Much Ado About Nothing

 This powerpoint will give you information and instructions about how to write your compare/contrast essay  Make sure you read carefully through the examples.  You can go back to any slides you need to read again.  You should have this powerpoint up on your computer as you write your essay.  Absent yesterday? Hopefully you went online to get caught up. Otherwise, the clips you need to fill out the worksheet are at the end of this slideshow.

 Do have a clear and specific thesis statement. Don’t say it is emotional. What does that mean? What does it look like? Be descriptive.  Do have a topic sentence for each paragraph. See example online and on powerpoint tomorrow.  Do make use of very clear language when you write about the elements from the chart. Be very clear about what you are talking about.  Do make good use of transitions from one idea to another and also when analyze similarities and differences.

 Do talk about all the unique differences in VERSION 1 in paragraph 2.  Do talk about all the unique differences in VERSION 2 in paragraph 3.  Do mention each version through the use of transitions. For example: “Unlike version 1, version 2 does this…  Do make use of the dialogue used in the film when analyzing elements. When is it used and how? This could help with your grade when done well.  Do talk about EACH element separately in each paragraph. What does each element look like in the scene? What is it doing and how does it create the overall meaning? So what? Do use CEW.  Do give yourself time to reread and revise. You should have plenty of time to do so!

 Don’t use the term “a lot.” It’s lame and unspecific. For example: “The scene has a lot of emotion.” Be specific about the emotion and describe and explain it!  Don’t mash up Version 1 and 2 together. Talk about all the unique stuff in version 1 and then in the next paragraph talk about all the unique stuff in version 2.  Don’t mash up elements in each paragraph. Treat each element as its own CEW and tie back to thesis always!

Step 1: Start your Google Doc  You will be writing this essay on Google Docs.  Open Google Docs from the OSH website.  Start a new document.  Title it like this: ◦ First name Last name, Hour ?, Compare-Contrast Essay ◦ Example: Dudley Doright, Hour 7, Compare-Contrast Essay  Share it with your teacher (share it with Caroline Benton!) Ask how to do this if you don’t know how.

 This goes in the top LEFT corner of your paper: ◦ Your name ◦ English 12-Your hour ◦ Ms. Benton or Ms. McComb ◦ 4 Feb  Title centered after you hit enter: ◦ Compare Contrast Essay  Set the paper up for at least 1.5 spacing. See next slide

3pm on Tuesday, Feburary 4 You will be sharing your essay with me on Google Docs. Whatever is on your Google Doc at 3pm on TUESDAY is what I will grade. If you are absent, no problem! I will grade whatever you have by 3:00 TUESDAY! Be here! Do your homework!

 For your essay, you will be comparing and contrasting two scenes from Much Ado About Nothing.  If you need to review the scene clips, these are found later in this power point.  You may use your note sheet from Wednesday as you type your essay.  For your essay, you will use CEW format. The next slide explains how CEW format applies to this essay.

 For this paragraph, you will explain the similarities found in BOTH scenes. You will cover these areas: vocal/facial expressions, cinematic elements, actions, and setting/props/costumes.  Choose ONE or TWO similarities from EACH area. These should be similarities that you will eventually discuss their differences. These are the same, but…  You will end your this paragraph with your THESIS statement.  Go to the next slide for the thesis example and template

Example: While the deaths of Gatsby and George are inevitable in both scenes, the overall feel of each is quite different: version 1 has an overall feeling of squashed dreams while version 2 has an overall feeling of uncertainty and regret. Template: While _(insert overall similarities of both scenes), the overall feel is quite different: version 1 is (insert the overall feel of version 1) while version 2 is (insert the overall feel of version 2) Go to the next slide to see Transition words you should be using in paragraphs 1-3.

Key words commonly used to express comparison include:  Like  similar as  same  in the same way  too  both  most important  have in common  the same as  similarly  as well as Key words commonly used to express contrast include:  although  yet  whereas  however  but  while  differ  instead  unless  unlike  on the contrary  contrary to  even though  on the other hand  the reverse

 For those same similarities, you will now focus on how these are DIFFERENT and UNIQUE in each scene. You will also explain HOW these differences create the UNIQUE feeling and/or meaning of the scene. Don’t just LIST the differences. Describe and explain. This is your WARRANT.  In each paragraph, you will make use of transitions and the language from side 1 of the worksheet.  Paragraph 2 is about the unique differences in Version 1(2013 Joss Whedon) and how these differences create meaning…tie to thesis.  Paragraph 3 is about the unique differences in Version 2 (Kenneth Branagh) and how these differences create meaning…tie to thesis.  Paragraph 2 and 3 should follow the same order of the elements you wrote about in paragraph 1. For example, if you wrote paragraph 1 in this order: setting, cinematic elements, actions and vocal expressions, then you will write paragraph 2 and 3 in this same order. Make sense?  See the next slides and type Paragraph 2 and then Paragraph 3.

 In your opinion, which scene is the better version? Defend your answer using specific evidence from your notes and from the film unit.  See the next slide for an example and type your Paragraph 4.

Click or cut and paste into your browser  Start at 1:06  OR Copy and paste this into YouTube  2013 Much Ado About Nothing Scene 1 Claudio and Hero meet

This is scene 1 of the film when Hero and Claudio first set eyes on each other and Benedick and Beatrice argue for the first time.  Type into You Tube Much Ado About Nothing (1993) scene 1  Or copy and paste into brower