Hamlet Essay

As a culminating task for this unit, you will be required to write an expository essay
using one of the following topics:

1. Foils: How do Fortinbras, Horatio and Laertes impact our understanding of Hamlet’s
character?
2. Appearance versus reality; deception and dissembling.
3. Hamlet’s women: a study of the roles of Gertrude and Ophelia.
4. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark: Imagery of disease and corruption in
Hamlet
5. Revenge and nemesis: Hamlet’s success at revenge.
6 Hamlet as Hero: Is Hamlet a tragic hero?
7. Claudius and Hamlet - a comparison of two leaders.
8. Hamlet: 2007- What is the relevance of Hamlet for a modern audience?
9. An Antic Disposition -Is Hamlet crazy?

Step 1: Choose a topic

Step 2: Create a thesis statement and have it approved by me.
Step 3: Go back through the text with sticky notes and make note of any evidence that
supports your thesis.
Step 4: Create a concept map with your sticky notes to help you figure out how to
organize your ideas.
Step 5: Create an outline.
Step 6: Write your rough draft.
Step 7: Have your rough draft peer edited.
Step 8: Revise your rough draft.
Step 9: Write your good copy.
Step 10: Submit a paper copy along with the rubric and a digital copy no later than
January 11, 2010.

Your essay must contain a works cited page and be written using MLA format. See the
links on the blog to help you with this.

See the back of this page for the rubric.

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4
Knowledge Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates Demonstrates
limited knowledge adequate knowledge considerable excellent knowledge
and understanding and understanding knowledge and and understanding
/25 of content of content understanding of of content
content

Thinking Made limited use of Made use of some Made good use of Made thorough use
the writing process stages of the writing every stage of the of every stage of the
process writing process writing process
Support from the
text is present but Support from the Support from the Support from the
/25 may not be text supports thesis text is well- chosen text is thoughtfully
sufficient and supports thesis chosen and supports
thesis

Communication Numerous errors in More than 5 small More than 5 small Minimal errors in
spelling, grammar, errors and some errors in spelling, spelling, grammar,
verb tense, and major errors in grammar, verb verb tense, and
punctuation. May spelling, grammar, tense, and punctuation.
appear to be a rough verb tense, and punctuation. Essay demonstrates
draft. punctuation. Essay mostly proper MLA format
Essay contains Essay contains a demonstrates proper Ideas are organized
/25 multiple formatting number of small MLA format and expressed
errors formatting errors Ideas are organized clearly and
Ideas show minimal Ideas are organized and expressed sufficiently.
organization and and expressed clearly and
may lack clarity in clearly. sufficiently.
expression.

Application Demonstrates Demonstrates some Demonstrates strong Demonstrates

limited inferential inferential thinking inferential thinking sophisticated
thinking. inferential thinking
Analysis mostly at Analysis goes
/25 Analysis only at surface level beyond the surface Analysis goes well
surface level meaning beyond the surface
meaning