Effective IntroductionsEffective Introductions

Intermediate 2Intermediate 2

Introduction FormulaIntroduction Formula

1 – Title, author/poet/playwright, genre 1 – Title, author/poet/playwright, genre and link to the questionand link to the question

2 – Brief, relevant summary of the text2 – Brief, relevant summary of the text

3 – Answer to the question3 – Answer to the question

4 – Link to the theme4 – Link to the theme

IntroductionsIntroductions

What you need to plan and learn for each text What you need to plan and learn for each text is:is: a skeleton introduction a skeleton introduction Various ‘answers’ to the different questions that Various ‘answers’ to the different questions that

you may be faced withyou may be faced with This means that you will be able to quickly and This means that you will be able to quickly and

easily write your first paragraph with little easily write your first paragraph with little stress or timewastingstress or timewasting

William Shakespeare’s ________ play ‘Macbeth’ William Shakespeare’s ________ play ‘Macbeth’ is one in which ________________________.is one in which ________________________.

After encountering three witches who After encountering three witches who prophesise that he will one day be hailed as prophesise that he will one day be hailed as king, the eponymous Macbeth embarks on a king, the eponymous Macbeth embarks on a violent journey of ambition, regicide and violent journey of ambition, regicide and increasing brutality; a journey which results in increasing brutality; a journey which results in mental turmoil and his eventual death.mental turmoil and his eventual death. ____ ____ answer to question _______. answer to question _______. _________ Shakespeare explores the _________ Shakespeare explores the

theme/s of the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and the theme/s of the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and the consequences of betrayal.consequences of betrayal.

William Shakespeare’s William Shakespeare’s tragictragic play ‘Macbeth’ is one in which play ‘Macbeth’ is one in which there is an important relationship between Macbeth and his there is an important relationship between Macbeth and his wife, Lady Macbethwife, Lady Macbeth.. After encountering three witches who After encountering three witches who prophesise that he will one day be hailed as king, the prophesise that he will one day be hailed as king, the eponymous Macbeth embarks on a violent journey of eponymous Macbeth embarks on a violent journey of ambition, regicide and increasing brutality; a journey which ambition, regicide and increasing brutality; a journey which results in mental turmoil and his eventual death.results in mental turmoil and his eventual death. The nature The nature of the relationship between Macbeth and his wife of the relationship between Macbeth and his wife dramatically alters throughout the play as the balance of dramatically alters throughout the play as the balance of power between them shifts. Through his depiction of this power between them shifts. Through his depiction of this relationship,relationship, Shakespeare explores the theme/s of the Shakespeare explores the theme/s of the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and the corrupting nature of unchecked ambition and the consequences of betrayal.consequences of betrayal.

Choose a play in which there is an important relationship Choose a play in which there is an important relationship between two of the main characters.between two of the main characters.

Describe the nature of the relationship, and explain how it is Describe the nature of the relationship, and explain how it is developed throughout the play.developed throughout the play.

Try for these questionsTry for these questions Choose a play in which there is a strong Choose a play in which there is a strong

female character…female character…

Choose a play which explores a particularly Choose a play which explores a particularly violent theme…violent theme…

Choose a play in which there is a pivotal scene Choose a play in which there is a pivotal scene in the development of the plot and in the development of the plot and characters…characters…

‘‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee is a _________ To Kill a Mockingbird’ by Harper Lee is a _________ novel, and one which ________________. Through novel, and one which ________________. Through the eyes of young Scout Finch, we observe the the eyes of young Scout Finch, we observe the seemingly sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, and seemingly sleepy town of Maycomb, Alabama, and the events that unfold there in the 1930’s: namely, the events that unfold there in the 1930’s: namely, the false accusation of rape by a white girl against a the false accusation of rape by a white girl against a black man, Tom Robinson. ____answer to question black man, Tom Robinson. ____answer to question _______. _________ Lee explores the themes of _______. _________ Lee explores the themes of prejudice and discrimination.prejudice and discrimination.

Try for these questionsTry for these questions

Choose a play in which there is an effective Choose a play in which there is an effective portrayal of a character OR setting…portrayal of a character OR setting…

Choose a play which deals with an unpleasant Choose a play which deals with an unpleasant aspect of human nature…aspect of human nature…

Choose a play in which a character Choose a play in which a character experiences a moment of realisation…experiences a moment of realisation…

Langston Hughes’ _______ poem, ‘Freedom Train’ is Langston Hughes’ _______ poem, ‘Freedom Train’ is one which ____________________. In his poem, one which ____________________. In his poem, Hughes references the Freedom Train: a museum Hughes references the Freedom Train: a museum train displaying important historical documents train displaying important historical documents pertaining to American independence and liberty pertaining to American independence and liberty which toured the states in the 1940’s. He uses the which toured the states in the 1940’s. He uses the irony of such a train to explore the racism and irony of such a train to explore the racism and discrimination inherent in the US at this time – the discrimination inherent in the US at this time – the main themes of the poem – and as a metaphor for main themes of the poem – and as a metaphor for black American's struggle for civil rights. ___answer black American's struggle for civil rights. ___answer to question____. to question____.

Try for these questionsTry for these questions

Choose a poem which has a striking opening…Choose a poem which has a striking opening…

Choose a poem which creates a particular Choose a poem which creates a particular mood or atmosphere…mood or atmosphere…

Choose a poem which has an ending that you Choose a poem which has an ending that you find particularly shocking or surprising…find particularly shocking or surprising…

ConclusionsConclusions

You MUST always add a conclusion to your You MUST always add a conclusion to your essays, even if you run out of time and it is essays, even if you run out of time and it is merely a simple sentence:merely a simple sentence:

In conclusion, throughout the novel Atticus In conclusion, throughout the novel Atticus has been effectively portrayed as an has been effectively portrayed as an inspirational character.inspirational character.

However, for an effective conclusion…However, for an effective conclusion…

Reference to author/playwright/poet, text Reference to author/playwright/poet, text and answer to questionand answer to question

Final evaluative comment (your personal Final evaluative comment (your personal opinion) on the character/opening/theme etc opinion) on the character/opening/theme etc – the impact/resonance it has on the audience– the impact/resonance it has on the audience