Writing Effective “Macbeth” Paragraphs Objective: Improve our formal literary analysis writing A.K.A. Advice I’ve Given Other Classes After Writing

Formatting Example (Header, Heading, Title, and Indentation)

Advice about Evidence: Lead-Ins: Lead-ins are a challenge! Here are the stages of a developing lead-in: Not Getting It: “Just starting the sentence with a quote and using no lead in.” Starting to Get It: Using the number of the scene to give context: In Act one, scene two, lines 25-30, “A pair of star crossed lovers take their life.” You Get It: Using textual details and a “said word” to integrate the quote fluently When Friar Lawrence asks Romeo in the garden, he argues “blah blah blah.”

Within body paragraphs: Quoting Shakespeare In formal papers, block EPIGRAPHS (initial quotes) above the text[YOU WON’T NEED AN EPIGRAPH FOR A ONE PARAGRAPH RESPONSE] Within body paragraphs: Use slash marks to partition off line breaks & keep the poet’s original capitalization Unless you block the quote; then you need to use Shakespeare’s original line breaks [YOU WON’T NEED TO BLOCK A QUOTE IN A ONE-PARAGRAPH RESPONSE] Unless the character speaks in prose, and then don’t use slash marks

Recognizing Authorial Technique and Eliminating Passive Voice Mention the author in your analysis! Avoid passive voice by mentioning the author. PASSIVE VOICE: “Lady Macbeth is presented …”  ACTIVE VOICE: “Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as ambitious …”

Beware to be verbs and –ing words Revise to eliminate to be verbs and -ing verbs “Macbeth is asking …”  “Macbeth asks…”  “Shakespeare is alluding …”  “Shakespeare alludes …” 