Macbeth by William Shakespeare Brainstorming Handout and Peer Editing Guide Step One: Write down the theme, literary or rhetorical device, or reoccurring word or phrase that your essay will be based on. Step Two: List at least three pieces of evidence from Macbeth that relate to your topic. Note that these passages cannot exceed three consecutive lines in length. You may skip a few lines if necessary as in this example: “Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives / […] there shall be done / A deed of dreadful note” (3. 2. 42, 48-49). • Use slashes to denote line breaks. • Use brackets whenever you alter a direct quotation. Step Three: Discuss how each piece of evidence relates to your topic. Step Four: Develop a working thesis statement. Peer Editing: In addition to making corrections on your partner’s draft, you will also write a letter addressing the aspects of the essay that you consider strong and concrete advice that will aid the author in the revision process. You all will submit the letters written to you with the final draft of your essay. Your letter should address the following… The Introduction: Is this introduction engaging and match the tone of the overall essay? Is the content thematically connected to the thesis? Note that all introductions must include the italicized title of the play, Macbeth, the author, William Shakespeare, and conclude with the thesis statement. The Thesis Statement: Is it worded clearly and effectively? Can you tell exactly what the essay will be about from this one statement? (Yes, your thesis can be two sentences.) Does it convey an analysis and interpretation of the play? The Analytic Body Paragraphs: • Does the author begin each body paragraph with a strong topic sentence that is directly substantiated by the textual evidence? Note that a topic sentence cannot present a mere fact, but rather an analytic assertion • Does the author clearly and concisely analyze the significance of the evidence? • Does the author grammatically work their textual evidence to their sentence structure? o Evidence cannot stand alone as its own sentence. See the page at our website entitled “Incorporating Textual Evidence” if you have any questions. Another example of a strong body paragraph: Once a noble solider who eliminated traitors, Macbeth steers from the path of good and willingly steps into the web of corruption and sin. But he does not stop after Duncan’s murder, despite his guilt and ensuing insanity. He voices his concerns for his position as king to Lady Macbeth without revealing his plans: “Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives / […] there shall be done / A deed of dreadful note” (3. 2. 42, 48-49). The motif of death can be exemplified here. Macbeth is so immersed in evil that he continues killing all possible threats that endanger his position as king. Out of his own free will, without the influence of Lady Macbeth or yet another visit from the witches, Macbeth plays a major role in the death of his dear friend, Banquo. All in all, Macbeth had the potential of being good, but his ambition and greed overpowered his reasoning mind, which resulted in his conscious decision to commit wrongdoings. The Conclusion: Does the conclusion synthesize the analytic aspects of the body paragraphs and leave the reader with something larger and profound to think about? Does it, perhaps, echo an analogy or concept mentioned in the introduction? (Going back to the introduction can help to give your essay a greater feeling of completeness.) Peer Editing Groups Period 3 Nicholas Jack Victoria Lillian Grace Jason Liana Sakif William Sonia Reeshyal Katherine Shaikat Zovinar Thomas Edmond Tobias Sammi Si Wei Wen Tasif Aisharja Daniel Lauren Dhiraj Dina Christopher Lowell William Jennifer Tom William Andrew Yong Period 4 Leo Adis Janice Wilson Anastasiya Julie Alice Shafayath Yoojean Michelle Dora Nicole William Hoi Annie Jannie Judy Frank Lucia David Zoe John Dennis Samuel Fortune Griffin C.J. Hasan Brian Benjamin Kevin Period 10 Lillian Winkie Mitch Jessy Kai Frederick Phillip Richard Tiger Sharon Jackie Sarjeel Moses Charles Giselle Rose Mohammed Andy Hussain Jan Madeleine Wilson Jessica Nicole

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

Brainstorming Handout and Peer Editing Guide

Step One: Write down the theme, literary or rhetorical device, or reoccurring word or phrase that your essay will be based on.

Step Two: List at least three pieces of evidence from Macbeth that relate to your topic. Note that these passages cannot exceed three consecutive lines in length. You may skip a few lines if necessary as in this example: “Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives / […] there shall be done / A deed of dreadful note” (3. 2. 42, 48-49).

•Use slashes to denote line breaks.

•Use brackets whenever you alter a direct quotation.

Step Three: Discuss how each piece of evidence relates to your topic.

Step Four: Develop a working thesis statement.

Peer Editing: In addition to making corrections on your partner’s draft, you will also write a letter addressing the aspects of the essay that you consider strong and concrete advice that will aid the author in the revision process. You all will submit the letters written to you with the final draft of your essay. Your letter should address the following…

The Introduction: Is this introduction engaging and match the tone of the overall essay? Is the content thematically connected to the thesis? Note that all introductions must include the italicized title of the play, Macbeth, the author, William Shakespeare, and conclude with the thesis statement.

The Thesis Statement: Is it worded clearly and effectively? Can you tell exactly what the essay will be about from this one statement? (Yes, your thesis can be two sentences.) Does it convey an analysis and interpretation of the play?

The Analytic Body Paragraphs:

•Does the author begin each body paragraph with a strong topic sentence that is directly substantiated by the textual evidence? Note that a topic sentence cannot present a mere fact, but rather an analytic assertion

•Does the author clearly and concisely analyze the significance of the evidence?

•Does the author grammatically work their textual evidence to their sentence structure?

oEvidence cannot stand alone as its own sentence. See the page at our website entitled “Incorporating Textual Evidence” if you have any questions.

Another example of a strong body paragraph:

Once a noble solider who eliminated traitors, Macbeth steers from the path of good and willingly steps into the web of corruption and sin. But he does not stop after Duncan’s murder, despite his guilt and ensuing insanity. He voices his concerns for his position as king to Lady Macbeth without revealing his plans: “Thou know’st that Banquo and his Fleance lives / […] there shall be done / A deed of dreadful note” (3. 2. 42, 48-49). The motif of death can be exemplified here. Macbeth is so immersed in evil that he continues killing all possible threats that endanger his position as king. Out of his own free will, without the influence of Lady Macbeth or yet another visit from the witches, Macbeth plays a major role in the death of his dear friend, Banquo. All in all, Macbeth had the potential of being good, but his ambition and greed overpowered his reasoning mind, which resulted in his conscious decision to commit wrongdoings.

The Conclusion: Does the conclusion synthesize the analytic aspects of the body paragraphs and leave the reader with something larger and profound to think about? Does it, perhaps, echo an analogy or concept mentioned in the introduction? (Going back to the introduction can help to give your essay a greater feeling of completeness.)

Peer Editing Groups

Period 3

Nicholas

Jack

Victoria

Lillian

Grace

Jason

Liana

Sakif

William

Sonia

Reeshyal

Katherine

Shaikat

Zovinar

Thomas

Edmond

Tobias

Sammi

Si Wei

Wen

Tasif

Aisharja

Daniel

Lauren

Dhiraj

Dina

Christopher

Lowell

William

Jennifer

Tom

William

Andrew

Yong

Period 4

Leo

Adis

Janice

Wilson

Anastasiya

Julie

Alice

Shafayath

Yoojean

Michelle

Dora

Nicole

William

Hoi

Annie

Jannie

Judy

Frank

Lucia

David

Zoe

John

Dennis

Samuel

Fortune

Griffin

C.J.

Hasan

Brian

Benjamin

Kevin

Period 10

Lillian

Winkie

Mitch

Jessy

Kai

Frederick

Phillip

Richard

Tiger

Sharon

Jackie

Sarjeel

Moses

Charles

Giselle

Rose

Mohammed

Andy

Hussain

Jan

Madeleine

Wilson

Jessica

Nicole