1. Year 10 English: Writing a Text Response
William Shakespeare

2. BRAINSTORM 60 SECONDS… What do you already know about writing a text response?

3. Structure of a Text Response
There are three parts to a text response:
WHAT ARE THEY?
Introduction
2. Body
3. Conclusion

4. Each body paragraph explores ONE main idea/argument, using TEEL
Structure
1. Introduction
A general opening statement about the topic/Background info
The text type, text and author
CONTENTION: a clear, concise response to the topic
An indication of the main points to be taken up in the body paragraphs
2. Body
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 3
(Paragraph 4)
3. Conclusion
A clear response to the topic
A brief summary that draws together the essay’s main points
Each body paragraph explores ONE main idea/argument, using TEEL

6. “Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall.” Do you agree?
Today’s Practice Topic:
“Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall.”  Do you agree?

7. Mind map/ brainstorm the prompt
“Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. ” Do you agree?

9. “Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. ”
What initial thoughts did you have?
“Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall. ”

10. In order to plan an essay in response to this topic, we need to do the following:
Unpack the topic – list the KEY TERMS
Rewrite the topic in your own words
Develop a list of synonyms of these key term
Explore key ideas within topic (write yourself some guiding questions)
Gather evidence (examples and QUOTES from the text)
Organise ideas (EXPLANATION) and examples (EVIDENCE) into a plan in order to structure our essay.

11. Now, look at your prompt brainstorming again… Highlight key terms
Rewrite the topic in your own words
Develop a list of synonyms

12. Keep asking yourself: “What is the point I am making here?”
“Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall.” 
Do you agree?
What key ideas do you have about the topic? Does the topic raise any questions?
These questions will frame your response. Remember…a text response is your ideas about the topic. Your essay should be a discussion of the ideas you think are relevant to the topic. Too often, people get ‘tangled’ in TEEL and forget about what they are really saying!
Keep asking yourself: “What is the point I am making here?”

14. Your turn… How could you start this essay
Your turn… How could you start this essay? Write a 5-7 sentence sample introduction.

15. Class Sample Introduction
“Lady Macbeth is responsible for Macbeth’s downfall.”  Do you agree?
William Shakespeare’s tragedy ‘Macbeth’ is a grim and bloody tale of equivocation, regicide, manipulation, power and guilt. Weakness of character, combined with unbridled ambition and powerful influences turn the “noble Macbeth” into a “bloody tyrant” and ultimately shape his downfall. His own wife, Lady Macbeth, is a powerful and manipulative influence on him but she alone cannot be held completely responsible for his undoing. There are other significant contributing forces that influence Macbeth’s life and its outcome. The supernatural forces of darkness, the witches, dip their malevolent claws into Macbeth’s fate and cannot extricate themselves from culpability in terms of his destiny. Furthermore, his own character allows him to succumb too readily to influence and suggestion and commit evil deeds. Lady Macbeth can accept some share in her husband’s fate but there are others, including Macbeth himself, who also shoulder the responsibility.

16. What do you know about body paragraphs? Can you list four points?
DO YOU REMEMBER: WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT TO GET ACROSS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH?
Body Paragraphs

17. Sample Body Paragraph
Lady Macbeth has a significant role in her husband’s (and her own) tragedy. She is anything but the meek and mild typical female characters of the age. Shakespeare has drawn Lady Macbeth as an equal partner in the marriage and as such, she exerts a powerful influence over her husband and her advice is sought and valued by Macbeth. When Macbeth’s own courage falters and he wants to “proceed no further in this business”, it is his wife who props him up, urging him to “screw his courage to the sticking place”. She is keen to see Macbeth King and reminds him that it also what he wants, “Art they afeard/To be the same in thine own act and valour,/ As thou aret in desire?” With challenges to his fortitude and manliness, Lady Macbeth assists Macbeth to regicide. However, it is not just the power of Lady Macbeth that sets Macbeth’s fate in action. She is assisted by his own character flaw, his ‘vaulting ambition’.

18. Evidential Quotes – Prove it
T – Topic Sentence: State the main idea/argument of the paragraph. It should ‘set up’ the main point to be discussed.
E – Explanation: Expand and elaborate on this key idea in greater detail.
E – Evidence: Provide quotes and examples from the text to support your idea. You must DISCUSS and ANALYSE this evidence, explaining how it supports your topic sentence.
L – Link: A final statement that ties your ideas together and links them to the next paragraph. You may even wish to use key terms from the next paragraph.
Evidential Quotes – Prove it
Body Paragraphs - TEEL
This kind of quote integration demonstrates your understanding of the text and the writer’s intentions
Extends and supports discussion and elaboration in a more detailed way
Eg. Lady Macbeth is an ambitious woman who is concerned that her husband “is too full o’ th’ milk of human kindness” to fulfil what she views as their destiny. Lady Macbeth considers the human qualities of kindness and consideration for others as a negative emotion. When Macbeth wavers and suggests they “will proceed no further in this business” of regicide she urges her apprehensive husband to be bold and “screw [his] courage to the sticking place” to complete the murder and ascend the Scottish throne.

19. Incidental Quotes – Talk the Talk
Short quotes or single words used while the sentence is in progress
they are ‘absorbed’ by your writing and help you to ‘talk the talk’ of the text.
This sort of quote integration demonstrates familiarity with the text.
Eg. The “Great Glamis” and “brave Macbeth” who once commanded “golden opinions” from others starts his irrevocable descent into a “bloody tyrant” upon murdering King Duncan.

20. Thinking about the language, tense and writing style you use when writing a text response…

21. LANGUAGE
Use FORMAL language - avoid any slang or informal expressions. Choose interesting, sophisticated vocabulary.
Write in the THIRD person ONLY!
Instead of ‘I think..’
Use – ‘It could be argued that…’ or ‘This is evident when…’
Write in the PRESENT tense (check all of your verbs).
Do NOT ask questions – provide statements instead!
Do NOT use contractions - (a contraction is where you abbreviate a word by adding an apostrophe).
Examples: don’t, can’t, should’ve, etc. Instead: do not, cannot, should have
The TITLE of the play should always appear in single quotation marks (when handwritten).
Refer to the playwright initially as ‘William Shakespeare.’ Afterwards, simply use ‘Shakespeare.”

22. Fun fact: a group of peacocks is called a pride!!!

23. What is the function of the topic sentence?

24. It should put forward an idea that stems from the essay topic
It is designed to be thought provoking
It should provide a solid basis for discussion

25. DON’T write topic sentences that describe events or parts of the plot

26. Effective topic sentences
Are about ideas
Set you up to make a point

27. Rubbish topic sentence:
Macbeth kills King Duncan and then becomes King of Scotland.
How could you make this better?
* Remember, you want to set yourself up to make a point. You are putting forward an idea.

28. Think of your topic sentences as the coat hangers The rest of your paragraph has to hang from them

29. Conclusion
These don’t have to be long (three great sentences can be enough).
Mention Shakespeare again.
Bring your discussion to a close (restate your contention…but make sure it sounds and looks different to your introduction.
You can reiterate your key points (but, use different wording- you do not want any sort of repetition in your essay)

31. Finish with style
The perfect quote can really sum up your argument and leave a powerful impact.
After all, who could say it better than Shakespeare?
Example:

32. Conclusion
No single person is at the heart of Macbeth’s depravity and eventual collapse. His own moral turpitude and ‘vaulting ambition’ make him susceptible to other forces. His wife, similarly devious, contriving and ambitious exerts a powerful influence over him, as do the weird sisters with their tempting yet foul prophecies of his future. Together these characters enable Shakespeare’s Macbeth to rise swiftly but then all too quickly he“…is heard no more.”

35. Your turn…