Macbeth
Essay Writing
ENG 1DP
ESSAY WRITING – INTRODUCTION
When creating an introduction, here are some easy steps to follow:
The first sentence of the introduction is a hook – think fishing: you want to hook the reader into
wanting to read more about your topic; the sentence is a general statement about the essay topic
The next two to three sentences get into greater detail about the essay topic and lead into mentioning
the text studied
Then, write three separate sentences explaining the topics of the essay’s body paragraphs; write the
sentences in the order they will be written in the body of the essay; follow one (1) of these orders:
strong, weak, strongest OR weak, strong, strongest; these three separate sentences are made up of
the words that would have made up your three-pronged thesis statements in grades 7 and 8; we are
now moving away from this format; we are moving to a far more sophisticated format that will
enhance your grade 10, 11 and 12 experiences
This is how you are going to think about the thesis statement: IT IS AN UMBRELLA THESIS – YES, THAT
IS CORRECT, AN UMBRELLA; IT COVERS THE WHY/WHAT OF YOUR CHOSEN BODY PARAGRAPH
TOPICS.
This type of thesis statement covers the topics of your body paragraphs
In the simplest terms, it answers the following questions: What is the reason
I am choosing to discuss these three topics in the body of my essay? In
Thesis
other words, what am I trying to say about these topics; why are the
Statement
topics so important?
When creating the statement, think the following in your head:
The reason I am using these three ideas for my body paragraphs it to show:
Body Para.
_______________________________(THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR ESSAY)
One
CLEARLY, YOU WILL NOT WRITE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT USING THIS SENTENCE;
Body Para.
THIS MERELY HELPS YOU ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS; IT IS PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE
Two
TO WRITE LIKE THIS WHEN CREATING A ROUGH COPY; WHEN EDITING, YOU WILL
Body Para.
WRITE IN A MORE SOPHISTICATED STYLE
Three
The thesis is the purpose of the essay; you must have a purpose or you cannot even begin
The essay must be written in the present tense
Do not use contractions in the introduction or any other part of the essay
This is a sample introductory paragraph based on the practice topic given to the class:
Minor characters play integral roles in the lives of the protagonist they antagonize or support.
Whether reading a play or a novel, the reader cannot witness the protagonist experience conflicts, growth or
self-reflection if minor characters do not aid in the journey of self-discovery; they most definitively affect the
lives of the major characters. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, minor characters not only affect the lives of
others, they affect the fate of a nation. This is especially true of Banquo in Macbeth. It is important not to
dismiss him as a fleeting character who only serves as a foil to Macbeth. In fact, he is an interesting character
not because of what he says, but because of what he does not say. His silence determines so much of the
play’s plot. Banquo’s silence leads to Macbeth’s unshakeable belief in the witches’ prophecies. His silence
guarantees his death and the unfortunate attack on his son. Most unfortunately, his silence directs the near
destruction of an entire nation. Banquo is an interesting character because his choice not to discuss the
witches’ prophecies with Macbeth, or anyone else for that matter, leads to unfathomable consequences in his
personal and in his public life.
Macbeth
Essay Writing
ENG 1DP
SAMPLE INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH DECONSTRUCTED:
HOOK
Minor characters play integral roles in the lives of the protagonist they antagonize or support.
Whether reading a play or a novel, the reader cannot witness the protagonist experience conflicts, growth or
self-reflection if minor characters do not aid in the journey of self-discovery; they most definitively affect the
TWO-THREE SENTENCES THAT
PROVIDE GREATER DETAIL
ABOUT TOPIC
lives of the major characters.
In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, minor characters not only affect the lives of others, they affect the fate of a
nation.
THE SENTENCE THAT MENTIONS THE
NOVEL AND IS RELATED TO THE TOPIC
.
This is especially true of Banquo in Macbeth. It is important not to dismiss him as a fleeting character who only
serves as a foil to Macbeth. In fact, he is an interesting character not because of what he says, but because of
what he does not say. His silence determines so much of the play’s plot.
THE SENTENCES THAT LEAD INTO THE THREE TOPICS OF THE
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Banquo’s silence leads to Macbeth’s unshakeable belief in the witches’ prophecies. His silence guarantees his
death and the unfortunate attack on his son. Most unfortunately, his silence directs the near destruction of an
entire nation.
THE THREE SEPARATE SENTENCES THAT CLEARLY OUTLINE THE BODY PARAGRAPHS
OF THE ESSAY
THE UMBRELLA THESIS STATEMENT!!!
Banquo is an interesting character because his choice not to discuss the witches’ prophecies with
Macbeth, or anyone else for that matter, leads to unfathomable consequences in his personal and in his public
life.
ESSAY WRITING IS SO EXCITING;
IT SETS MY HEART ON FIRE WITH
JOY AND ANTICIPATION; PLEASE,
LET ME BEGIN THE ESSAY
WRITING PROCESS; I CANNOT
WAIT TO SHOW YOU HOW
BRILLIANT I AM!!!
HEART ON FIRE!!!
Macbeth
Essay Writing
ENG 1DP
ESSAY WRITING – BODY PARAGRAPHS
IF YOU THOUGHT THE INTRODUCTION WAS FUN, WAIT UNTIL WE GET TO THE HEART OF THE
MATTER………….THE LAUGHS ARE ENDLESS!!! HENCE:
When writing the body paragraphs of the essay, here are some easy steps to follow:
Remember that each paragraph must have a topic sentence
Each paragraph has a point – the point is the first way you are going to prove what is written in your
topic sentence, which of course reflects the purpose of your essay, which is your THESIS STATEMENT
Then, include a proof from the text; the proof is an example or a quotation; the quotation is preferable
as it helps to support your ideas more directly and succinctly; when chosen carefully, the quotation is
a powerful rung on the ladder that is your essay
Upon choosing a quotation that helps to support your logical argument, include analysis; this is the
reflective part of your essay; you are basically explaining why the quotation or example are an
addition to your essay; why do the quotation or example enhance your ideas and how to they relate
to your thesis statement?
The concluding sentence(s) of your essay should end your train of thought and lead into the next body
paragraph
Do not use contractions when writing the body paragraphs
Please use the present tense when writing the body paragraphs
Do not forget: the thesis must always be present in your mind when you are writing your point, proof
and analysis sections of the body paragraphs; NEVER FORGET THE PURPOSE OF YOUR ESSAY
This is a sample body paragraph based on the practice topic given to the class:
In addition to fostering Macbeth’s certainty, Banquo’s silence leads to his own demise and to the threat on
his son’s life. He realizes, early on, that the prophecies appeal to some part of Macbeth’s nature; he notes,
“Look, how our partner’s rapt” (1.3.153). Banquo is astute; a mere glance at Macbeth betrays the power of the
prophecies on his psyche. Banquo picks up on the body language of his fellow warrior. The men fight a war
together and clearly understand one another’s demeanours. This leads to the speculation: why does he not
actually discuss with Macbeth, the meeting with the witches? Even when Macbeth offers, “I think not of
them:/Yet when we can entreat an hour to serve,/We would spend it in some words upon that business,/If you
would grant the time” (2.1.25-28), Banquo appears not to take his request seriously. Perhaps he does not wish
to discuss the prophecies, as he believes that they shine favourably upon his children and grandchildren, “Thou
shalt get kings, thou be none:” (1.3.70). Although Banquo appears to agree with Macbeth and intimates that
he will bend to Macbeth’s power as monarch, and have a conversation about the “weird sisters” (2.1.23), he
may actually be telling Macbeth what he wants to hear so that he can secure his sons’ futures. By maintaining
his silence, he basically ensures that he does not actively cooperate with Macbeth. Unfortunately, his silence
leads to, “O, teachery! Fly good Fleance, fly, fly,!/ Thou mayest revenge. O slave!/[Dies. Fleance escapes]”
(3.3.25-26). Macbeth’s murderers physically kill Banquo; his silence is an accomplice in the act. His silence
guarantees his fate and makes true the prophecies of the witches. Unfortunately, it also moves from the realm
of the personal, to the realm of the political and the public.
Macbeth
Essay Writing
ENG 1DP
SAMPLE BODY PARAGRAPH DECONSTRUCTED:
In addition to fostering Macbeth’s certainty, Banquo’s
silence leads to his own demise and to the threat on his
son’s life.
TOPIC SENTENCE; REFERENCES
PREVIOUS IDEA WHILE ESTABLISHING
CURRENT TOPIC OF BODY
PARAGRAPH
He realizes, early on, that the prophecies appeal to some part of Macbeth’s nature; he notes,
INTRODUCING POINT AND
SETTING UP QUOTATION/PROOF
“Look, how our partner’s rapt” (1.3.153).
QUOTATION FROM TEXT
Banquo is astute; a mere glance at Macbeth betrays the power of the prophecies on his psyche. Banquo picks
up on the body language of his fellow warrior. The men fight a war together and clearly understand one
another’s demeanours.
ANALYSIS OF POINT/QUOTATION;
REFLECTS PURPOSE OF ESSAY
INTRODUCING SECOND POINT/PROOF
ANALYSIS SEQUENCE
This leads to the speculation: why does he not actually discuss with Macbeth, the meeting with the witches?
Even when Macbeth offers,
QUOTATION FROM TEXT
“I think not of them:/Yet when we can entreat an hour to serve,/We would spend it in some words upon that
business,/If you would grant the time” (2.1.25-28)
ANALYSIS OF POINT/QUOTATION;
REFLECTS PURPOSE OF ESSAY
Banquo appears not to take his request seriously. Perhaps he does not wish to discuss the prophecies, as he
believes that they shine favourably upon his children and grandchildren, “Thou shalt get kings, thou be none:”
(1.3. 70). Although Banquo appears to agree with Macbeth and intimates that he will bend to Macbeth’s
power as monarch, and have a conversation about the “weird sisters” (2.1.23), he may actually be telling
Macbeth what he wants to hear so that he can secure his sons’ futures. By maintaining his silence, he basically
ensures that he does not actively cooperate with Macbeth.
FINAL SENTENCEs; WRAPS UP THE IDEAS IN
THE PARAGRAPH AND HINTs AT IDEAS TO BE
WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE NEXT PARAGRAPH
Unfortunately, his silence leads to, “O, teachery! Fly good Fleance, fly, fly,!/ Thou mayest revenge. O
slave!/[Dies. Fleance escapes]” (3.3.25-26). Macbeth’s murderers physically kill Banquo; his silence is an
accomplice in the act. His silence guarantees his fate and makes true the prophecies of the witches.
Unfortunately, it also moves from the realm of the personal, to the realm of the political and the public.
BY THE TIME YOU BEGIN WRITING YOUR
BODY PARAGRAPHS, YOUR MIND WILL
BE HEALTHY, BEAUTIFUL, VIBRANT,
FULL OF IDEAS – IN FACT, IT IS ON FIRE!
YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE
BRILLIANT, CAPABLE, PROFICIENT AS
AN ESSAY WRITER; WE LOVE ESSAYS!!!
CHANT: ESSAYS, ESSAYS, ESSAYS,
ESSAYS, ESSAYS, ESSAYS, ESSAYS,
ESSAYS!
MIND ON
FIRE!!!