Depending on where you live and at what level you are studying Shakespearean drama at, the style that you need to write your essay in will vary. In most places though, there is a general formula which you should follow to make sure that your essay is both interesting and informative. Nobody likes to read an article that drags on in dull tones, but you also need to make sure that you get your information across to the reader or examiner. The key to doing that is something which I intend to address during this article.

The first thing that anyone writes when composing an essay is the introduction. In general, the introduction to any Shakespearean essay should largely comprise of addressing the question. You should take the question and then write it in your own words, to show the reader that you understand the question. This also helps you and the reader to better understand the question. The end of your introduction should try and lead into your first paragraph.

Each paragraph should open with a powerful leader sentence which both addresses the question and the focus of the upcoming paragraph. Each paragraph should only address one point, not multiple. To ensure that you focus on your point, you should write your point beside the paragraph. Then as you write, you can look back at your focus and ensure that you aren’t straying off course. Each paragraph should finish with a sentence which clearly brings the current paragraph to an end, while also leading into the next paragraph. Make sure that you use as many relevant quotes as you can during the paragraph. Also, try and use the keywords from the question regularly. You should try and use the keywords 3 times each during the paragraph, while also using synonyms of the keywords 3 times per paragraph.

The conclusion should sum up everything that you’ve written in the course of your essay. Ensure that you don’t introduce new points in your conclusion, as it will make the reader/examiner think that you are neglecting the point because you don’t have enough knowledge to expand the point. Make sure to also re-address the question. Try to finish with a very strong sentence/set of sentences which clearly give your opinion on the question. Finish with a roar, not a whimper.