Tips on writing a good essay
1. At the start make yourself some brief notes next to the question.
2. Write yourself a brief essay plan.
Consider the following:
1.
2.
3.
What will the topic of each paragraph be? What are my three arguments? As these are
then the three topics of the three paragraphs. (you can have more than three arguments
and three paragraphs, just do the same for more)
What supporting evidence or information will you provide for each major point you
make?
What is the most logical order in which to make your points so they develop and support
your argument?
How to write an introduction
Try to use the wording of the question in your first sentence.
For example, if you were given the question:
“The tragedy in Romeo and Juliet occurs because the lovers disobey authority.” Discuss
you could begin your response with
There are many reasons why the tragedy occurred in Romeo and Juliet...
(then, you might pick these 3 arguments...)
1. One reason is that Romeo and Juliet disobeyed authority....
2. The restrictions and intolerance of Juliet’s parents is unfair and it could be seen as the
reason why the tragedy occurs
3. It is the lover’s youth and impetuous (look up this word, a good one for your vocabulary)
behaviour that leads to...
Use clear transition or connecting words to help organise your ideas and to make it easier for
your teacher to follow your arguments.
For example: Firstly, Secondly, In contrast to, In addition, As a result, etc.
an example, following the above opening sentence
There are many reasons why the tragedy occurred in Romeo and Juliet. The influence of
the Nurse and Friar Lawrence has an influence on the young lovers actions. Secondly, the
restrictions and intolerance of Juliet’s parents is unfair and it could be seen as the reason
why the tragedy occurs. Finally, it is the lover’s youth and impetuous (look up this word, a
good one for your vocabulary) behaviour that leads to the tragic events of Romeo and
Juliet.
Sum up the question again in your closing sentence
Therefore the restrictions placed on Romeo and Juliet by their parents and the influences
and advice given to them by the Nurse and Friar Lawrence to disobey authority figures in
their lives does not change the tragic events that are a result of the lover’s youth and
impetuous behaviour.
The body of your essay
Yes, as you know...
Topic Sentence
Evidence
Explanation
Linking and closing sentence
So, if you had just written the this introduction - this is how it would work...
Paragraph 1.
TOPIC SENTENCE
Based on the first argument I had written in my introduction:
The influence of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence has an influence on the young lovers
actions to disobey authority
however, if I just put that as my topic sentence, it would not be complete, as it does not refer
back to the question... which means, I am not answering the question.
So, I need to think back to the key words of the question:
“The tragedy in Romeo and Juliet occurs because the lovers disobey authority”
- tragedy and disobey authority are the key words
So, I could write this as my topic sentence of Paragraph 1.
same argument as my first point in my introduction. This becomes my first topic
sentence
Key word from question (defiance of authority)!
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tragedy
The influence of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence has an influence on the young lovers
actions, leading them to disobey authority with tragic consequences taking place.
Evidence
a quote or reference to an event that supports this argument you are
making in this paragraph
Explanation
what this means in relation to the question in this example, how does
this action or event make the lovers disobey authority
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closing sentence
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you sum up that paragraph, the argument you have said - remember the
question again. linking - where you put in a linking word or sentence,
which introduces the next paragraph.
So, if I was going to link my Paragraph 1, with Paragraph 2 ( I can look back at my introduction, so
i know already what my main argument will be in that paragraph)
my argument in Paragraph 1: The influence of the Nurse and Friar Lawrence has an
influence on the young lovers actions leading them to disobey authority with tragic events
taking place... and my argument in Paragraph 2 will be... the restrictions and intolerance of
Juliet’s parents is unfair and it could be seen as the reason why the tragedy occurs also
making them disobey authority
So these two can easily be linked - by having a closing sentence of:
Whilst Romeo and Juliet listen to the advice and counsel given to them by Friar Lawrence and
the Nurse, it can also been seen that it the restrictions and intolerance of Juliet’s parents that
leads to the tragedy occurring in Romeo and Juliet.
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what the next paragraph
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will be about
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(also) an easy linking word
making reference to the question and key words (tragedy)
and then, I can go into Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
What will the topic sentence be? (read the introduction, remember, link back to question)
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What will the closing sentence be?
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Paragraph 3
What will the topic sentence be? (read the introduction, remember, link back to question)
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What will the closing sentence be?
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Conclusion
This is where you sum up your three arguments (main points or paragraphs) and what your
argument is about the question. So in this case, whether it is because the lover’s disobey
authority that the tragedy occurs in Romeo and Juliet
Overall, remember to ask yourself, are you answering the question you have been asked?
You can not introduce a new idea in the conclusion.
(very quick example) Write your own
Therefore the restrictions placed on Romeo and Juliet by their parents and the influences
and advice given to them by the Nurse and Friar Lawrence to disobey authority figures in
their lives does not change the tragic events that are a result of the lover’s youth and
impetuous behaviour.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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________________________________________________________________________________
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Authority
Authority is illustrated and explored in Romeo and Juliet. In Shakespeare’s time, authority
was very closely linked in people’s minds to the natural order of the world and to the will of
God. For example, the authority of the king or queen was believed to be given to them by
God. Therefore, anyone who went against the authority of the king or queen would be
considered to be committing a crime or sin against the wishes of God. People who went
against authority were seen as going against the natural order and many people believed
that this could only end in disaster.
Romeo and Juliet defy authority by:
• defying his parents and defying the Capulets by entering the orchard.
• The marriage and the wedding night were held in secret
• the consummation of the wedding vows occurs in secret in Juliet’s bedroom while her
parents are arranging her marriage, unaware of her actions. This is a huge betrayal of
their trust.
• When Juliet fakes her own death to be with her lover
It is not surprising that this secret relationship ends in tragedy. The lovers have deceived
and betrayed their parents to be together, and this eventually means that their parents are
powerless to help them.
There are many other words related to the word ‘authority’.
For example: authoritarian, authorise, authoritative.
Look up each of these words and find out what form of word that they are, e.g., noun,
adjective, adverb.
1. Write a brief definition for each of the words including the word ‘authority’.
1.
Find and write down three examples from the play where one person or group has
authority over another group.
2.
Describe three situations in the play when a person or group disobeys authority.
What is the end result of each situation? Which of these examples of disobedience
are the more serious ones in your opinion?
3.
Are there any situations in Romeo and Juliet where people in authority do not do
their jobs properly? For example, do the people in authority always carry out their
jobs as carefully and as well as they should?
4.
What message or idea do you think Shakespeare might have wanted to say in
Romeo and Juliet about the nature of authority and about obeying authority?
Deceit
Both lovers deceive their parents by getting married and not telling them about it before or
after the event. It is only Romeo’s suicide letter that tells the parents what their children
have done. It could be said that as the feuding parties achieve peace at the end of the
play, the lovers should have told their parents of their actions as they may have achieved
some resolution. There are other people involved in the deceit begun by the two lovers.
Friar Lawrence - the fact that Friar runs away at the end reveals that he is afraid that his
deception is about to be revealed.
The Nurse - Juliet believes that the Nurse is loyal to her. The Nurse changes her loyalties
when the Capulet’s threaten to disown Juliet. Perhaps fearing for her own job, and
believing the situation is hopeless, she advises Juliet to marry Paris. Juliet is shocked by
the Nurse’s betrayal of her husband and her marriage.
Q. Find two quotes for both the Nurse and Friar Lawrence about their role in the tragedy
that took place.
Haste and urgency
http://www.shakespeare-navigators.com/romeo/Speed.html