Romeo+and+Juliet+Coursework

=You should choose from ONE of the following essay questions:=

=1. To what extent do Romeo and/or Juliet 'come of age' in the play?= =2. What function does Mercutio serve in the play?= =3. Explore how Romeo is changed as a result of falling in love with Juliet.= =4. Study the lyrics of some contemporary songs inspired by or based on Romeo and Juliet. How do these lyrics highlight important aspects of the play and extend your understanding of plot, theme and character? In your answer, you must focus in detail on textual examples from the play itself.=

For the marking criteria we will be using when marking your essay, click below:


Remember, when reading these criteria, that you need to aim for MORE THAN 11 MARKS to achieve a Grade C or above. I suggest, however, that you look at the criteria for BAND 3 as a starting point. Let me know if you need me to explain them in more detail.

Planning

 * Thread: there must be an overall 'thread' or central argument running through your essay.
 * 5-point-plan: even if each of your points leads to 3 or 4 paragraphs, this is still a good framework to use.
 * PEE: this should form the structure of all paragraphs.
 * Introduction/Conclusion: plan/draft/redraft these VERY carefully, as they can MAKE or BREAK any essay.

Referring to the text

 * Embedded quotations: where possible, embed your quotations so that they make sense as part of your own sentences.
 * Extended quotations: if this is not possible, simply provide a colon and then indent the quotation on a line (or more) of its own. (Look at the exemplar essay on the main Romeo and Juliet page of the wiki to see what I mean.
 * Examples: remember that you do not always need to QUOTE from the text; sometimes you can simply 'refer' to it (e.g. When Romeo moans and complains about how useless and depressed love has made him feel, we see him very much as an adolescent.)
 * Analysis: every quotation needs to be ANALYSED and DISCUSSED, otherwise it should not have been included in the first place.

Content

 * Make sure your essay is INTERESTING to read. If it is interesting to WRITE, the chances are you have managed this.
 * You should also ensure the essay is ENGAGING, or, in other words, that the examiner will stay awake until the end, and want to read on.
 * Everything you write must be RELEVANT and help to answer the question in some way. Do NOT waffle, or write TOO much.
 * Your essay should be COHERENT, with all the points you make linked in some way to each other.

Finishing touches

 * Start with a quotation? This is NOT compulsory, but can be a fun way to start (or even finish) an essay. See my exemplar essay to see what I mean.
 * Perfect SPG (Spelling, Punctuation, Grammar). Basic errors like this will give the wrong impression - especially if you spell the characters' names wrongly!
 * Talk about audience (and performance, if it is a play). This shows that you understand that everything is written to have a particular EFFECT on its audience, and ensures you analyse...
 * ...the writer's STYLE (i.e. HOW they use language to achieve this effect)

Layout

 * Always put the essay question in full at the top of the paper.
 * Leave a line between paragraphs.
 * Underline the play name, whenever you use it in the essay.
 * No 'I' - find another way to write the sentence //without// this word.