The final essay for this course should
be about 8-10 pages long, typed, double-spaced;
be on a topic taken from the list provided by the instructor or on a topic agreed upon in advance with the instructor – see the Essay Topics page for a list of possible topics;
consist primarily of one’s own thesis, insights, and evidence, derived from close analysis of TWO plays by Shakespeare written, or probably written, by 1600.
The 2 plays, will be Romeo&Juliet and Mid-summers night dream.
The essay topic is: Performances within plays: discuss Shakespeare’s use of masques, ceremonies, pageants, shows, formal rituals, and/or plays-within-plays. Why does he deploy such metatheatrical devices as he does when he does?
Each topic identifies a field that Shakespeare explores in many ways and in many plays. You will need to come up with a thesis regarding the topic of your choice. Given the plays that you choose to study and the discoveries you make and the thesis/argument you decide to present, you can (and should) refine and focus the topic.
Your argument in this essay should be based primarily on your own analysis of the texts of the plays. Be sure to include in your list of citations, a reference to the edition of the text of the plays that you use.
If you do draw on secondary sources (and you might have to if you use any historical information, about Shakespeare’s time or ours), be sure to acknowledge your indebtedness to the other writers for any ideas you quote, paraphrase, or adapt. References to your sources of all specialized terminology (e.g. ‘archetype’ or ‘habitus’), historical information, and statistical data that you use should also be provided.
follow the MLA Stylesheet for the form of footnotes, endnotes, and the list of works cited; using one of the ‘citation machines’ offered on the University of Waterloo Library’s website can help you with the correct form of references.
include a ‘List of Works Cited’ listing all the books, articles, and web-sites consulted. If no secondary sources are consulted, the ‘List of Works Cited’ should provide an entry identifying what edition of Shakespeare’s plays are used in the essay.
present your thesis, ideas, and evidence in (as ever with English essays) clear, coherent, clean prose. Minor errors in spelling and grammar will not affect the grading of the assignment. Substantive errors in usage and errors in grammar or syntax that create ambiguity or muddle the sense will adversely affect the clarity and forcefulness of your communication and, as a result, will adversely affect the grading.
