Comparison/Contrast Essay Romeo and Juliet:
1. While watching the movie pay close attention to how the movie is portrayed similarly and
differently to the actual play.
2. Group your ideas together on the chart—according to these categories:
a. Props
b. Costumes
c. Language/Dialogue
d. Setting
e. Music
f. Plot
g. Characters
3. Choose one similarity and one difference between the movie version of Romeo and Juliet
and the movie version of Romeo and Juliet (the modern one with Leonardo DeCaprio).
(Each will become a body paragraph.)
4. You should have a detailed list of similarities and differences as you were taking notes
while watching the movie. Use this list to determine the three that you would like to
choose.
5. Essay Thesis: You will need to take a stance on what version is better. Choose two
reasons why. (Can be differences or similarities) Need to have the title and
author/director of both versions in the thesis!
Example:
The movie version of Romeo and Juliet by Baz Luhrman is a stronger version of the story than the
actual play written by William Shakespeare because the language relates better to modern day
people and there are greater violent scenes to capture the attention of the audience.
Example:
The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is a stronger representation of the story than
the movie version by Baz Luhrman because it does not over stimulate the audience with
excessive violence, and it highlights the impulsive flaws of the main characters.
Example:
Though the movie version of Romeo and Juliet by Baz Luhrman does maintain some of the
Shakespearean language, but the play version by William Shakespeare is a better depiction of the
story because it maintains the impulsive flaws of the main characters, and it does not display as
much violence and gore.
6. Find specific quotations in the text that support the similarity or difference. Cite this
correctly (Act, Scene, line #). State an example from the play—2 examples of evidence
needed for each paragraph. Both need in-text citations after each example.
7. Your body paragraphs needs to organize the differences or the similarities and needs to
ARGUE your claim (which version is a better depiction).
8. When you discuss the movie—cite specific examples, but it will not be necessary to
have direct quotations.
9. Write according to planning outline that you received for this particular essay. (This
essay is different than a character analysis)
10. Do not write in first person point of view (no I’s, Me’s, My’s)
11. Proofread, proofread, and proofread!
12. This must be at least 5 paragraphs (between 2 and 3 pages)
13. Type your Works Cited page!
Total Points: _______________
Due Date: _________________
Similarity
Props
Costumes
Language/Dialogue
Setting
Music
Plot
Characters
Typing Days: _____________________
Movie Watching Guide
Difference
Romeo and Juliet Comparison/Contrast Ideas
Ideas to compare/contrast movie from play:
Setting:
1. Time—present vs. 400 years ago
2. Place—Verona, Italy vs. Verona Beach, California
Props:
1. weapons
2. transportation (horses/cars)
3. communication—forms of getting messages to the public, to each other
Costumes:
1. Shirts/pants—modern vs. traditional
2. Old Fashioned style
Music:
1. music in play—for the wedding/funeral
2. Music in movie throughout
Plot:
1.
2.
3.
4.
What happens when?
Where?
What order?
How the ending of the story is different in each version
Characters:
1. Mercutio’s appearance/character
2. Benvolio’s character
3. The way Romeo is portrayed
4. Lady Capulet
5. Juliet
Language/Dialogue:
1. Epilogue/Prologue
2. Chorus
3. Beginning/End of the play
4. Why keep the language the same (purpose of universal dialect, why would the director
not change this. What does this say about universal human experiences?)
Compare/Contrast Planning Outline
I. Introduction:
Attention Getter: (Pull us into your paper with a question, quote or bold statement.)
Transition: (Explain your attention getter and how it ties to your thesis.)
Thesis: (The point of your paper – what you are trying to prove. Always name the literary
works and the authors/directors in a strong introduction. Lit: ____________________________
author: _______________Movie: ___________________________________ director: _________________
Preview: (List or outline how or your examples that you will use to prove your thesis.)
II. Body
Each body paragraph should clearly define if you are going to compare or contrast. The body
paragraphs should contain a balance of supports (from the text and the film) and an explanation
of how and why the author choose to have the play occur this way. It should then transition to
the next paragraph.
Body Paragraph 1:
Topic sentence: (what the paragraph will prove – it should contain your thesis and one way
you are going to prove that thesis – this should be one of your ideas from your preview):
Concrete Detail (play): (Find a direct quote with citation from the text to prove your point.
You must cite it correctly – please see format examples):
Concrete Detail (film): (Use an exact example, no quotation needed from the film to prove
your point as well. You also need to start this example with a transition from your last
example)
Commentary (Explain how these examples prove your thesis – always come back to the
thesis!!!) Also include an explanation of why you believe each author/director decided to
make these changes or why they kept them the same: (5 – 8 sentences here)
Body Paragraph 2:
Transition Topic sentence: (what the paragraph will prove – it should contain your thesis and
one way you are going to prove that thesis – this should be one of your ideas from your
preview):
Concrete Detail (play): (Find a direct quote with citation from the text to prove your point.
You must cite it correctly – please see format examples):
Concrete Detail (film): (Use an exact example, no quotation needed from the film to prove
your point as well. You also need to start this example with a transition from your last
example)
Commentary (Explain how these examples prove your thesis – always come back to the
thesis!!!) Also include an explanation of why you believe each author/director decided to
make these changes or why they kept them the same: (5 – 8 sentences here)
I.
Conclusion:
Restate thesis statement:
Rephrase your preview:
Ending (End with words of wisdom about your thesis – what knowledge you have gained
about this topic.)
Works Cited Page
(see class notes to complete this—must be a typed, separate page)
Rules to remember:
 Remember to always write in present tense
 Never refer to yourself (no I’s, me’s my’s)
 Do not use the informal word “you”
 Correctly cite all quotations from the play/text
 Reference the title of the movie when you explain specific examples
Comparison/Contrast Essay Rubric—Romeo and Juliet
Missing/ Doesn’t Meet Standard=0-2
Progressing=3
Proficient=4
Advanced=5
Content
Engaging introduction identifies the purpose of the essay, the title of each work and author/director, and
provides a brief summary of some of the major differences between the two versions.
0
2
3
4
5
Thesis statement has a clear argument about which version is stronger, outlines the three main
similarities or differences for support of the claim, and mentions both the author and director of each
version.
0
2
3
4
5
At least two sources are used to help prove and support the thesis. These sources are valid sources that
back the paper’s claim and analysis of the films.
0
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
First body ¶ develops the thesis statement with a strong topic sentence relating to the claim of the thesis,
has supporting textual evidence from the play with internal citation AND has paraphrased example from
the movie with citation.
0
2
3
4
5
First Body paragraph has an explanation of or commentary on how the textual evidence creates a
stronger version and has a transition at the end of the paragraph.
0
2
3
4
5
Second body ¶ develops the thesis statement with a strong topic sentence relating to the claim of the
thesis, has supporting textual evidence from the play with internal citation AND has paraphrased example
from the movie with citation.
0
2
3
4
5
Second Body paragraph has an explanation of or commentary on how the textual evidence creates a
stronger version and has a transition at the end of the paragraph.
0
2
3
4
5
Third body ¶ develops the thesis statement with a strong topic sentence relating to the claim of the thesis,
has supporting textual evidence from the play with internal citation AND has paraphrased example from
the movie with citation.
0
2
3
4
5
Third Body paragraph has an explanation of or commentary on how the textual evidence creates a
stronger version and has a transition at the end of the paragraph.
0
2
3
4
5
Conclusion restates the thesis statement, sums up the writer’s response echoing the writer’s main points
and has a strong clincher at the end to further persuade the audience to believe the claim of the thesis.
0
2
3
4
5
Language is clear, concise, and descriptive.
0
2
3
4
5
Form
Essay has clear three-part structure: introduction, body, & conclusion
0
2
3
4
5
Demonstrates logical paragraph structure: Topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion, with all
sentences pertaining to the topic sentence
0
2
3
4
5
Shows the relationships among ideas through effective transitional words & phrases—leads into
quotations and textual evidence smoothly.
0
2
3
4
5
Writing is free of errors in spelling, capitalization, punctuation, and usage, maintaining present tense.
0
2
3
4
5
Uses a variety of grammatically correct sentence structures
0
2
3
4
5
Manuscript form is followed: heading, 1” margins, double spaced, 12-pt. academic font
0
2
3
4
5
Resources were cited correctly and followed MLA format in the body paragraphs.
0
2
3
4
5
Works Cited Page follows all MLA format and requirements.
0
2
3
4
5
Total:
Outline:
/100=
/25
%