Hamlet

Introduction

• Discussion of necessary adjustments made to the calendar due to UNG presentations.

• Presentation revision timeline and changes regarding eulogy presentations and essay introductions.

Eulogy Presentations

• Completion of eulogy presentations noted as accomplished.

• Introduction of the essay scheduled after eulogy presentations.

Essay Timeline and Components

• Understand that the essay outline is crucial and must be prepared by the next class on Wednesday.

• Individual check-in sessions will occur via Zoom on Wednesday at assigned times.
    - Purpose: Review each student’s thesis and provide guidance on essay development.

• Essay Due Date: Initially set for the 29th, but concerns raised about dropping the course before the end of the semester.
    - Encouragement to submit essays by the 24th for timely feedback before drop date decision.

Second ISP Journal

• Due date for the second ISP journal changed from the 29th to May 4.

• Requirement: Complete reading of the ISP novel before May 4; feedback on first ISP journal will be provided prior to this due date.

Upcoming Class Novel: The Handmaid's Tale

• Class novel to be studied: The Handmaid's Tale.

• Encourage students to acquire a hard copy from school or public library.

• Mention of seeking a PDF copy for educational purposes, emphasizing legality considerations.

Hamlet Comparative Essay

• Overview of the Hamlet comparative essay assignment:
    - Formal essay format will require 1,000 to 1,250 words (5 to 7 pages, double spaced).
    - Emphasize the importance of formal tone and adherence to academic writing norms.

Formal Writing Guidelines

• Use of third person and present tense required.

• Strict prohibition against slang or colloquial language.

• Adherence to MLA format for citations is mandatory.

• Reminder that an MLA format review will be conducted in the next class.

Essential Components of Writing Process

1. Brainstorming:
      - Initial idea generation for essay topics and character comparisons.

2. Outline Creation:
      - Detailed outlines detailing comparisons and structure are necessary.

3. Drafting:
      - Rough and final drafts will be typed on the provided document to prevent issues with AI detection.

4. Editing:
      - Importance of editing; revision history must demonstrate substantial changes and improvements.

Assignment Structure

• Essay will focus on comparing characters, specifically from Hamlet.

• Comparison topics include:
    1. Hamlet vs. Laertes/Fortinbras.
    2. Hamlet vs. Horatio.
    3. Ophelia vs. Gertrude.

• Each comparison must include a clear thesis statement indicating similarities or differences.

Thesis Development

• Thesis must be specific, addressing how the chosen characters are similar or different.

• Instruction on thesis statement structure involving ingredients necessary for a strong analytical argument.

Body Paragraph Structure

• Follow Point-Proof-Analysis format in body paragraphs:
    1. State the point of comparison.
    2. Provide textual evidence.
    3. Analyze how this supports the main thesis.

• Each paragraph must transition smoothly from one character analysis to another, making comparison clear.

Conclusion Structure

• Conclude by revisiting thesis and summarizing the two main points of comparison.

• Discuss the broader implications of the findings in connection to societal themes or historical contexts.

Additional Instructions

• Clear guidelines against copying and pasting material with strict emphasis on original writing.

• Suggestions to use Google Docs to track progress and revisions to avoid issues of plagiarism.

Class Engagement

• Open floor for student inquiries and discussions about the assignment and the writing process.

• Guidance offered for brainstorming potential essay ideas, as well as troubleshooting possible writing blocks.

Endnote

• Encourage students to follow the outlined formula to streamline their essay writing process despite its initial complexity.