Othello vs. Iago

1
Othello vs. Iago

• Contrast the characters of Othello and Iago in
  Acts I and II

2
Step One

• Make a list of character traits for each
  character. Divide your paper in half, and write
  as many words, adjectives, and phrases that you
  can, using your study guides and your brilliant
  mind for reference.

3
Step 1 ½ Review

• Remind me how the 8 sentence, 2 chunk paragraph
  works!
• You should have redefined TS, CD, CM, CS
  clarified what a chunk is told me the helpers
  and transitional phrases explained WHY we do it
  this way.
• For the Othello Essay, we are going to do a
  prewriting paragraph to a. remind us how to put
  these skills into practice b. experience how a
  timed writing feels.

4
Prompt for Othello Paragraph

• Pick one of Othellos or Iagos best qualities
  and prove how he reveals this quality in
  Acts I and II.
• Your commentary/analysis will be an in-depth
  characterization of him based on the trait you
  will reveal in your TS.
• Youll pick two quotes that best support that
  trait.
• Basically, show me how Othello or Iago is the
  paragon of the trait you choose.
• You may use your book, your study guides, and any
  other notes you may have taken.
• Parenthetical doc. for plays quote (I iv
  25-27).

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Step Two

• Look at the character traits for both people, and
  pair up the opposite ones.
• Ex honest vs. dishonest
• Honorable vs. traitorous
• NOW, do the handout that requires you to do a
  CD hunt for your best three pairs of traits.

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Step Three

• Pick your two best contrasting pairs. These
  should be the ones you have the best support
  (quotes) for. The quotes should not be too
  similar to each other, or else your CMs will
  sound redundant and not very deep.
• Now create a word/phrase that encompasses each
  set of contrasting traits and create your initial
  thesis statement. For example
• honest v. deceitful integrity
• trustworthy v. inconsistent/unreliable
  trustworthiness
• noble v. nefarious sense of honor/moral code

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(Initial) Thesis Statements

• This sentence will ultimately be the last
  sentence of your intro paragraph
• For the outline, it will be what you write next
  to Roman Numeral I.
• It should include author, the acts, the 2 mens
  names, and the 2 sets of traits.

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Sample Thesis Statements

• In the first two acts of Shakespeares Othello,
  Othello and Iago contrast in their treatment
  of others as well as in their integrity.
• In Acts I and II of Othello, Shakespeare
  contrasts Othello and Iago in terms of their
  trustworthiness and loyalty.
• differ vastly in their approaches to honesty
  and in their intentions behind the relationships
  they form.

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Step Four

• Create the outline that will show me the overall
  structure of your essay. It must include a
  thesis, topic sentences for each of the two body
  paragraphs, all transitional sentences, and CDs
  that have lead-ins, direct quotes, and correct
  parenthetical citations.
• See handout for overall structure.

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Step Five Intros and ConclusionsIntro
Paragraph

• Should be 5 -6 sentences long
• Imitate the upside-down triangle general to
  specific, where the last sentence is your thesis
• more general
• More specific
• thesis

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Intro Paragraph, continued

• Include author and title of play in intro, but
  they dont have to be in the thesis statement
• Perhaps have a hook/metaphor that you can take
  full circle in the closing paragraph, but
  remember
• -no crazy extended irrelevant metaphors
• -no clichés, rhetorical questions, quoting
  the dictionary, dawn of time intros

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More intro stuff

• Introduce (briefly) events/the situation of your
  story
• For example,
• Why is Iago mad?
• What is the relationship btwn Iago and Othello?
• Who are these people and whats the conflict?
• Now, lets look at some samples

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Conclusions

• In the first sentence only, re-present ideas from
  the essay/thesis, BUT dont restate word for word
• Also, dont make every sentence after that a
  subtopic from the paper you just wrote this is
  redundant and unsophisticated writing
• Follow logically from previous paragraphs for
  example, if you started with an idea or metaphor,
  readdress that (full circle)
• Dont bring up brand new ideas or predict exactly
  whats going to happen next, but draw conclusions
  for the characters based on what youve already
  written.
• Have about 4-5 sentences

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Now, lets look at some samples,and remember
that the front side of the handout youre about
to get has the flawed paragraphs, but the back
has the good models.
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This essay is due

• Friday!
• Please attach your turnitin.com receipt and all
  your prewriting. This includes the grasshopper
  stamped paper and the outline. If there is no
  receipt, you will lose 5 off your grade.
• Itll be graded by the day of your finalfor real.