English 12 Othello Essay Academic Help
I’m studying for my English class and don’t understand how to answer this. Can you help me study?
othello book Name:____________________________ Othello Rubric
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Scoring Criteria |
Exemplary |
Proficient |
Emerging |
Incomplete |
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Ideas |
The Essay: -Asserts a strong position and includes apt, specific references to support the prompt -Offers an insightful and thorough analysis of the chosen prompt -Demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of the prompt -Complete hook and thesis statement -Conclusion connects the ideas from your essay to the real world.
20 points |
The Essay: -Provides a sustained, competent position supported by specific references that advance and answers the prompt -Offers a reasonable analysis of the chosen prompt -Demonstrates an adequate understanding of the complexity of the prompt
17 points |
The Essay: -Struggles to articulate a convincing position, often relying on summary or paraphrase instead of specific evidence -Offers a less-than-thorough understanding of the task and an inadequate treatment of the chosen prompt -Conclusion connects the ideas from your essay to the real world. 15 points |
The Essay: -Does not articulate a convincing position, often relying on summary or paraphrase instead of specific evidence -Offers a weak understanding of the task and an inadequate treatment of the prompt -Does not follow the outline format
13 points |
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Structure |
The essay: -Is organized exceptionally, so that ideas move smoothly -Has 3 quotes in each body paragraph (total of 6) -Uses transitions effectively to enhance the essay’s coherence -All quotes are cited correctly within the text 20 points |
The essay: -Has an organization that is clear and easy to follow -less than 3 quotes in each body paragraph -Includes transitions that help readers move between ideas -Some quotes are cited correctly within the text 17 points |
The essay: -Is difficult to follow and may jump too rapidly between ideas -no quotes -Lacks transitions between ideas -no quotes are cited correctly within the text
15 points |
The essay: -Is confusing and difficult to follow, moving back and forth among different ideas -No quotes -Lacks transitions between ideas -no quotes 13 points |
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Use of Language |
The essay: -Uses diction, syntax, and other stylistic devices that are notable and appropriate for the subject, purpose, and audience -Demonstrates command of standard English conventions, with few or no errors -includes MLA Heading 10 points |
The essay: -Uses diction, syntax and stylistic devices that are appropriate for the subject, purpose, and audience -Contains few errors in standard writing conventions; minor errors do not interfere with meaning -Incorrect MLA Heading
8 points |
The essay: -Uses diction, syntax, and stylistic devices ineffectively for the subject, purpose, and audience -Contains errors in standard writing conventions that seriously interfere with meaning
6 points |
The essay: -Uses diction, syntax, and stylistic devices inappropriately for the subject, purpose, and audience -Contains numerous errors in standard writing conventions that seriously interfere with meaning -No MLA Heading
5 points |
Total:________/50 points
Essay Prompts
The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice
Please choose one of the prompts below and then keep track of quotes as we read the play:
Prompt #1:
Othello is deemed a tragedy for a reason. At the conclusion of the play, many are left dead, and the audience is left with quite a few unresolved issues. Even more frustrating to the audience is often the thought, “How could this all have happened?” Both Iago and Othello could be considered responsible for Othello’s fall from grace. Iago is manipulative and malicious, while Othello is “green-eyed” and distrustful.
Based on your reading of the play, write a convincing essay debating which character is most accountable for Othello’s fall from grace.
Be sure to:
– Choose to focus your essay on whether it is Iago’s or Othello’s character that is most accountable for
Othello’s fall from grace.
– Clarify what you mean by accountable and fully develop the concept throughout the essay.
– Support your claim with specific evidence and well-developed textual justification.
Prompt #2:
Much of what occurs in Othello focuses on Othello’s “otherness” – the fact that he is a Moor and his racial
identity. His “otherness” even creates (what becomes) insurmountable insecurities within Othello himself. Taking into consideration this large emphasis on Othello’s race, answer the following prompt:
Based on your reading of the play, write a convincing essay debating whether or not Othello’s race plays a
large part in his fall from grace and his insecurities.
Be sure to:
– Choose to focus your essay on whether or not Othello’s race has an impact on his insecurities and the
outcome of the play.
– Support your claim with specific evidence and well-developed textual justification.
Prompt #3:
Iago is a truly cunning and manipulative character. However, there are moments throughout the play where we, as an audience and readers, almost sympathize with him and might even find ourselves liking him. Thinking about Iago’s soliloquies and the moments where he has us intrigued, answer the following prompt.
Based on your reading of the play, which of Iago’s soliloquies is his most powerful in convincing the reader
(or audience) to sympathize with him? Why?
Be sure to:
– Choose a specific soliloquy that truly portrays Iago’s ability to convince the audience to
sympathize with him.
– Clarify what you mean by sympathizing and fully develop the concept throughout the essay.
– Support your claim with specific evidence and well-developed textual justification.
Based on your reading of the play, which of Iago’s soliloquies is his most powerful in convincing the reader (or audience) to sympathize with him? Why?
Othello Essay Resource
Transition Words:
To Show Time: first, second, third, later, next, eventually, finally, meanwhile, soon
To Show Place: above, amid, beyond, nearby, through
To Add Information: furthermore, in addition, for example, equally important, besides
To Explain an Idea: showcasing, specifically, illustrating, for example
To Compare and Contrast: similarly, however, even though, in the same way, on the other hand
To Show a Result: consequently, thus, therefore, hence, in conclusion, finally
Academic Vocabulary:
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About the book: -novel -fiction -genre (identifies the type of book: historical fiction, mystery, adventure, etc.) -play |
About the People: -characters -protagonist -antagonist -minor characters -narrator |
About the Story: -plot -setting -conflict(problem) -climax (the most important part of the story) -rising action (events that happen after the climax) -falling action ( events that happen after the climax) -foreshadowing(when the author gives us a hint that something is going to happen) -point-of-view -resolution (the ending of the book) |
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Signal Phrases:
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Reporting Verbs: Acknowledges Emphasizes Suggests Agrees Endorses Thinks Adds Grants Writes Admits Illustrates Argues Implies Asserts Insists Believes Notes Claims Observes Comments Points out Compares Reasons Confirms Refutes Declares Rejects Denies Reports Disputes Responds |
