Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
Macbeth
by
William Shakespeare
This document is designed into three parts: Overview of the assignment; journal and essay requirements;
and the grading rubric.
Overview: Linking Theme to Meaning
We will study the three major themes of Macbeth (shown below). Your assignment is to take one of the
themes and trace its development in the play. You will be assigned a theme (checked below).
The journal notes, essay and your ability to follow required MLA formatting guidelines sum up your grades.
Deliverables
This section is assigned on Tuesday Sept 09 and is due on Tuesday September 30, 2014. All work must be
typed.
1) The student will track their work by using quotes and analysis in the journal example shown below (see
style section below for specific requirements).
2) The student will produce a 1000-1500 word essay utilizing quotes, characters, and commentary which will
explore an assigned theme (see style section below for specific requirements
3) Upon conclusion of Macbeth an AP Essay will be administered for an assessment grade.
Additional Information
Questions for your consideration (you may consider others):
1)
2)
3)
4)
How do the actions and dialog that indicate the theme present themselves in the novel?
How does the character’s action (indirect or directly) represent the theme?
How is the plot constructed to develop the theme?
What literary devices are used to convey the theme?
Themes:
1) Things are not what they seem or Appearance versus Reality
2) Corrupting power leads to loss of humanity
3) Blind ambition (ambition can subvert reason)
How do I find theme?
1) What do the characters say in regards to this topic? (In a play all we have is dialog).
2) What symbols or motifs appear throughout the novel? What about other literary devices?
3) What plot events happen in relation to these topics?
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Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
Theme defined: A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader that may be deep, difficult to
understand, or even moralistic. The theme is often referred to as a universal message. Generally, a theme has
to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and
other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor. It is the abstract that the author gives definition and
meaning to.
Characterization defined: What insight does this passage now give into specific characters as they develop
through the work? Is there a persona in this passage? Are there any allusions to other literary characters; to
other literary works that might suggest a perspective? Look for a pattern of metaphoric language to give
added insight into their motives and feelings which are not verbalized. How does Shakespeare reveal the
direct and indirect (external and internal) characterizations of the character?
Journal and Essay Requirements
Journal
Write down any quotes, symbol, literary devices, or plot events that have to do with your topic and do this
for each scene as it pertains to your theme. You may start to see a pattern and see the theme by the end of the
play. Number each entry and find at least one quote as it applies to your theme from each act. Follow this
style in your journal entries:
Theme: Supernatural
Quote
1. “But ‘tis strange! And oftentimes, to win us to
our harm, the instruments of darkness tell us
truths, win us with honest trifles, to betray’s in
deepest consequence.” Act I, Scene 3
Analysis/Explanation
Banquo is warning Macbeth that maybe he
shouldn’t trust what the witches say.
Metaphor is used to compare the witches to evil as
air of deception is present.
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Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
Essay Stylistic Requirements
Consistently applied essay writing requirements are important so that students and instructors can create and
understand each individual’s writing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The title should be your theme or something more creatively that refers to the theme
The opening paragraph should explicitly indicate the theme you are writing about.
Include a thesis statement and a conclusion
No emailed papers are accepted
Proof your work before submitting (proof, proof, proof)
General MLA Guidelines
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Type your paper on a computer and print it out on standard, white 8.5 x 11-inch paper.
Double-space the text of your paper, and use a legible font (e.g. Times New Roman).
Whatever font you choose, MLA recommends that the regular and italics type styles contrast
enough that they are recognizable one from another. The font size should be 12 pt.
Leave only one space after periods or other punctuation marks (unless otherwise instructed
by your instructor).
Set the margins of your document to 1 inch on all sides.
Indent at least 5 spaces the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin. MLA
recommends that you use the Tab key as opposed to pushing the Space Bar five times.
Create a header that numbers all pages consecutively in the upper right-hand corner, onehalf inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor may ask that
you omit the number on your first page. Always follow your instructor's guidelines.)
Use italics throughout your essay for the titles of longer works and, only when absolutely
necessary, providing emphasis.
If you have any endnotes, include them on a separate page before your Works Cited page.
Entitle the section Notes (centered, unformatted).
Quotes
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Utilize quotes that derive from the source used in class. If you copy quotes from the internet, insure
that they represent the same version as they book read in class.
Format quotes by using quotation marks (“”).
Format multiple line quotes with quotation marks and then use a forward slash (/) to indicate a new
line. Example: These lines are shown in the book such as
When shall we three meet again
In thunder, lightning, or in rain?
In the essay you may quote multiple lines in this format: “When shall we three meet again / In
thunder, lightning, or in rain?”
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Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
Formatting the First Page of Your Paper
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Do not make a title page for your paper unless specifically requested.
In the upper left-hand corner of the first page, list your name, the date the , the period and
the course name.
Double space again and center the title. Do not underline, italicize, or place your title in
quotation marks; write the title in Title Case (standard capitalization), not in all capital
letters.
Use quotation marks and/or italics when referring to other works in your title, just as you
would in your text: Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas as Morality Play; Human Weariness in
"After Apple Picking"
Double space between the title and the first line of the text.
Create a header in the upper right-hand corner that includes your last name, followed by a
space with a page number; number all pages consecutively with Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3, 4,
etc.), one-half inch from the top and flush with the right margin. (Note: Your instructor or
other readers may ask that you omit last name/page number header on your first page.
Always follow instructor guidelines.)
First Page Example
DeBolt 1
Name
Date
Period
English IV AP
Title
The tragic figure of Macbeth is steeped in blood as the
protagonist declares his blind ambition to seek the Scottish Crown by
destroying King Duncan and all those who stand in his way.
Macbeth begins his chaotic journey as the three Weird Sisters’
prophesize the destruction of the main character. Act 1, Scene 1, the
Weird Sisters talk in trochaic octameter, 3 times, in the use of triune
imagery as they chant, “Fair is foul, and foul is fair” this inversion of
words creates a paradox for Macbeth as he determines their
interpretation and later echoes these words Act 1, scene 3., “So foul and
fair a day I have not seen”.
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Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
First Page Format (continued)
This information on first page only:
Name
Date
Period
English IV AP
Section Headings
MLA recommends that when you divide an essay into sections that you number those sections with
an Arabic number and a period followed by a space and the section name.
1. Early Writings
2. The London Years
3. Traveling the Continent
4. Final Years
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Macbeth Senior AP Analysis Essay
Name: ______________________
Date: __________________
Period: ___________
Grading Rubrics: Linking Theme to Meaning Rubric for Macbeth Assignment
Overview
1. Students will be evaluated on the journal entries and final essay.
2. Turn in this grading rubric in with your assignment.
Grades
Journal 100 points (assignment grade)
At least 10 quotes are provided in the journal (does not have to be typed) in the form
provided above.
Ten relevant quotes entries to the topic:
100
Relate quotes to the theme
Identify figurative language, such as metaphors,
symbolism, paradox, equivocation, etc. Use the quotes
in your formal essay.
_________
Essay 100 points (test grade)
Category
Turn in this rubric with essay
Possible
Points
5
Actual
Points
________
Formatting
20
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Integrate quotes into essay
10
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Integrate literary devices into essay
15
________
Relate theme as central to your essay
50
________
100
________
First Page
Overall construction of essay
Opening paragraph with theme
Thesis statement is clear
Body paragraphs support introduction
and theme
Conclusion supports essay
Total
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