You will evaluate two tragic heroes from Shakespeare’s Macbeth and Othello and analyze the factors shaping their identities in both plays. In your essay, you are expected to highlight how moral and ethical dilemmas affect characters’ choices and decisions as well as their connections.
Goal: To identify and analyze characters’ identities and relationships in two Shakespearean plays.
Role: DAS Literary Critic
Audience:School president
Situation: The DAS Drama Club members are preparing to perform one of Shakespearean tragedies. In order to gain permission to perform from the School President, you need to show your knowledge of two Shakespearean Tragic Heroes and enlighten how moral and ethical dilemmas shape people’s responses in particular contexts and reveal aspects of their character and shape their connections.
Product: Write a character analysis essay supported with textual evidence from the plays, comparing and contrasting two tragic heroes. Your essay should include:
An introduction with an engaging hook and a clearly-worded thesis statement highlighting the connection between ethical judgements, relationships,and characters’ identities
Body of three to four paragraphs in which you include claims supporting your thesis statement and backed up with sound textual evidence from both plays. Make sure your commentary showcases your analytical skills.
Conclusion that restates your thesis statement, summarizes your claims and includes a thoughtful ending.
Standards or Success Criteria: Your product will be judged according to the criteria and standards outlined in the rubric.
See the rubric below for task-specific requirements
7-8
A i.) Analyze the content, context, language, structure, technique and style of text(s) and the relationship among texts. ii.) Analyze the effects of the creator’s choices on an audience. iii.) Justify opinions and ideas, using examples, explanations, and terminology iv.) Evaluate similarities and differences by connecting features across and within genres and texts
i. The student (1) balances discussion of both texts in the essay (2) Interpretation of the characters is accurate and is based on logical and insightful textual references. The connection made between the characters of both texts is clear, concise, and well-developed. (3) The analysis thoroughly addresses multiple aspects, as listed in the far left column. •present a vivid picture of the personality and appearance of the person •give a main impression of the person through actions, speech, and surrounding •include dialogue, mannerisms, descriptions, and other devices that show, rather than tell, what the character is like •reveal the writer’s response to the person reveal other people’s reactions to the person •have a clear structure, a strong beginning, and a strong conclusion ii. Shakespeare’s choices are EXPLICITLY addressed at MULTIPLE occasions in the essay in order to include clear mention of audience impact. iii. ALL arguments and opinions have at least 2 supporting pieces of evidence and analysis. The evidence strongly and insightfully supports the interpretation. Evidence is clearly stated and citations to the text are included. There are no unsupported opinions in the essay. iv. The characters analyzed are thoroughly discussed in terms of both similarities and differences, in the context of the core argument.
B i.) Employ organizational structures that serve the context and intention ii.) Organize opinions and ideas in a sustained, coherent, and logical manner.
i.) (1) The essay has a clear, concise, and linear progression as mapped out in the introduction. (2) The essay contains an introduction, at least four body paragraphs, and a conclusion. ii. ) Effectively and insightfully uses the PEE or PETER format to introduce, give, and analyze evidence in ALL instances.
C i) Produce texts that demonstrate thought and imagination while exploring new perspectives and ideas arising from personal engagement with the creative process iii) Select relevant details and examples to support ideas.
i. (1) The thesis clearly and concisely connects characters from both plays together under a common concept. (2) The connection introduced is thoroughly and insightfully analyzed throughout the essay. (3) • Words and phrases precisely describe the character’s appearance, actions, speech, and personality. • The writing has an appropriate tone and shows enthusiasm for the character. iii. Each body paragraph contains at least (2) pieces of relevant evidence from the proper text and both pieces of evidence are analyzed insightfully with reference to context and respect to the characters and core argument.
D i): Use appropriate and varied vocabulary, sentence structures and forms of expression iii): use correct, grammar, syntax and punctuation iv): Spell (alphabetic languages), write (character languages) and produce with accuracy
i.) The student has used significant amounts of high level vocabulary and complex or compound sentences to create a meaningful impact on the reader (at least 4 total each paragraph) iii.) Uses grammar, syntax and punctuation with a high degree of accuracy; 1-2 errors that do not mar understanding. (Follows the GUMS acronym (Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, Spelling)) iv.) Spells with a high degree of accuracy; errors are minor and communication is effective. 1-2 errors that do not mar understanding.