Romeo & Juliet
Essay Assignment
Mitchell
English 9
Modern Connections to Romeo and Juliet
Outline Due Date _______
Rough draft due date _____ Final draft due date _____
For this assignment you will need to think about Romeo and Juliet and find modern day
connections (or comparisons) to major themes in the play. You will then use these connections to
craft a five paragraph essay consisting of introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
Note that you should also use transitions and pay attention to the style and tone of your essay.
We will discuss this more as the deadline nears. This essay will be worth 0 points.
Choose your three main ideas from this list:
 Feud
 Loyalty
 Infatuation
 Revenge
 Love
 Deception



Grief
Fate/Destiny
Youth
Each body paragraph should answer the following questions:
1. Where did you find your modern example? Name your source.
2. Explain how your example illustrates the main idea.
3. How is the main idea in your example similar to Romeo and Juliet?
4. How is the main idea in your example different from Romeo and Juliet?
Details –
 Your final draft should be FREE of any errors.
 Length – 2 to 3 pages
 PLEASE DOUBLE SPACE!!
 12 point font, Times New Roman, with standard margins
Use this table to organize your ideas:
Connection #1
Connection #2
Connection #3
Romeo and Juliet
Essay Assignment
Dowd
English 9
WRITING:
Step 1: Write you introduction. Begin with an attention getter.
3 parts to an introduction:
1. attention grabber
2. introduce concept
a. Author’s full name – William Shakespeare
b. Title of piece of literature –Romeo and Juliet
c. Transition to your thesis.
3. Thesis (which you already have written)
Step 2: Write your body paragraphs.
I.
Topic sentence: Ex. Juliet is like _______ in this way; or Juliet, on the other
hand, is a ___________ type of character.
II.
a. introduce quote (set up the context) with the speaker and situation
b. provide the quote or the example with correct citation
c. Provide an significance or analysis of the example.
d. Transition into second comparison
Introduce second comparison
a. Provide a quote or the example (be sure to give the page number)
b. Analyze the quote or example.
Step 3: In the last paragraph wrap up your argument. You are arguing that Romeo and Juliet
are tragic heroes because of their loving styles. If you need to remember what a tragic hero is,
look in your textbook. Leave your reader with a lasting impression. Do not summarize your
entire paper.
Conclusion
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Make a statement related to your thesis (don’t repeat it).
Offer insight about how your thesis relates to life
Transition from your insight to the play
Ask a rhetorical questions
Conclude with a clincher statement related to your grabber
Sections of Essay:
1) Introduction
2) Juliet: First Example
3) Juliet: Second Example
4) Romeo: First Example
5) Romeo: Second Example
6) Conclusion
Romeo and Juliet
Essay Assignment
Dowd
English 9
Here is an example body paragraph. This example references the movie West Side
Story. Please note that you may NOT use this movie now!
This example of a feud comes from the 1961 film version of West Side Story,
directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins, starring Natalie Wood and Richard
Beymer. This film illustrates the idea of feud through the characters and plot. The story
is based around two New York City gangs, the Sharks and the Jets. These two groups
fight over territory within the city. They hate each other based mainly on race; the Jets
are Caucasian and the Sharks are Puerto Rican. The feud in West Side Story is similar to
the feud in Romeo and Juliet because they have both been going on for many years.
Also, the groups feuding in both stories have fights, or “rumbles” in public areas of the
city, which are often interrupted by authority figures. The feud in West Side Story is
different from the one in Romeo and Juliet in that it takes place between two gangs of
men, instead of two families. The origin of the feud between the Montagues and the
Capulets is unclear in Romeo and Juliet, while in West Side Story, racial tension between
the two gangs makes it evident to the audience why their feud exists.
GRADING:
_____ / 10
_____ / 15
_____ / 20
______ / 10
“me.”
______ / 5
______ / 60
Thesis Statement: Does your thesis statement answer the question?
Organization: Do your body paragraphs have topic sentences that refer back to
your thesis statement? Do your paragraphs make sense? Is your strongest
argument in your final body paragraph?
Specific Evidence: Do your body paragraphs have adequate support from the
play? Do you provide enough details about your choice? Did you use
quotations from the play as support?
Grammar & Mechanics: Proper spelling and grammar. Do not use “I,” “you,” or
Followed Directions: Typed, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 2-3 pages,
standard margins, titled.
TOTAL