day or night at the beginning of this scene? How do you know?
2. List any evidence you can find in the beginning of this scene that Paris truly loved Juliet.
3. Paris says to his page ‘I would not be seen’. Why do you think Paris want to keep his visit to Juliet’s grave a secret?
4. Balthasar stays on in the graveyard even after Romeo has ordered him to go. What does he think Romeo will do? Why do you think he decides to stay after Romeo has threatened him?
5. Paris confronts Romeo, saying “Condemned villain, I do apprehend thee: Obey, and go with me; for thou must die “What does Paris mean by this (refer to an event earlier in the play).
6. Romeo grants Paris’ dying wish to be laid by Juliet. Why do you think he does this?
7. In Romeo’s final speech, which phrase shows that he believes will now be free of fate’s influence?
8.What kind of journey does Romeo refer to just before he takes the poison? Quote evidence.
9. Throughout the play, the Friar has urged caution and slowness, but now he asks for speed. What has happened to change him?
10. Do you think the Friar is right to leave Juliet alone in the tomb after she wakes? What might his reasons have been?
11. Which words show that Juliet sees the poison as a good thing (2 examples please!)
12. Why is this evening doubly tragic for Lord Montague?
13. Both Lord Montague and Lord Capulet make comments regarding things being out of place or out of the right order. What do they say?
14. After explaining his actions, the Friar asks the Prince to punish him. If you were the prince, what would you do? Why?
15. The Prince says he has lost a ‘brace of kinsmen’ in the ongoing feud. A ‘brace’ means two. Who has the Prince lost?
16. The prince says “Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished “ Who do you think should be pardoned? Who should be punished? What should their punishment be?
17. How effective do you find the prince’s closing lines as a fitting end to the play? You may wish to comment on rhyme scheme and word choice, as well as giving your own reaction.

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An exciting weekend...

..Hope you've all had one! Ms Lynch and I spent an enthralling Saturday at a course on Higher Marking (it was actually really interesting, honest!) and we've come away with lots of hints to help you lot, including info on how answer the final question in a close reading, and we have some useful exemplar essays to show you as well.

I've just worked out how to put a link into the LOOOOOOOOOONG posts that lets me 'hide' the bulk of them, so you won't have to scroll down forever to find what you need, just click a link.

A wee reminder - homework for Romeo and Juliet act IV is due on Tuesday, not Monday. There's still time to add a wee poem to the excellent, if small, selection we've had so far, and the plan for the week ahead is:

• Monday - Act 5 of Romeo and Juliet
• Tuesday - Romeo and Juliet/ Textual Analysis skills
• Personal Study Day - Paragraph plans please!
• Thursday - I'm out of school, but you will be working on a selection of Textual Analysis skills for the first half, and personal study for the second.

See you tomorrow,

MS B.

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