English 10 Honors 1
Macbeth Essay
Instructions: Using your knowledge of essay writing, write a well-developed multi-paragraph essay on
one of the topics below. Include at least 3 direct quotes from the play within your essay. This essay
is worth _______________ points and is due _________________________.
Choose one of the two topics below.
I. Theme
Using your theme notes you have taken throughout your reading of Macbeth, discuss the relevance
of that theme to today's world. How did Shakespeare develop this theme, and how does it relate to
tragedy today? Write your essay in the comparison/contrast pattern of organization
II. Character
Choose a character. Using your characterization analysis you have conducted during your reading
of Macbeth, develop an essay about how this character has changed throughout the play. Think
about the character's thoughts, actions, and relationships with others.
English 10 Honors 2
Macbeth Essay
Macbeth Essay—Sample Planning to Get You Started
Choice 1 Sample: Theme comparison/contrast essay
(Use your theme sheet that was given to you at the beginning of this unit.)
Thesis (what your entire essay is trying to prove):
Loyalties are often in conflict. (Note that your thesis is the same as your theme; it’s that easy!)
I.
Conflict exists between doing what is right and doing what you desire.
A. Macbeth knows it is wrong to kill Duncan, yet he wants the crown. (Now you provide 2
minor supports for each major; follow the outline for structure. You need at least one, if
not two, quotes from the text to prove your major. Do this for each of your majors.)
B. You provide an example from contemporary life/history/another text that parallels A
and is aligned with the topic sentence (I).
II.
Conflict exists between pleasing another and morality.
A. Macbeth is torn between pleasing Lady Macbeth’s desire to be queen and not
committing the crime of killing Duncan.
B. You provide an example from contemporary life/history/another text that parallels A
and is aligned with the topic sentence (II).
III.
Conflict exists between duty and morality.
A. The doctor and Gentlewoman are conflicted between the welfare of their Queen
Lady Macbeth and the knowledge of what she and Macbeth have done.
B. You provide an example from contemporary life/history/another text that parallels A
and is aligned with the topic sentence (III).
English 10 Honors 3
Macbeth Essay
Choice 2: Character
Question: How is Macbeth a tragic hero?
 Think also about how he has changed as a result of his tragic flaw?
 Think about what is means to be a tragic hero & apply those qualities to Macbeth.
Thesis (what your entire essay is trying to prove): Macbeth is the tragic hero of Shakespeare’s
Macbeth because his tragic flaw causes him to exceed the limits of ambition and reach for more than is
just.
I.
Beginning of the play--think in terms of exposition and rising action.
(Now you provide 2 major supports for each topic sentence & 2 minor supports for each
major support; follow the outline for structure. You need at least one, if not two, quotes
from the text to prove your topic sentence. )
II.
Middle of the play--think in terms of the turning point of the play, the climax.
III.
End of play--think in terms of falling action and resolution.
Like the witches follow a recipe to create their brew for Macbeth, you too must follow a plan of action
(outline) for writing your essay (and proving your thesis).
Notes:
 Roman numerals (I-III) are your topic sentences for your body paragraphs.
 A’s and B’s are your major support for each topic sentence in your body paragraphs.
 You must provide 2 minor supports for each major; follow the outline for structure.
You need at least one, if not two, quotes from the text to prove your major supports.
Do this for each of your majors.)
 You, of course, still need to provide introductory & concluding paragraphs.

FOLLOW YOUR OUTLINE FOR STRUCTURE.
English 10 Honors 4
Macbeth Essay
Outline for Literary Analysis Papers
Paragraph 1 – Introduction
Attention Getter: [Although this may be an anecdote, a short story related to your paper, or a quote, it
should not be a quote from the book you are analyzing. Save those for your minor supports throughout
the body of your paper. You should not include the title of the novel you are analyzing or the author’s
name in the first sentence of your introduction.]
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Background to bridge the attention getter to the thesis: [This is where you should gently lead into the
title of the work and the author’s name. This is not all you need here though. Does your bridge work so
that your introduction doesn’t sound choppy.]
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Thesis [Your thesis is the main idea of your essay & your entire paper supports your thesis. This is your
opinion that answers the prompt. Your topics sentences (preview A-C) should work to explain the thesis.]
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Preview A: __________________________________________________________________________
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Preview B: __________________________________________________________________________
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Preview C: __________________________________________________________________________
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Paragraph 2 – Supports Preview A
Topic Sentence: [The idea for your topic sentence should come directly from your first preview, (A), but
it should not repeat it word for word. You want to avoid repetition. Furthermore, you should begin with
an outside transition.] __________________________________________________________________
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English 10 Honors 5
Macbeth Essay
Discussion of Topic Sentence – in your own words. “What about it?”
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Support: [This should not be a quote.]
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Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
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Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
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Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
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Support: [This should not be a quote.] ______________________________________________
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Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
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Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
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English 10 Honors 6
Macbeth Essay
Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
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Summary/Clincher: Wrap up what you just wrote and move smoothly into the topic of your next
paragraph without sounding redundant. _____________________________________________________
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Paragraph 3 – Supports Preview B
Topic Sentence: [The idea for your topic sentence should come directly from your second preview, (B),
but it should not repeat it word for word. You want to avoid repetition. Furthermore, you should begin
with an outside transition.] ______________________________________________________________
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Discussion of Topic Sentence – in your own words. “What about it?”
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Support: [This should not be a quote.] _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
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English 10 Honors 7
Macbeth Essay
Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
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Support: [This should not be a quote.] ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Summary/Clincher: Wrap up what you just wrote and move smoothly into the topic of your next
paragraph without sounding redundant. ___________________________________________________
Paragraph 4 – Supports Preview C
Topic Sentence: [The idea for your topic sentence should come directly from your third preview, (C), but
it should not repeat it word for word. You want to avoid repetition. Furthermore, you should begin with
an outside transition.] _______________________
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Discussion of Topic Sentence – in your own words. “What about it?”
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
English 10 Honors 8
Macbeth Essay
Support: [This should not be a quote.] _______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Support: [This should not be a quote.] ______________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Lead into quote: [To bridge your quote to your claim, give background information so that your quote
makes sense and avoids the “bird dropping” syndrome.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Elaboration: [This should be a quote or example from the work you are analyzing.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Explanation of quote: [This should explain how your quote supports your claim. Avoid redundant
introductory phrases such as: “In this quote,” OR “This shows.” Aim for sophistication.]
____________________________________________________________________________________
English 10 Honors 9
Macbeth Essay
____________________________________________________________________________________
Summary/Clincher: Wrap up what you just wrote and move smoothly into the topic of your next
paragraph without sounding redundant. __________________________________________________
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Paragraph 5 – Conclusion
Begin with an external transition. In order to sound more sophisticated, be creative and try to come up
with something other than “In conclusion,” but be sure your transition is still appropriate. Summarize the
main points that you made in your paper without sounding redundant.
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Restate your thesis. [You should restate the general idea of your thesis without repeating your thesis
word for word. You do not want your paper to sound formulaic or mechanical.]
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Clincher: [This should be a profound sentence or two that leaves your reader something to think about. IT
SHOULD NOT BE WRITTEN AS A QUESTION.]
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NOTE: NO NEW INFORMATION SHOULD BE INTRODUCED IN
THE CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH.
English 10 Honors 10
Macbeth Essay
Macbeth Essay Grade Sheet
Name: _____________________________________________ Grade: _______________
Essay Objective: Form thoughts in organized form, and uses proof from text to support your central
focus (thesis) while adhering to MLA formatting and standard English conventions.
Focus-Lead includes background, title, & author; thesis stated in intro. & conclusion; thesis is maintained throughout
essay; preview matches scopes and are in sequence; each body paragraph begins with a scope; clinchers & closing
are present and unify the writing while connecting it to its thesis; and writing is purposeful with logic throughout.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Missing
Support-All topic sentences are fully developed & supported evenly & credibly by specific detail throughout the paper
(2 reasons & 2 elaborations for each reason); a minimum of 3 quotes needed in body paragraphs (needed for a C-);
word choice is concrete & vivid; and writer paints clear picture of novel without relying on reader’s knowledge of the
book.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Missing
Organization- Paper exhibits a clear plan of development; it has vertical dimension (coherence) noted by transitions &
paragraphing; it has horizontal dimension (cohesion) noted by the connection of one sentence to the next; and varied
sentence structure & word choice produce cohesion.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Missing
Conventions-mastery verb tense, and subject-verb agreement, and punctuation; few run-ons (R/O), comma splices
(C/S) or fragments (frag); and proofreading is evident.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Missing
MLA formatting- student’s last name and page in upper right-hand corner; heading on left includes name, class,
teacher, and date; title and centered (capitalize entire title except articles, transitions, and prepositions); entire
document is double spaced with no additional spaces between paragraphs; and paragraphs are indented 5 spaces.
Excellent
Good
Average
Needs Improvement
Missing
English 10 Honors 11
Macbeth Essay
Revising & Editing Macbeth Essay
Revising Content
 Meaningful title (Ex: Macbeth Essay or Pernicious Ambition)
Introduction:
 Title of play and playwright included in attention getter
 Attention getter-purposeful to direction of the essay (min. of 2 sent.)
 Transitional sentence to thesis
 Thesis is stated (and maintained throughout essay)
 Preview matches scopes in body paragraphs
Body Paragraphs:
 Each topic sentence works to prove the thesis
 Minimum of 3 quotations from play are purposeful in proving scope
 Quoted material is explained or integrated into paragraph.
 Quotes are in MLA format: “Quote” (1.2. 17-19).
 A clincher, or concluding thought, wraps up the content of the paragraph before
moving on to next paragraph.
Conclusion:
 Thesis & summary of scopes are restated but in different words than in introduction.
 Leave audience with a lasting thought.
Editing Language
 Minimum of 3 vocabulary words are included.
 Proofread for spelling, complete sentences, subject-verb agreement (they was or
they were), shift in verb tense…
 Eliminate all announcing (ex: “I think…” or “In this paper I will…”) as well as 1 st
or 2nd person pronouns.
 Combine sentences to eliminate unnecessary words and/or choppy sentences. If the
sentence doesn’t contribute to drive the essay forward or support the scope, take it
out.
 Eliminate these TABOO words: thing, good, bad, a lot, and very. Replace them
with words that draw a vivid picture or provoke a strong response