Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 8 English Guides

Year 8 - English

Conclusions to essays: Puck and the supernatural in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils read and explore Shakespeare's comedy 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. They focus on the character Puck and the theme of the supernatural, and analyse their role and importance at different points in the play. Finally, they plan and write an essay about Puck and the supernatural.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write a well-structured conclusion about how Shakespeare uses the character of Puck to explore the supernatural in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Key Notes

  • Conclusions can follow a three part structure moving from the specific to the general.
  • The first sentence of a conclusion could be a specific response to the thesis you have argued throughout your essay.
  • The second sentence of a conclusion could be an evaluative comment about the writer's intentions.
  • The final sentence of your conclusion could consider why the text remains popular and relevant.
  • You don't need to include quotations in a conclusion.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • thesis: an idea you develop and maintain throughout an essay
  • evaluation: making a judgement or comment about something
  • general idea: an idea that is not tied to a particular detail
  • specific idea: an idea that is tied to a particular detail
  • writer's intentions: what a writer wants to achieve or explore in their work

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Conclusions should include quotations.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

Conclusions can follow a three part structure moving from the specific to the general. The first sentence of a conclusion could be a specific response to the thesis you have argued throughout your essay.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'thesis'

an idea you develop and maintain throughout an essay.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Conclusions should include quotations. Correction: Conclusions are about summing up your overall argument (your thesis) rather than continuing to develop it via analysis of new quotations.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 English guide library.