Your Writing: More fair than foul!

Objectives:

• Reflect on your writing strengths and determine areas of improvement using Macbeth paper feedback; then, set goals for your next formal writing assignment.– Strengthen your formal literary analysis

writing by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. 

Matheny’s Notes: Thesis Statements

• Positive: Focused on the author’s use of language and conventions to convey ideas

Reflecting on Thesis Statements• Area in need of improvement:

develop the significance of the so-what part of the thesis statement

• Example:– Shakespeare uses hand imagery to

reflect the Macbeths’ guilt.– Shakespeare uses hand imagery to

reflect the Macbeths’ guilt, drawing attention to their action and emphasizing that free will, rather than fate, draws them to murder.

Reflecting on Evidence• Positive:– Quote integration – Citations

• Area in need of improvement: – Select evidence we haven’t discussed a lot in class to

show original thought– Never start a transition with the word “To”

• To add, To summarize, To build, To compare • Instead, creatively begin the sentence with content

Reflecting on Analysis•Never miss a chance to name a literary convention in a quote and discuss its significance• Use the author’s name frequently to assure you’re focused on the writing rather than plot summary

• IB English Guiding Question:– How does the author’s use of language, structure,

technique, and style create meaning?

Reflecting on OrganizationYour BTSs and CSs need a so-what

piece too. (Because the T stands for THESIS. #hint)

Reflecting on StyleEDIT FOR BREVITY

BAD• Macbeth is asking• Lady Macbeth is

killing• Banquo is stalking

“This quote is showing …”

GOOD• Macbeth asks• Lady Macbeth kills• Banquo stalks

[Just start with whatever the next word would be] Shakespeare juxtaposes …

Reflecting on StylePASSIVE VOICE

1. Hand imagery is used to show Macbeth’s guilt over his murderous actions.

2. The night is personified as being blind, affording safe passage for malcontents.

3. Lady Macduff is described as a bird, revealing her frailty and foreshadowing her demise.

Reflecting on EXEMPLARY WORK

What admirable choices did each writer make when writing their essay?

Reflection & Goal SettingYour Macbeth Essay

Next Steps:• Log on to turnitin.com and read

the feedback Matheny left for you on your essay

• Review the rubric that we pass back to you

• Reflect on the three questions on the back of the rubric

Graphing Writing Improvement(Hopefully)

Please take out:• 2-3 colors of pen• Laptop• Graph Handout

Objectives

• Track patterns in your writing assessment

• Use data:– To set realistic writing improvement

goals– To inform instructional decisions

• Strategize about methods you will use to improve your writing

Rubric-Score Thesis Data To Track2015

• Summer Reading Poster Thesis (9/04)

• Canto III Comparison Thesis (9/14)• Dante Test Thesis (9/29)• Macbeth Act II Paragraph (10/20)• Macbeth first semester essay (11/24)• LOTF Jack Thesis (12/02)

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