Writing an essay on Prospero's treatment of Caliban in 'The Tempest'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write an analytical essay that answers the question ‘How does Shakespeare present Prospero’s treatment of Caliban as cruel?’ in 'The Tempest'.
Key learning points
- A thesis statement summarises the overall argument of an essay.
- A topic sentence explains the focus of the paragraph.
- Supporting detail from the text should be used as evidence for your argument.
- A range of analytical verbs should be used throughout the essay to explain meaning.
Keywords
Presents - Presents means to show something or make something known.
Implies - To imply something is to communicate an idea or feeling without saying it directly.
Insinuates - To insinuate is to suggest something without directly saying it.
Depicts - To depict is to represent or show something in a story.
Portrays - To portray is to represent or describe something or someone.
Common misconception
That you don't need to use quotes in your essay.
Quotes act as textual evidence and are needed to write a successful analytical essay.
Teacher tip
You can use the writing task at the end as a homework task or a separate lesson if you feel there isn't enough time in the lesson to complete it.
Equipment
You may want a copy of Shakespeare's 'The Tempest' for this lesson.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are reasons to plan your essay before you begin writing?
Q2.Match the essay component with the definition.
Summarises overall argument
Explains focus of paragraph
Evidence from text
Q3.Which of the following is an effective topic sentence?
Q4.The feelings or emotions we get from a particular word are known as the...
Q5.Explaining the connotations of a word and how they might affect the reader is known as a quotation.
Q6.Match the keyword from 'The Tempest' with the connotation it goes with.
someone owned by someone else
something unclean
something without feelings or emotions
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following are component parts of an analytical paragraph?
Q2.Which of the following are features of a thesis statement?
Q3.Which of the following does Prospero call Caliban in Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'?
Q4.Which of the following are analytical verbs?
Q5.The word 'hag' means witch. What is the most likely interpretation of Prospero calling Caliban a 'hag-seed' in 'The Tempest'?
Q6.Which of the following analytical verbs mean to suggest something without saying it directly?
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Writing an essay on Prospero's treatment of Caliban in 'The Tempest', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 English lesson on: Writing an essay on Prospero's treatment of Caliban in 'The Tempest', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 English lessons from the 'The Tempest' unit, dive into the full secondary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.