Dramatic literacy

Hamlet — Essay on 3 dramatic literary terms: Setting, Style, and Theme
INSTRUCTIONS (Drama Essay)
TOPIC: In a five (5)-paragraph essay, discuss how three (3) drama terms are manifested in one (1) play/drama
listed below. You will choose only (1) play/drama.
TERMS: Setting, Style, Theme
THESIS – Show how the (3) terms that you chose strengthen the play, or show how the (3) terms help to
communicate a powerful message about life or peace or struggles or survival or obstacles that humans
encounter every day.
CHOOSE (1) OF THESE PLAYS/DRAMAS:
Hamlet – published around 1600 – by William Shakespeare – pp. 1396-1495.
SPECIFICATIONS:
DOUBLE SPACE the entire essay–even the Works Cited page.
Use MLA format to cite (3) articles. See the format below.
You will write (5) paragraphs.
Write 7-10 sentences for EACH paragraph. See format below.
Include a WORKS CITED page at the end of the essay. The Works Cited page will have (4) citations on it (the
3 articles that you cite in your Essay, and the 4th citation will be the citation of the drama/play that you chose.
Follow Basic Grammar Rules. I will subtract (10) points for
wordiness
awkward/confusing sentence structure
using the pronouns I, ME, MY, YOU, or YOUR in this essay.
any other errors listed in # 1 – 18 on your BGRules handout.
ESSAY FORMAT:
PARAGRAPH 1 (Introduction) – Write 7-10 sentences.
Hook/attention grabber
3-4 sentences of general background information about the writer. Feel free to use the biographical information
that is provided in our textbook at the beginning of each play. That will make it easier for you.
Mention the publication date of the play. The title of the play should be italicized throughout the entire essay.
In Paragraph 1, you do not need to use MLA formatting. You will include the play on your Works Cited page at
the end of the Essay.
Thesis Statement – This will be the last sentence in Paragraph l.
PARAGRAPH 2 – (Discussion of Term 1: Setting)- Write 7-10 sentences. Look at the drama terms on pages
1195-1196 and on page 1221-1230. They are character, plot and structure, style, setting (stages and sets), and
theme. Choose (1) of these terms to write about in Paragraph 2. Show how this term strengthens the play.
Start with a nice topic sentence – SAMPLE – “The plot structure in Hamlet helps to communicate a powerful
statement about…” — Create your OWN topic sentence; this is a sample to follow.
Quote or Summarize one (1) article from Library’s database.
Have fun reading through articles.
When you find the article you want to quote or summarize in your Paragraph 2 (Drama Term 1), hit “CITE” –
located at top right. Then hit SELECT to export the citation – or copy/paste it to your MWord – on your desktop.
If all else fails, just write the MLA citation down with your own hand (the old-fashioned way), and then YOU will
type the MLA citation on your Works Cited page.
Quote/Summarize ANY article on ANY topic about your author -OR – about your play.
If for some reason, you cannot find a specific article on characters in your chosen play, do NOT stress. You
may choose ANY article on ANY play and use it in your Paragraph 2.
For example, if President Barack Obama wrote an article on the famous African American play titled, “A Raisin
in the Sun,” you may use that article in your Paragraph 2 on Hamlet. That would be fine as long as YOU are
able to connect the Obama article with the term that you chose for Paragraph 2. Please do not freak out. I will 
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be lenient here.
PARAGRAPH 3 – (Discussion of Term 2: Style)- Write 7-10 sentences. Look at the drama terms on pages
1195-1196 and on page 1221-1230. They are character, plot and structure, style, setting (stages and sets), and
theme. Choose (1) of these terms to write about in Paragraph 3. Show how this term strengthens the play. Do
NOT choose the same Term you discussed in Paragraph 2.
Start with a nice topic sentence – SAMPLE – “The _ in Hamlet engages readers and… Create your
OWN topic sentence; this is a sample to follow.
Quote or Summarize one (1) article from Library’s database.
Quote/Summarize ANY article on ANY topic about your author -OR – about your play.
If for some reason, you cannot find a specific article for your TERM 2 for your chosen play, do NOT stress. You
may choose ANY article on ANY play and use it in your Paragraph 3.
For example, if President Barack Obama wrote an article on the famous African American play titled, “A Raisin
in the Sun,” you may use that article in your Paragraph 3 on Hamlet. That would be fine as long as YOU are
able to connect the Obama article with the term that you chose for Paragraph3. Please do not freak out. I will
be lenient here.
Paragraph 4 – Discuss Term 3: Theme. Follow the SAME instructions as in P2 and P3 above.
Paragraph 5 (Conclusion) – Write 7-10 sentences.
You MUST do # 1 below. After that, feel free to choose ANY OTHER CONCLUDING DEVICES BELOW –
YOUR CHOICE. REMEMBER TO WRITE (7-10 SENTENCES)!
Mention the significance of Setting, Style, and Theme again (mandatory)

1. Discuss why your chosen drama will continue to impact society in the future/years to come.
2. Tell why your chosen drama should or should NOT be recommended to future college students.
3. Discuss positive AND negative aspects of your chosen drama.
4. Choose your own concluding devices. There are several others such as citing statistical data on the theme
   of your drama– (suicide, depression, battery against women, love, hate, etc.,).
   WORKS CITED PAGE
   See the (sample) WORKS CITED on page 1664 of your textbook. Follow this for guidance for your (4)
   citations.
   Your Works Cited page will have (4) citations on it (the 3 SCF articles that you cite in your Essay, and the 4th
   citation will be the citation of the drama/play that you chose from our textbook. For example, if you choose
   Hamlet, you will need to cite Hamlet on the Works Cited page.