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3.3 Respond critically to Shakespearean drama studied

Achievement criteria

You will write one essay of over 500 words on a Shakespearean play you have studied in class. You may choose to respond to an essay topic or guiding questions based on an extract from the text. The essay will provide opportunities to gain achievement, merit, and excellence grades. You will be assessed on your ability to evaluate and analyse ideas, language, and evidence from the text to support a clear, controlled, and logical discussion.

On this page: Achievement | Achievement with Merit | Achievement with Excellence

Achievement

• Develop a critical response to specified aspect(s) of written text(s) using supporting evidence.

Make sure you:

• thoroughly plan to answer all parts of the question by constructing a discussion or argument
• state your argument in the introduction, extend your argument by covering a number of well supported points in 5–6 fully developed paragraphs, state your final thoughts in the conclusion
• use appropriate terminology to examine features accurately
• know the content thoroughly so you can use accurate quotations, examples, and details from the text to support your analysis and evaluation of the text
• show you have examined and understood the main ideas, events, and characters in the text
• identify how the text makes you feel or what it made you think about and show some level of personal interest and/or enthusiasm with text
• make links between supporting evidence and generalisations about Shakespeare or aspects of your chosen play
• write over 500 words clearly and logically.

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Achievement with Merit

• Develop a convincing critical response to specified aspect(s) of written text(s) using supporting evidence.

Make sure you:

• Reach Achievement
• address and understand all parts of the question equally and develop a direct and full discussion or argument around the text and the question
• thoroughly examine the text by close reading significant parts of the play so you can make valid conclusions about writer's purpose
• support your study by reading other critical academic articles about your text to help clarify ideas
• use appropriate vocabulary confidently to explain your ideas connected to the writer's purpose
• distinguish between how certain effects, ideas, and elements are presented and why they were presented in that particular way
• examine how language has been used to shape the reader's point of view
• make relevant and mature conclusions based on personal response and understanding to show how Shakespeare is relevant to you
• integrate evidence and quotation to show an appreciation of the wider play
• write over 500 words fluently and logically.

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Achievement with Excellence

• Develop an integrated and perceptive critical response to specified aspect(s) of written text(s) using supporting evidence.

Make sure you:

• reach Achievement with Merit
• know how to read and deconstruct a question so you can produce answers that demonstrate a deep and full understanding of the text
• show how all elements of the text (plot, setting, character, and style) work together to support the writer’s purpose
• consistently evaluate the effectiveness of how language techniques have been used to communicate a message
• choose a main theme or character that can be fully discussed and linked to other themes in the text to further your argument
• use appropriate vocabulary confidently to explain your ideas about the writer's purpose
• use insightful analysis to make mature and valid observations and respond personally to the text
• make conclusions throughout the essay about the author's purpose and use of language to give a unique and /or an original response
• write over 500 words in a succinct discussion or argument using accurate and sophisticated language.

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