Romeo and Juliet
Writing Assignment – Character Analysis Essay
Directions:
1. Choose a character from Romeo and Juliet who you believe stands
out among the rest. Write a five paragraph essay in which you
describe how Shakespeare characterizes your choice. Be sure to
explain how Shakespeare characterizes him/her through his/her own
words , his/her actions, and others’ thoughts and words about the
character.
2. Your essay should follow the format below:
A. Introduction Paragraph: Hook, Topic Sentence, Thesis Statement
 Hook: Hook your readers into your essay by beginning with an
interesting quote, fact, anecdote, or question.
 Topic Sentence: Introduce your topic (Shakespeare’s
characterization techniques) with a general sentence.
 Thesis Statement: Outline the three specific points you are
going to support in your essay
Example: Shakespeare allowed the audience to fully understand
____ through his/her words, actions, and other’s thoughts and
words about the character.
B. Paragraph #2: Provide an explanation of Shakespeare’s
characterization through character’s own words with
details/examples/quotes to support. (3-4 sentences)

Example: Lord Capulet, Juliet’s father, is a commanding and
authoritative character, especially toward his daughter. For
example, when Juliet politely refuses to marry Paris, he
demands, “But fettle your fine joint ‘gainst Thursday next, To
go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on
a hurdle thither” (3.5).
C. Paragraph #3: Provide an explanation of Shakespeare’s
characterization through character’s own actions with
details/examples/quotes to support. (3-4 sentence)

Example: Lord Capulet also demonstrates through his own
actions that he is a character who is powerful and forceful.
For example, he makes the decision that Juliet will marry
Paris without consulting his daughter first. He says to
Paris, “Sir, I’ll make a rash offer of my daughter’s love. I
think she’ll obey me in everything” (3.4).
D. Paragraph #4: Provide an explanation of Shakespeare’s
characterization through others’ thoughts/words with
details/examples/quotes to support. (3-4 sentences)

Example: Shakespeare continued to make it clear through other
characters’ words that Lord Capulet is a character who
overreacts and who might be too controlling. For example,
after he threatens to disown Juliet, Nurse comes to her
defense, saying, “You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so”
(3.5).
E. Conclusion Paragraph
3. Your essay should also follow all MLA style rules for quotes and
formatting, as well as rules for grammar, spelling,
capitalization, and punctuation.
MLA Style Rules:

Formatting your paper:
Student’s Name
Teacher’s Name
Class Title
Due Date
Self-Created Title
(centered)
Indent and begin introductory paragraph here.
Double space
your essay.

To cite quotes from a play in your essay, list the act and
scene, separated by periods at the end of the quote, but
before the period.
Example: Nurse comes to Juliet’s defense, saying, “You are to blame,
my lord, to rate her so” (3.5).

Play titles should always be italicized.
(Romeo and Juliet)
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RUBRIC
____ / 20 POINTS – Organization
-
The writer includes an introduction paragraph with a
well-developed thesis statement that outlines the points
to be supported in his/her essay.
-
-
The writer
details to
points.
The writer
the points
includes three body paragraphs that include
support each of the three thesis statement
includes a conclusion paragraph that re-states
made in the essay.
____ / 20 POINTS – Content
-
The writer’s thesis statement points are supported by
plenty of examples and quotes from the text. The writer
develops his/her ideas as clearly as possible throughout
the essay.
____/ 10 POINTS – Conventions
-
The writer follows grammatical rules, as well as rules
for capitalization and punctuation.
The writer follows MLA style rules for formatting his/her
essay and citing quotes.