Name/Date: _____________________________________________________________
Critical Lens Unit
100 points
Task—choose one of the following lens quotes and write a critical lens essay using The Tragedy of Macbeth.
1. “The soul that has conceived one wickedness can nurse no good thereafter”—Sophocles,
Philocetes
2. “Ambition destroys its possessor.”—Talmud
3. “Circumstances are beyond the control of man; but his conduct is in his own power.”—
Benjamin Disraeli, Contarini Fleming, 1832
In your essay, provide a valid interpretation of the statement, agree or disagree with the statement as you
have interpreted it, and support your opinion using specific references to appropriate literary elements
from the two works.
Be sure to:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
Provide a valid interpretation of the critical lens that clearly establishes the criteria for analysis
Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the statement as you have interpreted it
Choose evidence that you believe best support your opinion
Use the criteria suggested by the critical lens to analyze the works you have chosen
Avoid Plot summary. Instead, use specific references to appropriate Literary elements (for
example: theme, characterization, conflict, setting, point of view, etc.) to develop your analysis
vi. Organize your ideas in a unified and coherent manner
vii. Specify the titles and authors of the literature you choose
viii. Follow the conventions of standard written English
Notes:
Step One: Introduction
(1) Copy the Critical Lens Exactly from the test sheet (complete the sentence below)
The author of the Critical lens _______________________ ______________________ stated,
“___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________”
(2) Now restate the lens in your own words
____________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
(3) The work I will use is _____________________________________________________ by
____________________________________________________________________________.
(4)  I agree: _________ or I disagree: __________
Write a rough draft of your introduction here:
__________________________________________________________________________
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Step Two: Topic Sentences
Draft topic sentences for your essay (in the space below):
This PARAGRAPH WILL BE ABOUT…
1)________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2)________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3)________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
4)________________________________________________________________________
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Step Three: Gather evidence to prove your topic sentences
1. BODY PARAGRAPH #1 – CONCRETE DETAILS
Literary device used
2. BODY PARAGRAPH #2 – CONCRETE DETAILS
Literary device used
3. BODY PARAGRAPH #3 – CONCRETE DETAILS
Literary device used
BODY PARAGRAPH #4 – CONCRETE DETAILS
Literary device used
Step Four: Write your body paragraphs
Literary Device Used
Step Five: Write your conclusion paragraph
1. Restate your thesis in a new way—show you’ve come to a conclusion about it. Your main
thesis may have subtly changed or become more detailed. (1 sentence)
2. Review main points from body paragraphs (summarize 1-2 sentences)
3. End with a final thought (an emotional appeal if you can: “Pathos”)
a. Why is this important?
b. Why should the reader care?
c. How can the reader apply these ideas to their lives?
Step Six: Revise
Name of person revising paper/Date: _________________________________________
Revision checklist: Critical Lens
1. Name of person who wrote paper: ______________________________________
2. Introductory paragraph: Has the writer: (a) quoted the lens and provided an author, (b) stated their interpretation
of the lens/quote, (c) given the title and author of the work to be discussed, and (d) ended with a thesis stating what
it is they are going to prove?
3. Body paragraphs: How many body paragraphs does the essay have?
4. Are there topic sentences for each of the body paragraphs?
5. Do these topic sentences reflect the main idea stated in the thesis?
6. Does the writer use “specific examples” from the two works to discuss topic sentences? Do they explain exactly
how/why their examples prove the thesis/topic sentence?
7. Conclusion paragraph: Is there a conclusion, which refocuses the reader onto the original thesis/claim?
Do they reword the thesis to sound different, but still mean the same thing?
Do they make a short summary of the key points talked about in the body?
Is there a general/catchy statement used to close the paper, which generally refers to the reason for writing the
paper?
8. Sentence structure: Is the writer too repetitive in their sentence structure?
Do they start sentences repeatedly the same way...can you suggest ways change this to make it slightly different?
Does the writer use awkward phrases, or use sentences that don’t make sense?
Could their sentences be re-written to better communicate a point?
Could they combine small sentences into larger ones to make their writing easier to read, or so it flows better?
9. Spelling?
10. Capitalization?
STEP THREE: GATHER EVIDENCE TO PROVE YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES
Body paragraph 1
Topic sentence:
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Details
1.
2.
3.
4.
Body paragraph 2
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Details
1.
2.
3.
4.
Body paragraph 3 (optional)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Details
1.
2.
3.
4.
WRITE ONE BODY PARAGRAPH
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CONCLUDING SENTENCE MUST REFER BACK TO THE CRITICAL LENS
YOU MUST INCORPORATE A LITERARY DEVICE