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Writing the LL3 Shakespeare Essay. Othello and Partner Text. Introduction. Start with some context : This doesn’t mean when Shakespeare was born and who his parents were but some context which is relevant to your theme. For example:
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Writing the LL3 Shakespeare Essay Othello and Partner Text
Introduction Start with some context: • This doesn’t mean when Shakespeare was born and who his parents were but some context which is relevant to your theme. • For example: • if you are writing about race then outline the attitudes towards other cultures at the time the play was written, and about how Othello was most likely a Berber, originating from North Africa etc. • If you are writing about women then outline attitudes towards women at the time Othello was written • You will have to RESEARCH this! Don’t just make general statements based on what you think you know
Introduction • Then give an outline of your main argument about the similarities and/or differences between the two texts • Include also here a brief introduction to your partner text. DON’T give full plot summaries of either play – you only have 1500 words so you can already assume some knowledge. But DO give some information about the partner text as your reader may not have read it.
Main Body of the Essay • You don’t need to use the frameworks to structure this piece as it is more like a literature essay than an analysis. • You should make each paragraph a new idea which links to your theme. • For example: • If you are looking at Othello’s obsessions then a paragraph on each thing he is obsessed with ie. honour, his position, Desdemona’s faithfulness etc. • If you are looking at manipulation, then maybe a paragraph for each of the people or each of the ways that Iago manipulates.
Main Body of the Essay • Intermingle your Othello analysis with links to your other text– But REMEMBER that the weighting must be Othello 2/3, partner text 1/3 • Try to make your links as clear and direct as possible. • Use brilliant quotations to support each of your points • AND you MUST use terminology: • The assessment objective about using literary and linguistic techniques to analyse has a double weighting for this piece
Conclusion • Sum up your main points of comparison – ie. the main similarities and differences you have noticed in relation to your theme. • It is really important in your introduction and conclusion to offer an overview of your arguments – and this must be clearly written.
According to the exam board…To succeed you need to • Formulate their assignment title carefully • Have a clear focus which will demonstrate knowledge of Shakespeare plus partner text as a performance text • Show full awareness of the context but avoid a purely sociological/contextual essay; or an essay which would be better suited to a drama or film studies course • Concentrate on the Shakespeare text as the core text and use the partner text to illuminate understanding • Ensure that integrated literary and linguistic approaches are used • Meet the requirement to use integrated approaches to explore relationships between texts, analysing and evaluating the significance of contextual factors in their production and reception • Demonstrate a full repertoire of linguistic and literary terminology
Timeline • By next Thursday: Have selected the play you will study and purchased it. • By the Christmas holidays: Have read both Othello and the partner play and planned you essay • Over the Christmas holidays: Write the first draft of the essay • On Monday 6th January: hand in first draft of essay (1500 words)