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Year 8 - English

Introductions to essays about Puck 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 introduction for an essay about the character of Puck in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

Key Notes

  • Introductions can follow a three part structure moving from the general to the specific.
  • The first sentence of an introduction could be a general statement about the text.
  • The second sentence of the introduction could be a general statement about the given character or theme.
  • The final sentence of your introduction could be your thesis.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • capricious: impulsive, reckless, changeable
  • thesis: an idea you develop and maintain throughout an essay
  • general idea: an idea that is not tied to a particular detail
  • specific idea: an idea that is tied to a particular detail
  • supernatural: things that can't be explained by the laws of nature

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Introductions are the same as thesis statements.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Introductions can follow a three part structure moving from the general to the specific. The first sentence of an introduction could be a general statement about the text.

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

impulsive, reckless, changeable.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Introductions are the same as thesis statements. Correction: An introduction includes a thesis statement. However, an introduction should include a more general statement about the text, as well as a more general statement about the given character or theme as well as the thesis.

More Lessons In This Unit

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