Macbeth Comparison Essay
In a five-paragraph essay of approximately 500 words, compare a universal theme from
the play Macbeth and the movie Revenge of the Sith. Your essay should include a thesis
statement, which states what the major theme of the play and film is and the
subtopics/points that will establish the direction your essay will take to prove that the
themes in the two works are similar. Each body paragraph should include at least one
quotation from the play or the movie.
A comparison chart will be completed while you view the film. A formal outline for the
essay will be written in one class. In the following class, the essay will be written. You
may use sticky notes or slips of paper in your text to mark references and quotations. All
work must be completed in class.
A works cited page and proper parenthetical references must be included in your essay.
Achievement
Categories
Knowledge
-knowledge of forms
and devices
appropriate for formal
essay format
- understanding of
information, ideas,
concepts and themes
Thinking and Inquiry
-uses creative thinking
skills
-applies the skills
involved in an inquiry
process
Communication
-logical organization
-sense of audience
-sense of purpose
-demonstrates
command of the
formal essay format
-demonstrates
command of the essay
outline format
Application
-use of the required
language conventions
-use of reading
strategies
-makes connections
-proper use of
references
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
50-59%
60-69%
70-79%
80-100%
- develops clear thesis with
three elements that adequately
compare the universal theme
- strong introduction and
conclusion
- clear, differentiated body
paragraphs
-good analysis of three
comparisons from the play and
film that support the thesis
-supports ideas with three
direct examples from the play
or film
-clearly and logically organized
-good sense of audience
-good sense of purpose
-advanced vocabulary in
evidence
-effective use of transitions
- a writer’s voice emerges
-good, clear outline
-fewer than five errors are
evident but do not interfere
with the reader’s understanding
- editing noted
- proper parenthetical
documentation set up for
supporting details and
quotations
-works cited is properly
formatted and complete