Sample Planning Presentation

Using the link below, you will find a PowerPoint presentation that demonstrates the first ten steps of the essay planning guide.

The plan relates to the sample essay that can be found on the blog in the following post.

Link to PowerPoint presentation

Racism and motives

Is Iago justified in reporting Desdemona's marriage to Othello to her father? Consider his motives, Brabantio's response and the cultural assumptions about race in the play.

Write a paragraph response, clearly identifying your thesis in the topic sentence.


You are aiming to complete the task, independently, by the end of the lesson.

Essay Development Guide

Below are the steps that we looked at today and that you should be utilising in your small group/pair to plan and write an essay response to the question based on Iago's statement, I am not what I am (I, i, 65).

Essay Development Steps

Step 1: Underline key words/phrases

Step 2: Determine whether you need to ask any questions about the task.

Step 3: In your own words, explain what you believe the question is asking.

Step 4: Brainstorm possible responses/key ideas/main points

Step 5: Devise a thesis statement (this answers the question).

Step 6: Devise topic sentences for each main body paragraph (need to link directly to thesis statement).

Step 7: Find evidence for each main point.

Step 8: In dot point format, explain how evidence links/proves main point.

Step 9: Is there a way your first main point links to second and so on

Step 10: Are there any conclusions/evaluations to be made after considering all main points?

*Completed at least up to step 10 before test*

Step 11: Attempt introduction. NB. This statement needs to be clear.

Step 12: Attempt main body paragraphs.

-Topic sentence

-Explain

-Evidence

-Expand/elucidate/evaluate

-Concluding/linking statement

Step 13: Attempt conclusion. Revisit your thesis and main points but don’t simply re-write. A conclusion implies that you have come to a final resolution of some sort.

Step 14: Look back at question and plan, then read over essay to ensure you have

a)Answered the question

b)Completed all steps of your plan

Step 15: Make any changes that that were needed after previous step.

Step 16: Proof-read and edit - focus on technical elements: spelling, grammar, tense, sentence structure, expression, capital letters, punctuation, word choice, paragraphs deal with 1 idea only, underlined text title.

Step 17: Final read through

"I am not what I am"

In Act I, Scene i, line 65, Iago makes the statement:

I am not what I am

Whilst said in front of a single person, Roderigo, it becomes an ongoing motif that affect the outcomes of the entire play.

Discuss...

Definition for motif:

- noun

1. A recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic or musical work

2. A distinctive and recurring form, shape, figure, etc., in a design, as in a painting or on wallpaper

3. A dominant idea or feature: the profit motif of free enterprise

Long weekend homework

Hi girls,

Using the same guidelines, etc from the last homework task, you are to respond to the following statement:

The reason for Iago's success is his ability to manipulate both the strengths and weaknesses of his enemies

Let me know if you are unsure of what the task is asking and I will attempt to help via e-mail.

I will see you all on Wednesday next week (by which time you need to have completed this task) and we will finish reading the play.

Reputation in "Othello"

Image taken from: Google Images on 13/10/10

Based on what we have read so far, discuss the importance/significance of reputation in relation to the following characters:

Desdemona

Cassio 

Iago

Aim for the development of solid, analytical paragraphs. Ensure that your main points are substantiated by relevant, pertinent evidence and that you take the time to synthesise the evidence.

Also ensure that you take the time to proof-read and edit your work.

This work needs to be completed by no later than Friday - I realise that we are not in class on Friday due to Athletics but you will have other tasks for the weekend and I would like to look over these paragraphs during the weekend. Please post your responses on your blog :)

Character Profiles

Based on what we have listened to and read so far, I would like you to start two/three character profiles. One for Othello and one for Iago to start with and if you want to extend yourself, Cassio. In your character profile, I would like you to consider the following things:

* How would you describe this character's personality?
* How is this character viewed by other people in the play?
* What relationship does this person have to others in the play?
* What does this character's main role seem to be?
* Are there any specific themes that you can identify that are linked to this character?

As your develop your character profiles you should be aiming to include quotes to support your claims and explain why the quotes are significant (I.e. Synthesize) While you will obviously keep going in and editing these profiles as the play develops you need to be publishing each time you make an addition so that we can share ideas as a class. Make sure that you reference quotes with the Act Number, Scene Number and Line Numbers (Act V, Scene III, Line 33-35 OR V, III, 33-55 OR V.II.33-35)

As I mentioned in class yesterday, I would strongly recommend that after each lesson you go back over what we have read in class that day. You can either read directly from your text book or you may prefer to use the No Fear Shakespeare site. This site provides two versions of the play, side by side, so that you can see the original version next to a contemporary interpretation. This may help you to develop your understanding. However, make sure that when quoting you use the original.