Note that student work varies significantly from one assignment to the next, even within the
same mark range. The intent behind providing samples such as this one is to guide
students in recognizing key criteria of assignments and in assessing their own work.
SAMPLE ARGUMENT – GOOD
Topic: To what extent is Lady Macbeth responsible for her own downfall?
Thesis: Lady Macbeth is a selfish, greedy, and sinister shrew of a woman who does not
care about supporting her husband and is ultimately responsible for her own downfall.
N.B.: This argument would be the first in the body of the complete essay.
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Strengths:
• You do well to use three quotations, as the argument warrants this (knowledge).
• The argumentative paragraph structure is clear (knowledge).
• Explanations are developed to deal with cause/effect issue of main question
(thinking).
• Your topic sentence is clear (communication).
• Smooth transitions are present (communication).
Tips for Improvement:
• Consider breaking out a second paragraph for this argument, particularly if the
explanation of the first quotation is further developed as per the above
recommendation (knowledge).
• When beginning explanation of last example, avoid stating, “this speech […]
shows”. Be more direct by stating, "Lady Macbeth shows…" (thinking).
• Using segments of quotations in explanations would help work towards a closer
analysis. For example, consider the significance of phrases such as "my spirits"
and "valour of my tongue" to develop the first explanation (thinking).
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Lady Macbeth is an unsupportive wife who manipulates her husband. Her
selfishness demonstrates her lack of positive support, and she goes on to manipulate her
husband when she talks to him at different times. Before Macbeth arrives home after
success on the battlefield, Lady Macbeth is reading a letter from him, relating that he has
met three witches who have prophesied that he will become Thane of Cawdor, and then
King. She reflects that he is not cruel enough to become King quickly, and she wishes to
herself, “That I may pour my spirits in thine ear, / And chastise with the valour of my
tongue / All that impedes thee from the golden round” (1.5.25-7). Lady Macbeth shows
determination to guide Macbeth to the crown quickly. She makes this decision on her
own, however, as she has not yet consulted Macbeth to see how he wished to become
King. In this way she is selfish because she decides what is best for Macbeth without his
input. When Macbeth arrives home, she immediately greets and flatters him when she
states, “Great Glamis! Worthy Cawdor! / Greater than both, by the all-hail
hereafter!”(1.5.53-4) Earlier in the day, the witches use similar phrasing in greeting
Macbeth, and considering how they have Macbeth's attention then, it is safe to say that
Lady Macbeth reinforces Macbeth's desire for power. Lady Macbeth’s truly evil
characteristics show themselves as Macbeth tries to back out of killing King Duncan.
Lady Macbeth does not support her husband’s thoughts and feelings. She insults her
husband’s masculinity, saying, “When you durst do it, then you were a man” (1.7.49).
This speech of Lady Macbeth's shows how manipulative she is because she knows how
proud Macbeth is for becoming the Thane of Cawdor, so she tries to deprive him of his
male pride so that he will have to kill the King if he wants to gain it back. Thus, Lady
Macbeth is not supporting Macbeth positively in order to get him to do what she wants.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Macbeth. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1999. Print.