ONE PER CUSTOMER—KEEP THIS PACKET SAFE & BRING IT TO CLASS EVERY DAY. IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU PAY TO PRINT IT.
Name:
Class:
Research Essay
Cause-and-Effect: Life in Elizabethan England
Directions: Write a research paper that demonstrates the cause-and-effect relationship between life in Elizabethan
England and the popularity of theater.
There are several steps in the process of writing this essay:
1. Research (notes, summaries, quotes,
4. Works Cited Page
paraphrases)
5. First Draft turned into Turnitin.com
2. Thesis statement
6. Teacher Review
3. Outline
7. Final Draft turned into Turnitin.com
Remember to follow basic essay format (introduction, body, conclusion) and the guidelines you’ve received in class:
Introduction
 Must be attention-getting
 Must include a thesis
Body
 Paragraphs organized by topic, each with a different topic sentence
 All paragraphs support (prove) your thesis and provide evidence (examples)
 Includes transition words and phrases (first, next, furthermore, however, etc.)
Conclusion
 Sums up the ideas in the essay
 Leaves the reader with something to think about
Works Cited Page
 Lists all sources used
AVOID USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS (“I” and “you”)
Word Count
Include at end of
paper!
Research &
Resources
Diction (word
choice)
Format
Works Cited
Mechanics
Superior
More than 750
Proficient
650-749
550-649
Satisfactory
549-
Unsatisfactory
Includes specific
information from a variety
of sources, summarized in a
clear way
Diction is precise and vivid;
creates imagery
Includes information from
some sources; summarized
in an adequate way
Includes information from a
couple sources; may need more
information
Diction is accurate and
purposeful; suitable
Diction accurately relays
student’s meaning
Uses only basic information, does not refer
to specific details or a variety of
information; summarized in confusing or
inadequate way
Language is confusing, difficult to read, or
needs work in another way.
Follows essay format
clearly: engaging
introduction, full body,
thoughtful conclusion.
Thesis fully developed
Completed, correctly
formatted, with all sources
present
Contains 5 or fewer
grammatical (of type: PA
agr, SV agr, CS, Frag, RO)
spelling, or punctuation
errors
Follows essay format;
includes thesis,
introduction, body, and
conclusion
In essay format; paragraphs,
some evidence of introduction
and conclusion, has thesis
Not in essay format. Basic elements
missing. No thesis or thesis is undeveloped
in essay
Source missing, formatting
error
Sources missing, formatting
errors
No works cited page
Contains 10 or fewer
grammatical (of type: PA
agr, SV agr, CS, Frag, RO),
spelling, or punctuation
errors
Contains 15 or fewer
grammatical (of type: PA agr, SV
agr, CS, Frag, RO), spelling, or
punctuation errors
Contains more than 15 grammatical (of
type: PA agr, SV agr, CS, Frag, RO), spelling,
or punctuation errors
ONE PER CUSTOMER—KEEP THIS PACKET SAFE & BRING IT TO CLASS EVERY DAY. IF YOU LOSE IT, YOU PAY TO PRINT IT.
You have so many sources of information available to you.
Make sure you locate the following sources:
1. Handout: Textbook Summary Assignment on background information for Shakespeare and Elizabethan
England
2. Handout: Documentary notes on William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama
3. Notes: Lecture notes on “Life in Elizabethan England”
4. Handout: “The Black Death” article by James Giblin
5. Textbook: Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet as Research on Life in Elizabethan England
Fill out this sheet and use it as notes for your essay (Romeo and Juliet is one source of supporting evidence
that you will be using).
Topic: Health
An example of poor healthcare in Romeo and Juliet is when a character dies from a wound, who might have
survived with medical intervention. Some characters that die from wounds are:
Another example of health, this one related to infant mortality, is:
An example of the plague in Romeo and Juliet is:
Topic: Living Conditions
An example of the difficulty of communicating across long distances (which creates isolation and general
ignorance) is:
Topic: Family Relations
An example of an arranged marriage, or someone not being able to choose his/her own spouse, is:
An example of parents being cruel and even abusive to their own children is:
How to Write a Killer Thesis
1. What’s a thesis?
a. A statement that can be proven through
________________________________.
b. An opinion
c. A ________________________ of your paper.
______
______
______
2. A good thesis has _____________ parts.
a. The first part states the main ______________________.
i. Ex: apples are gross.
b. The second part sets up the _________________________.
c. This is called a ______________________________________.
i. It’s a mini-outline
ii. Ex: Apples are gross because they are often bland, mealy, and bruised.
Examples:
About the plague:
The plague was a major fear for people of the Elizabethan era because it had wiped out many
populations, contracting it led to a horrible death, and healthcare at the time offered little hope for a remedy.
About your essay:
The difficulty of life in Elizabethan England led to the popularity of theater, where people could escape
from disease and suffering into an exotic world of glamour, drama, and fantasy.
Topic: Life in Elizabethan Times Was Miserable
Causes (pick four)
Sources of Information on This Topic
 The Plague
 Poor Living Conditions
 Poor Health and Lack of Medicine (infant
mortality, life expectancy)
 Low Status of Women
 Relationship between Parents and
Children
Effects:
Popularity of theater and Shakespeare
Remember that everything you put into your essay must relate to proving your thesis statement. If a detail
does not prove your thesis, don’t put it in!
Example thesis statement:
Life in Elizabethan England was difficult because of ______________________________________,
______________________________________, ______________________________________, and
______________________________________, which led to
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Seven-Paragraph Essay Outline
Thesis Statement:
Body paragraph topic:
Evidence:
Body paragraph topic:
Evidence:
Body paragraph topic:
Evidence:
Body paragraph topic:
Evidence:
Body paragraph topic:
Evidence:
Concluding ideas:
Develop the Introduction and Conclusion
Intro:
Idea(s) for a “hook”:
Provide the context:
Copy your thesis statement:
Conclusion: DO NOT SAY “In conclusion”
Restate main points in different words:
Closing insight: Think about what you have written, and relate it to historical significance, current times, society, or all
humanity. Avoid using “I” or “you.”
Works Cited
Fishman, Carrie. "Life in Elizabethan England." Fort Bragg High School, Fort Bragg. 20
Mar. 2012. Lecture.
Giblin, James. "The Black Death." When Plague Strikes: The Black Death, Smallpox,
AIDS. New York: HarperCollins, 1995. Print.
Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Pearson Literature California
Reading and Language. Ed. Grant Wiggins, Ed.D. Upper Saddle River: Pearson,
2010. 798-99. Print..
"The Shakespearean Theater." Pearson Literature California Reading and Language .
Ed. Grant Wiggins, Ed.D. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2010. 798-99. Print.
William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama. A & E Biography, 1996. DVD.
How to cite your sources:
Example 1: Parenthetical (citation in parentheses, not in the sentence)




Costumes in the plays were extravagant, and often donated by wealthy people (Fishman).
The word “bubonic” comes from “buboes,” meaning swollen lymph nodes (Giblin).
Even the nurse in Romeo and Juliet lost an infant, named Susan (Shakespeare).
Shakespeare himself lost a son to the plague, Hamnet (William Shakespeare: A Life of

The Globe was an open-air theater ("The Shakespearean Theater").
Drama).
Example 2: Citing within the sentence





In her lecture on “Life in Elizabethan England,” Carrie Fishman stated…
In the article “The Black Death,” James Giblin writes…
In the drama Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare writes…
The article “The Shakespearean Theater” describes…
The documentary William Shakespeare: A Life of Drama discusses…
Refer to all your sources in the present tense, but talk about history in the past tense.


In “The Black Death,” James Giblin writes that the plague was a terrible disease.
When Capulet threatens to hit Juliet, it shows that times back then were very difficult for
children (Shakespeare).
Transition Words and Phrases
Addition: also, again, as well as, besides, coupled with, furthermore, in addition, likewise,
moreover, similarly
Consequence: accordingly, as a result, consequently, for this reason, for this purpose, hence,
otherwise, so then, subsequently, therefore, thus, thereupon, wherefore
Contrast and Comparison: contrast, by the same token, conversely, instead, likewise, on one
hand, on the other hand, on the contrary, rather, similarly, yet, but, however, still,
nevertheless, in contrast
Emphasis: above all, chiefly, with attention to, especially, particularly, singularly
Exception: aside from, barring, beside, except, excepting, excluding, exclusive of, other
than, outside of, save
Generalizing: as a rule, as usual, for the most part, generally, generally speaking, ordinarily,
usually
Illustration (Example): for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, illustrated
with, as an example, in this case, chiefly, especially, for instance, in particular, markedly,
namely, particularly, including, specifically, such as
Similarity: comparatively, coupled with, correspondingly, identically, likewise, similar,
moreover, together with
Restatement: in essence, in other words, namely, that is, that is to say, in short, in brief, to put
it differently
Sequence: at first, first of all, to begin with, in the first place, at the same time, for now, for the
time being, the next step, in time, in turn, later on, meanwhile, next, then, soon, in the
meantime, later, while, earlier, simultaneously, afterward, in conclusion, with this in mind,
Summarizing: after all, all in all, all things considered, briefly, by and large, in any case, in any
event, in brief, in conclusion, on the whole, in short, in summary, in the final analysis,
in the long run, on balance, to sum up, to summarize, finally