Structure

● Introduction
○ Book name
○ Author name
○ Time written & set in
○ Context (if relevant)
○ Brief summary
○ Thesis statement/ link to question- answer question
○ Summary of essay point/ main idea explored

● Main paragraph (3~5)

○ Point
■ Topic sentence
■ Expressing an opinion/ view on the language/ form/ structure of the text
○ Evidence/ Quote (2~3)
■ Support point with a quote
○ Technique
■ Identify language/ form/ structure technique/ device used
○ Analysis/ Explanation
■ Describe/Explain the effect
■ Demonstrate understanding
■ (suggest, indicate, depict, demonstrate, connotation, implies)
○ + Context
○ Link
■ Link back to question ask
■ Reiterate how relevant point is
1. _____
2. _____
3. _____
4. _____

● Conclusion (depend on amount of time)

○ Summary of essay points/ Bring ideas together
○ Reiterate thesis statement
○ Consider overall intention & writer
○ (Connect to larger idea- if have time)
How to analysis
Avoid ‘translating’ a quote
● “Like the poor cat i’ the adage” is Lady Macbeth comparing Macbeth to a cat who wants a fish
from a pond but doesn’t want to get its paws wet.

Avoid identifying a method but not commenting on its effect

● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet.

Identifying a method and commenting on effect – good

● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet. The
image belittles Macbeth, making him seem weak (“poor”).

Identifying a method, commenting on effect and linking it to character traits

● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet. The
image belittles Macbeth, making him seem weak (“poor”), a stark contrast to his early
presentation as a brave soldier. This is the first time in the play we see Lady Macbeth’s
aggressive manipulation of Macbeth.

Identifying a method, commenting on effect, linking it to character traits and adding context
● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet. The
image belittles Macbeth, making him seem weak (“poor”), a stark contrast to his early
presentation as a brave soldier. This is the first time in the play we see Lady Macbeth’s
aggressive manipulation of Macbeth and it reminds us that she is not typical of women of the
time.

Identifying a method, commenting on effect, linking it to character traits, adding context and
linking back in the play
● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet. The
image belittles Macbeth, making him seem weak (“poor”), a stark contrast to his early
presentation as a brave soldier. This is the first time in the play we see Lady Macbeth’s
aggressive manipulation of Macbeth and it reminds us of her earlier demand “unsex me” – she is
beginning to display the masculine qualities she wanted, reminding us that she is not typical of
women of the time.

Identifying a method, commenting on effect, linking it to character traits, adding context, linking
back in the play and identifying a pattern of language in the extract
● Lady Macbeth uses a simile, ““Like the poor cat i’ the adage,” to compare Macbeth’s reluctance to
kill Duncan in order to become king to a cat who wants a fish but won’t get its paws wet. The
image belittles Macbeth, making him seem weak (“poor”), a stark contrast to his early
presentation as a brave soldier. This is the culmination of her speech which uses a semantic field
of cowardice: “pale”, “afeard” and “coward” are all directed at Macbeth in an effort to get him to
change his mind. This is the first time in the play we see Lady Macbeth’s aggressive manipulation
of Macbeth and it reminds us of her earlier demand “unsex me” – she is beginning to display the
masculine qualities she wanted, reminding us that she is not typical of women of the time.