how to write an essay on drama

Essays About Drama: Top 5 Examples and 5 Prompts

The word drama covers many meanings and subjects; if you are writing essays about drama, discover our guide with interesting essay examples and writing prompts featured here.

What is drama to you? Many know it as a situation or event in which emotions run high. For others, the grand, intricate stage plays of Shakespeare and others of his time come to mind. Regardless, these and all other definitions of drama share one thing in common: emotion.

In all its forms, from theatre to television to cinema to even day-to-day interaction, drama is always centered around emotion, tension, and conflict- things we experience daily. Drama is, quite literally, our life, complete with all its imperfections, troubles, twists, and turns. 

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1. The History of Drama by Homer Stewart

2. why the news is not the truth by peter vanderwicken, 3. drama reflection essay (author unknown), 4. kitchen sink dramas by rodolfo chandler, 5. love yourself, not your drama by crystal jackson, 6. shakespeare’s theater: an essay from the folger shakespeare editions by barbara mowat and paul werstine, 1. what is drama, 2. types of drama, 3. the history of drama, 4. is the world over-dramatized today, 5. a dramatic incident of the past.

“Perhaps the most theatrical form of drama was opera which is still popular in today’s society. Broadway is certainly a sight that attracts thousands of people annually. In addition, the playwrights of today are striving to make the theatrical experience meaningful to the lives of viewers so that it is not just simply “pleasant entertainment”. Many themes that drama plays in modern times focus on are social problems, tragedies involving the elements of love and hate and as well as social problems that affect the inhabitants of today.”

Stewart gives readers a brief history of drama and its subjects. In different eras, the plays were based around themes and ideas prevalent in those times; for example, the Romantic Period focused on the “experiences of ordinary people.” He also references several playwrights, including Friedrich von Schiller and Percy Bysshe Shelley. In modern times, drama is centered around critical social issues while still managing to be engaging and entertaining.

“Pulitzer turned them into stories with a sharp dramatic focus that both implied and aroused intense public interest. Most newspapers of the time looked like the front page of the Wall Street Journal still does. Pulitzer made stories dramatic by adding blaring headlines, big pictures, and eye-catching graphics. His journalism took events out of their dry, institutional contexts and made them emotional rather than rational, immediate rather than considered, and sensational rather than informative.”

Vanderwicken criticizes the state of news today, saying that many stories are dramatized and outright fabricated to make them more entertaining. He attributes this to Joseph Pulitzer of Pulitzer Prize fame, who introduced He also gives historical examples of instances where the media has exaggerated – news today is too dramatic, and it must change.

You might also be interested in these essays about Macbeth .

“I felt that this learning experience is a very huge step because it takes us from doing a play which is very immature in to something that is big and has maturity in it. It helps me to practice in fluency, public speaking and mostly self-confidence. In the play I developed my ways of acting and how to put emotions in to the character, in which those emotions were not really me.”

This essay describes lessons one can learn from performing drama, such as confidence and speaking fluently. The author also reflects on an experience performing in drama, where the author learned to be more expressive, speak better, and become more hardworking. There is also a brief discussion on the elements of drama, including plot and setting. Drama is important and can teach you essential skills and lessons. 

“In the late 1950s in Britain, the “Kitchen Sink movement”, which is also known as “Kitchen Sink realism” occurred. This cultural movement stemed from ideas about working class activities. A typical writer of kitchen sink dramas is John Osborne, for example his drama “Look back in anger” which aroused many strong opinions when it was first performed as a drama. It is set in a small flat in the west midlands, which is typical of working class people.”

Chandler describes a period in drama where “kitchen sink dramas” depicted working-class stories. He uses John Osborne’s “Look Back in Anger” as an example, briefly describing the play. Jimmy, one of the characters, was known as an “angry young man,” This term was later used to describe young people critical of the social and political state of the world.

“We learn to recognize co-dependence, narcissism, and toxicity for what they are rather than making excuses because we liked the look of someone. In other words, we grow up. We stay in love with our own toxic patterns and keep the cycle of damage going, or we recognize the collateral damage of all our drama and start wanting better for ourselves. We make choices. We experience consequences. If we grow up, we’ll even connect the two.”

Jackson’s essay discusses drama from another perspective, the drama that comes with love life. She gives readers tips on how to care for yourself better and look past all the tension, confusion, and drama that comes with dating. If we look at potential partners from a deeper, more constructive point of view, we can avoid toxic relationships and have a healthy love life. 

“When performance required that an actor appear “above,” as when Juliet is imagined to stand at the window of her chamber in the famous and misnamed “balcony scene,” then the actor probably climbed the stairs to the gallery over the back of the stage and temporarily shared it with some of the spectators. The stage was also provided with ropes and winches so that actors could descend from, and reascend to, the “heavens.””

In their essay, Mowat and Werstine discuss the conventions of performing Shakespearean drama during his time, including the performance of some scenes in different areas of the theater and men playing women’s roles. They also discuss how the theaters they performed in, such as the Globe Theatre, enhanced the plays’ dramatic effect.

5 Prompts for Essays About Drama

The word drama has many meanings and is used differently, as seen in the essay examples above. In your essay, give the word’s etymology, explain the different sides of drama, from theatre to school life, and give examples of how they exemplify the meaning. Explain how they are all connected as well. 

Drama in the context of theatre has four primary forms: comedy, tragedy, tragicomedy, and melodrama. Discuss each type of drama and elaborate on its characteristics. If you wish, compare and contrast them as well. Be sure to give examples of plays when explaining them.   

In your essay, you can also discuss the different periods in the history of drama. Explain what occurred in these periods, how drama changed, and their effects on modern drama. You need not explore too many periods; just make sure you write about key developments and explain them adequately. 

In the world today, the resilience of survivors is glorified and dramatized, while we see media outlets making headlines out of mere gossip and celebrity news. From this, it can be argued that society is centered around making a drama out of nothing. Why is this the case? Discuss your opinion on this issue- feel free to research if you need inspiration. 

Look back to a past event marked by tension, emotion, and drama. Narrate the events and explain how they made you feel- did you learn anything from them? This can be either your own experience or just an event from history or the news. You can read this essay for further inspiration. 

Note: drama can mean different things to different people, so what you consider “dramatic” is up to you.For help picking your next essay topic, check out our top essay topics about love .

Martin is an avid writer specializing in editing and proofreading. He also enjoys literary analysis and writing about food and travel.

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• Literary Terms

When & How to Write Drama

• Definition & Examples
• When & How to Write Drama

How to Write Drama

• Start with characters . The best dramas are usually character- driven. They have a cast of main characters (usually fewer than 10), plus a handful of supporting characters. These characters should all be very distinct from one another, and the main characters should be authentic and life-like. This way, the audience can relate to them and cares what happens to them.
• Introduce conflict. All stories revolve around conflict, and this is especially true in drama. The conflict could be anything – the simplest example is political conflict or war, but you might also have competing love interests, clashes in personality, or simply a struggle against misfortune.
• Don’t forget about comic relief. Unless you’re writing a tragedy (see section 6), there should be at least some amount of humor in your drama. Otherwise, the negative emotions will get overwhelming and the experience will be too unpleasant for the reader. Give a few funny lines to your characters, or add an amusing situation somewhere to cut the tension – just make sure that this comic relief arises naturally from the story and it doesn’t feel like you’re cramming it in.

When to Use Drama

Drama is great for a creative writing project. It offers opportunities to work on character development, story structure, and a whole other set of writing skills. Every once in a while, you may also find a place for drama in formal essays , but you have to be careful.

For example, history essays are often more enjoyable to read if you craft them with a “dramatic” eye – focusing on a small set of main characters, contrasting these characters and their various desires, and fully describing the conflict at the center of the story. These techniques, in combination with good research and persuasive logic, can turn a good essay into a great one. However, you do have to be careful – too much drama in a formal essay can start to seem distracting, and you don’t want to give the impression that you’re more committed to the entertainment value than to the research and analysis.

List of Terms

• Alliteration
• Amplification
• Anachronism
• Anthropomorphism
• Antonomasia
• APA Citation
• Aposiopesis
• Autobiography
• Bildungsroman
• Characterization
• Circumlocution
• Cliffhanger
• Comic Relief
• Connotation
• Deus ex machina
• Deuteragonist
• Doppelganger
• Double Entendre
• Dramatic irony
• Equivocation
• Extended Metaphor
• Figures of Speech
• Flash-forward
• Foreshadowing
• Intertextuality
• Juxtaposition
• Literary Device
• Malapropism
• Onomatopoeia
• Parallelism
• Pathetic Fallacy
• Personification
• Point of View
• Polysyndeton
• Protagonist
• Red Herring
• Rhetorical Device
• Rhetorical Question
• Science Fiction
• Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
• Synesthesia
• Turning Point
• Understatement
• Urban Legend
• Verisimilitude
• Essay Guide
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How to write a good drama essay?

Essay paper writing

Thinking about the cultural heritage of a country, people usually remember music, paintings, costumes, and even cuisine, but often forget about drama. This art has taken various forms in different countries, and most nations have a great history of its development.

For ages, it has evolved from being merely entertainment for masses to something a lot bigger and more valuable. It started reflecting the real life, presenting both beautiful and ugly sides of it, teaching people important lessons, educating them, delivering certain messages, and raising public awareness.

Therefore, if you were assigned a drama essay, you have a wide variety of topics to choose from and viewpoints to consider. While picking the topic might not be the biggest issue, as you likely know a few plays you might want to review, the writing part might be a little tricky. Let us walk you through it though.

Drama essay outline

There is nothing special about the structure of dramatic essays. Its main elements are:

• Introduction. Start with a hook phrase, provide a few sentences with some background information on the topic, and end the introductory paragraph with a thesis statement showing the purpose of your paper.
• Body. If you are writing a typical 1-2-page essay, the body will likely consist of about 3-5 paragraphs, each with its own main idea and supporting sentences.
• Conclusion. The main task of this section is to restate the thesis statement, briefly overview the discussion you had in the body, and leave your readers some food for thought.

Drama essay format

The question of formatting always concerns students because it constitutes a considerable part of the overall grade. If you are a school student, you will likely be asked to use APA or MLA style. But if you study at a university, then the choice of formatting styles can be wider. Therefore, it is better to clarify which one would be the most suitable with your professor before you start working on your essay.

Drama essay help: best tips

Drama studies, the same as numerous other courses, require their students to work on different kinds of tasks, and many of them involve essay writing. Even though you are familiar with various types of papers and have certainly worked on a wide range of topics, the most frequent task you may be assigned is usually an analysis paper. No matter how many essays you have prepared before, drama writing assignments will be a unique, unusual, and unexpectedly enjoyable experience that will fascinate you each time.

As most professors try to help their students relish each drama essay assignment and approach it creatively, they often leave minimum instructions to follow. While some people see it as an opportunity to learn in comfort and recognize the limits of their own perception, others freeze in confusion, having no idea what to do next. It is completely natural to feel baffled when you are used to staying within limits set by teachers but are suddenly given so much freedom for experiments and action. It is just important to come out of this perplexed state and make a clear plan like this one:

Choose a play

Obviously, a drama analysis essay cannot be done if there is nothing to analyze. Therefore, it is important to pick the play first. Teachers can provide their students with a list of plays to choose from, and as you have no time to watch them all and then pick one, read brief descriptions of them on the Web, and go with the play you liked the most.

If you have no list, the situation gets a bit more complicated, but there is no need to worry, as you can create such a list on your own. Focus on the topic you are currently studying on the course, and search for plays that would have the needed time frame, country, exact theatre, or team of actors. Make your own little research on these plays to figure out what they are about and make the final decision on what you are going to analyze.

Think of the assessment criteria

The type of paper you are working on implies that you need to analyze certain aspects of the play you will watch, and it is crucial to decide what those things will be. If you have to focus on technical attributes of the play, then lights, quality of music, costumes, and decorations are the nice assessment choices. However, writing about drama, you will more often be asked to put the emphasis on something spiritual or emotional. In this case, it is better to examine acting itself, as well as the role of crewmembers, their involvement, language, feelings, and contribution to the play. You can always look up the criteria, but it is better to come up with a few on your own, write them all down, and make sure they all will be suitable for your essay on drama.

Outline, write, and revise

When you feel ready for writing about drama, create proper working conditions for yourself, and prepare an outline first. Find a place where nothing will bother you, turn off your phone, and take everything you need for writing. Look up how to structure the work, check out the outline provided above, or find a suitable sample and check how it is organized.

You can either use a similar structure or outline the drama paper on your own using the data you have. Think about the purpose of the work, the information you want to present, and the way you will shape your discussion. Start writing a drama review only when the outline is ready and make sure to proofread it when you finish.

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How to write a drama essay

We devise many ways of passing and enjoying our leisure time, visiting movie theatres and watching live plays comes in handy as a substantial way of enjoying our free time.

Plays are one of the most up and coming, influential ways of conveying a message, as well as a good career move, whether you are acting or play writing. Essay writing when taking a major in Drama playwrights is an essential evaluation of your knowledge and understanding of your course, it is always advisable to have that in mind.

The below tips offer some fundamental guidelines on  how to write a drama essay .

Before you start essay writing there are several things you have to consider:

• Have an undisputable idea of the direction and focus that you want to take when writing your drama essay is very important. It needs to be informative and interesting. Choose a topic to indulge your audience i.e. use of new technology, how it’s improved life, raise points that explains your theme and why they should be more accepting of the change in technology. A persuasive drama essay is where you raise your point of view or ideology that meant to instill the change you advocate i.e. global warming, its effect and why we need to take care of the environment. You should make sure you ease their understanding of the theme and focus at hand; in this case what really is global warming. This needs to be laid out in leman terms because this will set your reader at ease and help them understand where you are going.
• After you have chosen the direction of your play or drama essay, choose the subject matter to relate and keep your audience interested. Having prior knowledge of the subject matter is always an added advantage before making the final decision of the topic to focus on.
• Understanding how to write a drama essay is not just about how good of a writer you are, or how good an actor you are. It involves a lot of research. Once you have the outline of your theme, embark on the necessary research, making use of all the available resources like online searches, libraries and databases, which will be especially useful if you have taken a persuasive theme, as they will provide you with more detailed information, which you will use to break down into understandable messages for the reader to take onboard. Google searches and online questionnaires will open up more ideas about recent activities, this way keeping your essay up to date and your readers interested. This is useful for informative theme based making sure your topic of focus is essentially to generate more audience/readers’ as you will have to consider their ideas and simultaneously tackle issues they are most likely to relate to.
• Use the materials you found from your research as baselines and backups for your main theme rather than fully encompassing your entire essay with references.

Make use of the standard way of writing essays:

• Introduction  where you introduce your stand and angle you are choosing to direct your drama.
• Main body  where you expound on your theme supporting it; be sure to use references here when necessary to improve on your credibility.
• Conclusion  where summarize all your points laid out throughout the essay cementing your stand and ultimately achieving the ultimate goal of informing or persuading.
• Be sure to maintain focus on your theme throughout the essay while aligning and explaining your points.
• It is advisable, when writing, to make use of the MLA or Harvard way of referencing. You should use the references as a way of backing up your points and views you have previously made. This may however differ according to instructions that may have been handed to you by your tutor.
• You should make use of bullets when stating points because you can elaborate on them in the paragraphs. It will allow the reader to indulge and see your flow and explanations.

Revising and re-doing

• When you have finished writing, you should go through your work to ensure you have corrected all spelling mistakes that may have occurred when writing. Also check for grammatical eras that you may have over looked and generally evaluate the general flow of your essay piece; does it make sense? Have you achieved your goal of persuading or informing your readers? Are you satisfied? Have you executed and made use of all available resources to you to get the necessary point across that you wanted to?
• Be sure to use collective words i.e. ‘strolling’ meaning to walk leisurely, because this will help you achieve the objective of your essay using a minimum of words.

If you take all these points into consideration before starting the essay, you will definitely be able to make an informed decision on your angle of approach and therefore assuring you achieve a well-written Drama essay.

We hope you enjoyed reading our ‘how to write a drama essay’ guide.

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by William H. Coles

Drama: core thoughts.

Great fiction is surprise, delight, and mastery. Conflict-action-resolution is the writer’s most essential tool. Dramatic writing is more than just revealing prose. Drama in literary fiction is mainly created through:

• a core story premise,
• unique and fully-realized characterization,
• and logical and acceptable motivation.

Drama in literary fiction is choosing well what information is best for the story and then providing that information predominantly in action scenes.

Suspense: feeling of uncertainty, excitement, or worry over how something will turn out.

Suspense contributes to drama, but it is not the sole element of drama in literary fiction. Suspense in literary fiction is the fear of something happening to a character we like or respect, and the character’s personality affects the outcome of plot elements.

Jane books a flight to New York to plead with her estranged husband. Her pilot arrives too intoxicated to fly the plane, successfully covering up his reduced capacities. Jane boards the plane. The pilot ignores the usual preflight checklist. The fuel tanks are less than a quarter full.

Comment. Fear of something happening to a character, and if we like or respect the character, the suspense is heightened. Yet there is a lack in this plot construction of the character-driven element of literary fiction.

Jane calls her clandestine lover to fly her to New York in his small plane to meet with her estranged husband. She has made her lover distraught at her refusal to give up her efforts to patch her marriage. The lover arrives hung over from drowning his sorrows, and fails to complete a preflight checklist. The plane’s fuel tanks have not been refueled.

Comment. This is not a great story but it does show how character-driven plots differ from circumstantial plots. Note how the second scenario also allows for complexities in the resolution that may reveal more about the characters and contribute to the meaning of the story—say, love is the root of disaster. The lover might sacrifice his life for Jane, or visa versa. Again, character generation of plot to create literary fiction. In popular fiction, the resolution may be simply a plane crash or an emergency landing and the arrest of the pilot.

Withheld information

All stories have withheld information. As an author, you can only tell so much. But why an author withholds information contributes to the quality of the story. And when an author chooses to reveal story information is critical to story success; the expectations are different in genre fiction than in literary fiction.

In melodrama (using stereotypical characters; exaggerated descriptions of emotion; and simplistic conflict, and morality) crucial information is withheld to create suspense for a reader. But it is manipulation of the reader. The reader must accept this manipulation too; this reader knows the narrator knows who killed the rector but will accept not knowing until the end of the story to discover a fact. But in literary fiction, all information crucial for the story (this is an author being true to the story and not using the story) is presented for the sole purpose of engaging the reader. Then the reader becomes involved in (and with) the characters resolving their conflicts—not only in being told what is withheld—and the result is a change in the reader, a realization that nothing in their world will ever be the same because of their involvement in the story.

How story information is used—whether delivered or withheld—is the skeleton of how different authors create their own unique stories. Authors of literary stories must not exploit a reader’s interest and involvement through false handling of story facts. Instead, the reader must become involved in the story action and accept character change–and experience change in themselves.

Literary stories are harder to write and require more intense reading than nonliterary stories. A casual reader, not caring about involvement in the story, will prefer stories based on withheld facts—who murdered whom, for example. This reader (and at times all readers will have this goal) does not want to expend effort to become involved in a literary story. This is how most stories are told and enjoyed today. And it is an admirable skill, for an author, to write to this reader effectively. But literary fiction needs to be an alternative choice for readers in the mood to be involved.

Let’s say you write a story about a pregnant teenage girl traveling alone cross-country for an abortion. For many authors, the story may be about the revelation of who fathered the child. And the discovery of this withheld information will delight many readers.

But you could reveal all the circumstances of the pregnancy. What if it were incest and her father raped her, or what if the gym coach at school had seduced her on the trip to the finals in field hockey. Everything is up front. Now you set forth the structure to bring the reader into how the girl will solve her conflict—an unwanted pregnancy by someone she hates. You will reveal her nature and her capabilities. You will find a premise: forced love destroys a normal life, for example. And you will engender understanding in the reader that enlightens, or changes existing thought.

Drama is action

Most beginning writers do not have the instincts to write stories by creating conflict, action and resolution in a series of scenes that present a story happening that will involve the reader. For most part, beginners simple tell story happenings, often with complicated and inflated prose that is static and boring.

Examples of description and showing

Narrative description (telling):

Paul was jealous that Helen could sing with so much passion that others couldn’t take their eyes away from her as she performed.

In scene (showing):

Helen held the floor-stand microphone with both hands. The piano player played the introduction hunched over the keyboard. Helen took a deep breath and sang with a soft breathy voice, her eyes closed until the refrain when her gaze swept the audience of strangers, all watching her. She sang three verses and smiled at the end without a bow. The crowd applauded. Paul approached Helen as she climbed down off the stage. “I wish I could sing like that,” Paul said. “I don’t have your ear for perfection.”

In scene action and showing should be the major portion of a literary story. But it is still true narrative telling, when condensed–and not as a vehicle for asides, and recall and reflection–can be useful to advance the story efficiently.

A) Narrative telling. (Quick, effective.)

The ship sank.

B) In-scene showing. (More story time, more engaging.)

The ocean liner listed, taking on water through the hole the torpedo made in her portside. The bridge shuddered from two explosions in the engine room, and as the crew struggled to release the lifeboats. And the bow disappeared beneath the surface first, soon followed by the hull.

The feeling of momentum must not be lost in a story. The key is learning how to write with action (see also Momentum).

Examples from A Story in Literary Fiction: A Manual for Writers.

Story examples with dramatic elements: Suchin’s Escape , The Miracle of Madame Villard , The Thirteen Nudes of Ernest Goings .

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Essay Structure – Edexcel A Level English Literature

14th June 2017

by Aimee Wright

The first thing you need to consider when writing an English essay is the structure, and how you can make sure it is one that you can remember and will give you a good grade.

• Generic Introduction :You will need to know the book , the author , the publication date and the literary period / monarchy era – g. Frankenstein , Mary Shelley, 1818, Romantic period. Then, you will need to state the genre of the book(s) – e.g. Frankenstein is a gothic novel. Lastly, you will need to briefly summarise the theme / character that the question asks of you. Below are some example generic introductions :
• (For the Prose exam): Frankenstein by Mary Shelley was published in 1818, during the Romantic Period, and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood was published in 1985, and is a postmodern text. Both of these texts are science fiction novels, but Frankenstein is a gothic novel, written in the first wave of gothic literature, while The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopian novel. *The role of gender in the misuse of science* is seen in both texts in the way that the writers have used linguistic techniques and contextual factors, and this is what will be explored in this analysis.
• (For Othello ): Othello by William Shakespeare was published in 1604 during the Elizabethan era. The play is considered a tragedy, but many critics have picked up on the use of satire that Shakespeare has used, however it is not used so much that it could be seen as a comedy. In this analysis, it will be explored how Shakespeare has used his linguistic abilities and contextual factors to present the *theme of betrayal*, and subsequently how critics have viewed this.
• (For A Streetcar Named Desire ): A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams was published in 1947, making it a modernist play. The play is a tragedy which aligns with the context of events such as World War Two, and the Great Depression, as these are very tragic. In this analysis, the *character of Blanche* will be explored, and it will be considered whether Williams uses linguistic, structural and contextual techniques to impact Blanche’s character.
• (For Post 2000 Poetry): Please Hold by Ciaran O’Driscoll is a poem that presents the themes of frustration, manipulation and irritation that the modern day society brings. As a postmodern poem, the twenty-first century challenges that the narrator undertakes align with each other. On first reading Somewhat Unravelled by Jo Shapcott, the reader can perceive that the narrator also represents strong emotions to represent how the narrator is feeling. By comparing these two poems, the analysis will explore how *strong emotions* are used in order to relay a story, such as through linguistic and structural crafting.
• (For Keats ): The Eve of St Agnes by John Keats was written in 1819, just two years before Keats’ death, in the Romantic period. The *theme of physical sensations* in this poem are represented through linguistic and structural methods, as well as contextual factors of the time. Physical sensations are not just seen in The Eve of St Agnes , however – Keats has also used this theme in La Belle Dame sans Merci , which was written in 1819 like The Eve of St Agnes . In this analysis, it will be seen whether La Belle Dame sans Merci shares a similar approach to physical sensations, and whether the time period had impact on this.

It is important to mention what you are going to be discussing in the essay. But, you do not need to use specific details in your introduction, otherwise the rest of your essay will seem sort of shallow. So, use phrases such as ‘In this analysis, the linguistic and structural crafting will be explored’, for instance.

If the question is particularly linked to a specific one contextual factor – maybe it is about monarchy or social hierarchy, or war? – you should give a brief overview of that contextual factor. E.g. “The social hierarchy in Shakespearean times was based on the chain of being , which will be discussed in this analysis.”

• In comparison essays – so the Prose and Poetry exams – it is important to highlight which text is your primary text . In the Prose exam, your primary text is Frankenstein , because it “comes first” in literary history. In Post 2000 poetry, the primary text is the poem from the anthology , accompanied by the unseen poem . In Keats, the primary text is the poem it gives you , and you “support” your points with another poem. But, it is important not to compare . So, when exploring your point further, you could say “To support this point, this is also seen in *insert other poem name* by using the same techniques.”
• In non-comparison essays – the Drama exam – you will need to write the same number of points that you would use for a comparison essay (the average is 2-3), but you may need more substance and expansive analysis. For example, if you wrote two paragraphs for one point in the Prose exam (which includes two texts ) you would still need to write two paragraphs for one point , even though you only have one text .
• So the structure of your essays need to be clear , concise and understandable . Especially for comparison essays, you will need to split up your points into more than one paragraph so that the examiner can understand your analysis more clearly.Having said this, in the Prose exam, it is important to note that you must state the points for both texts in the initial paragraph. This is so that the examiner can see where your point is going from the beginning.In the comparison essays in the Poetry exam, the first paragraph of the point should be about the primary text , which will then lead you to explore the secondary text . So, the advice for this would be: do not plan points for both poems – if you want to plan, just think of points for the primary text , and then think about how that same technique or concept is seen in your secondary text .
• Quoting / quotations: It is important to follow the succeeding points when considering the quotations that you use –
• Think about the context that you are talking about, and how you are putting the quotation in a sentence. Generally, it is better to put a quotation in a sentence like: “This is seen in the declarative sentence , ‘We are two-legged wombs.’ (p.146).” (this is a quote from The Handmaid’s Tale ). But if you are going to use the quotation like this: “The narrator said that ‘We are two legged-wombs’ to present the idea that the Handmaids are irrelevant.” you will need to think about the structure of the sentence. Instead of using the pronoun ‘We’ in the quotation, put ‘they’ in square brackets to show that you have modified the quotation . So, the sentence would look like this: “The narrator said that ‘[they] are two-legged wombs’ to present the idea that the Handmaids are irrelevant.”
• Think about the length of the quotation that you are using. If there is a long quotation – perhaps one that includes a stream of consciousness or syndetic listing , or just lengthy description – you may want to use snippets of the quotation to ensure that the examiner does not get bored. So instead of saying: “Walton (who is speaking) is seen to be a man who has power. Shelley presents this by saying, ‘One man’s life or death were but a small price to pay for the acquirement of the knowledge which I sought, for the dominion I should acquire and transmit over the elemental foes of our race.’” (This is a quotation from Frankenstein ). you could use specific words or phrases to portray the same point. For instance, if your point was: “Walton (who is speaking) is seen to be a man who has power. Shelley presents this is seen in his fourth letter with a semantic field of power and knowledge, with words such as ‘acquirement’; ‘knowledge’; ‘dominion’’ and ‘transmit’.”
• Terminology : I know that terminology is difficult to use, especially if you can’t think of the name for a technique. But, you are marked on your terminology use as it “proves” that you know what you’re talking about.
• Where to use terminology: when structuring your point, you should use terminology either before you mention the quotation – this is if you are making a point that the technique has a direct impact on the theme or character – or after you mention the quotation – this is just to show that you know what technique the author has used.Before the quotation: If you are making the point that the author uses declarative sentences to depict the theme or character, you could say: “Atwood uses declarative sentences to represent how straightforward prejudice is as a theme in society: ‘We are two-legged wombs.’ (p.146).” The idea that prejudice is ‘straightforward’ is your point .After the quotation: So, after the point made above, you could expand by saying: “Atwood uses this declarative sentence to represent that the Handmaids are discriminated against in a simple way, otherwise she may have used another sentence mood, such as exclamatory sentences . In addition, the metaphor of Handmaids being ‘two-legged wombs’ shows Atwood’s linguistic crafting to portray that Handmaids are only seen as women who give birth to children, and nothing else.” The use of further terminology in your essay – in this case ‘exclamatory sentences’ and ‘metaphor’ – will show more knowledge.
• Word Specific Analysis: Instead of using terminology for the analysis of a whole quotation , you can use Word Specific Analysis to really unpick the underlying ideas. For instance: “Atwood uses the pronoun ‘We’ to represent that the Handmaids are a collective. This shows that if one Handmaid is victimised or targeted, the whole group of Handmaids are discriminated against. In addition, the use of the noun ‘wombs’ indicates the part of the body that the Handmaids are seen as: they are just seen as being able to conceive a child, and nothing more.”

For instance: “ Bright star! would I were steadfast as thou art by John Keats uses the Petrarchan sonnet  form. Petrarch was famous for using themes such as unrequited love, and the sonnet will always use a Volta . The Volta is the beginning of the ninth line of the sonnet and, in Keats’ poetry, is often representative of his own personal change in mood or thought, so the Volta ‘No’ in Bright star! could be Keats changing his mind, or disagreeing, with his previous comments.”

In the Drama exam, it is important to know the names of speech and structure:

For instance: “ Othello by William Shakespeare uses a variety of structures to symbolise the theme of betrayal. For instance, Iago often speaks in prose when his plan is beginning to unravel. Prose, in comparison to the poetic speech that characters usually speaks in, is used to represent the unstoppable thoughts and ideas that a character may have.”

• Context: It is explicitly important to use contextual information to back up your ideas.
• The Prose Exam:The most important piece of context for this exam is about the science of the time and how it is used in your texts. This is because the section of the exam is ‘Science and Society’. This also means you have to have a substantial knowledge of the society at the time of the novels as well.
• Other exams:It is just as important to use author-personal context as well as societal This includes the author’s family, associates, events that happened to them etc.You should use a balance of societal and personal context to show your varied knowledge. In fact, you can often use a piece of context as your point e.g. “Keats wrote in the second generation of the Romantic poets, so he had influence from the work of Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge, for instance. The Romantics have many different conventions, but to represent the theme of physical sensations in The Eve of St Agnes , Keats has employed the Romantic connection to nature.”
• Critics and Different Interpretations:The Drama exam is the only exam that you get marked on for critical analysis and using different interpretations, but it does not hurt to use them in each exam.

“In Othello , Shakespeare represents Desdemona as being associated with everyone, or having an impact on each character for a different reason.”

This can be supported by Anna Jameson , a critic of the play. You do not need to remember every detail of her critical evaluation, but you need to remember the general idea or snippets of quotes:

“To support this point, Anna Jameson said that Desdemona is the ‘source of the pathos’ of the play. This links to the idea that she is associated with everyone because she emits the ‘pathos’ and diffuses it to each character, and this is what creates the tragedy in the play.” What is important to mention , however, is that you should back up the critical reading with a quotation from the play, rather than just your “point”:

“This is seen just before Desdemona’s death when she says ‘I never did / Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio’, then Othello says ‘Honest Iago hath tane order for’t.’ This represents Desdemona’s impact on multiple characters through the possessive pronoun ‘you’ and the mention of ‘Cassio’ and ‘Iago’, and the bitter tone of these declarative sentences portrays pathos, therefore showing where Jameson got her idea from.”

To make another point, you could challenge the critic. Another point could be:

“Desdemona is seen as ‘fair’, and innocent, and Shakespeare represents this by repeatedly having Othello call her the epithet ‘gentle Desdemona’.”

Therefore, you could use Jameson’s idea to challenge this point:

“To challenge this point, Anna Jameson said that Desdemona is the ‘source pathos of the play’. If Desdemona is the ‘source pathos’, it can be analysed that she is not truly ‘gentle’, but is actually sorrowful.”

You could disagree with the critic as well, but do not use first person . Say it as though you are disagreeing on behalf of the audience:

I hope that this is all helpful for the exam, the exams start tomorrow so good luck!

Bibliography

Atwood, M. (1985). The Handmaid’s Tale. London: Vintage Random House.

Keats, J. (2007). Selected Poems. London: Penguin Classics.

Poems of the Decade: An Anthology of the Forward Books of Poetry. (2011). London: Forward Ltd.

Shakespeare, W. (1622). Othello. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Shelley, M. (1818). Frankenstein (3 ed.). London: Penguin Group.

Williams, T. (1947). A Streetcar Named Desire. London: Penguin Group.

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How to Write a Band 6 HSC Drama Essay

Want to nail your HSC Drama essay in the HSC exam? Or, maybe only just realised that you have to write a HSC Drama essay in the exam and need some help?

You’ve come to the right place!

We’ve come up with this 5 step guide to writing a Band 6 worthy HSC Drama essay by breaking down the rubric and giving you tips on how to understand your text, analyse it and write about it!

So, what are you waiting for? Let’s jump in!

The HSC Drama Essay Step 1: Understanding the Bands and the Rubric Step 2: Understand your Texts Step 3: Use TETE Tables Step 4: Answer the Question Step 5: Draft, Rewrite, Polish

The HSC Drama Essay

Drama essays are often overlooked because most kids take Drama to do the practical/acting components.

In reality, the theory tasks are the most influential on your final mark. The theory exam is worth 40% of your external mark!

Honing your HSC Drama essay writing skills will take you straight to the top, believe me!

Most Drama students forget to study for the written exam until it’s too late. Getting this skill under your belt early will put you well ahead the rest of the pack.

This article is here to help you with any trouble you’ve had with Drama Essays in the past, in 5 simple steps! Let’s go!

Step 1: Understanding the Bands and the Rubric

What is a band.

Bands are the system NESA uses to grade each of your exams in the HSC.

Your results will be placed in a certain Band based on your percentage results. There are six bands, Band 6 being the highest and most difficult band to achieve.

It is easy to think of the Bands with reference to their percentages:

• Band 6 – 90-100%
• Band 5 – 80-89%
• Band 4 – 70-79%
• Band 3 – 60-69%
• Band 2 – 50-59%
• Band 1 – 0-49%

The only way you can understand a rubric is if you translate into language that you understand.

As an example, I have taken the Australian Drama and Theatre Rubric (the HSC Drama Core Study) and broken it down into simpler terms.

Australian Drama and Theatre (Core Study)

This topic explores, theoretically and experientially , the traditional and contemporary practices of Australian drama and theatre and the various ways in which artistic, cultural, social, political and personal issues and concerns are reflected in different contexts. Students investigate how different Australian practitioners use dramatic forms, performance styles, techniques and conventions to convey ideas and influence the ways in which audiences understand and respond to ideas and images presented in the theatre.

I have bolded the important terms. Every exam question that you will get, or practice, will be derived from this rubric. It is paramount that you understand this.

In essence, NESA is saying that in this unit, you will research and act out your set texts to get a rich and deep understanding of how the playwrights explore contextual Australian issues.

These may surface in the form of a reflection, diatribe, subtle comment, or ramification of the artistic, cultural, personal and social imperatives of Australia in the plays’ contexts.

Your job, as the student, is to analyse how the playwrights wrote their plays , and what techniques they used (appropriate to the styles of Australian Theatre) and what they wanted the audience to feel/think after watching their play!

Step 2: Understand your Texts

Read your texts.

Obviously, the first step to understanding your texts is by reading them! If you were thinking that you could get away without reading your texts, let me tell you now that that is not an option – especially if you want to write a Band 6 worthy HSC Drama essay!

Make sure you understand the text and can recount it off the top of your head if you were asked.

For an example, let’s use  The Removalists by David Williamson (1971).

This play is about two police officers, one a senior officer and the other is the new cop on the block, who helps a young woman and her sister, who is being abused by her husband, to move out of the house and return her to safety.

Extrapolate the important themes

Once you’ve read your text, you need to be able to identify the most important themes from the text.

Usually, your themes will be quite apparent as they will be linked to the central idea of the text you’re studying.

For example, in The Removalists an example of a core theme of the play is sexism. This apparent sexism is a reflection of the blatant sexism in Australia in the 1970s.

Step 3: Use TETE Tables

You may know them as TEE Tables from previous English essays you have written, however, HSC Drama essays are slightly different.

You will be using a TETE table instead for Drama to break down your paragraph into a set of columns to build up an in-depth collection of evidence to support your essays!

You will be using a table much like this one. I have filled it out using an example from David Williamson’s The Removalists to show you how it works.

I know this can be tedious, and no one ever said that writing an essay was a hobby, but if you work hard now, you will reap the rewards later!You should have one of these in every paragraph, giving you 4 for a Drama Extended Response.

Step 4: Answer the Question

Like any essay, we need to come up with a strong thesis.

In order to do this, we need to be able to understand what the question is asking. This might involve highlighting the key words of the question and asking ourselves what it is that the question wants us to do.

Let’s try doing this with the following practice question:

Compare how the plays that you have studied use the development of tension to take their audience on a particular journey.

Firstly, let’s break up the question by identifying the key words:

• Development of tension
• Audience on a particular journey

From here, we can ask ourselves three mini questions, pulled from the essay question, to really understand what NESA wants us to answer:

• What tensions are in the two plays I have studied?
• How do the playwrights develop these tensions – What dramatic techniques/elements do they use?
• How are these two things different in the two plays?

It is important that you answer these questions in the introduction of your essay, as it will show the marker that you have understood and addressed the question.

Be sure to link back to these questions throughout the essay to reinforce your response.

The next step is to write paragraphs which more specifically address the question!

Writing Paragraphs

In each paragraph, you should follow this structure: SCEEL!

• Statement – A topic sentence which refers to the question, the set text and a theme in the text.
• Context – A sentence about the context of the play, which is relevant to the themes you will be discussing in the paragraph.
• Example – Experiential learning. Include an example from the text which supports your argument.
• Explain – Explain the elements of drama included in the example and how they highlight the presence of the theme. Then, discuss the effect on the audience.
• Link – Make a statement which links to the next paragraph, as it will be a comparison/contrast paragraph.

Let’s look at an example SCEEL Paragraph:

As you can see, it is very different to an English paragraph. You do not need to use fancy or superlative language. Just be sure to write clear sentences that do not cloud your thesis.

Step 5: Draft, Rewrite, Polish

First draft.

The key to a good first draft is by reading over the question, breaking it down, and creating a dot-point plan of what you’d like to say in your response.

You should mention themes, the experiential learning you’re planning on using and so on. The essay doesn’t need to be perfect just yet. Just have a crack at writing!

Second Draft

Turn your first draft into full and proper sentences.

Be sure to pay attention to spelling, grammar, and sentence structure! If you pay attention to these things in practice essays, you will be ready to go for the real thing.

Turn your scaffolded paragraphs into 250-300 word paragraphs, and make sure that the experiential learning reads clearly, as you are often portraying a scene with movement and visuals.

Third Draft

This is the time to pick up on things that you feel need improvement.

You want to aim to increase the flow of the essay.

Put your laptop into ‘review’ mode so that you can track any changes you make.

There you go!

That’s the most boring part of the course covered and done with a Band 6. Now you can get back to the good stuff… acting!

This is a full-on guide to smashing the HSC Drama essays, so thank you for sticking with me – you will be better off for it!

With these techniques and steps, you have the ingredients to make a wonderful HSC Drama essay!

Looking for some extra help with HSC Drama?

We pride ourselves on our inspirational hsc drama coaches and mentors.

We offer tutoring and mentoring for Years K-12 in a variety of subjects, with personalised lessons conducted one-on-one in your home or at our state of the art campus in Hornsby!

To find out more and get started with an inspirational tutor and mentor get in touch today! 

Give us a ring on 1300 267 888, email us at [email protected] or check us out on Facebook !

Lucinda Smith-Stevens graduated from Pymble Ladies’ College in 2016. She is an intern at Art of Smart. She hopes to study a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney in 2017, focusing on Media and Communications subjects. Lucy loves drama and public speaking, having completed a CVCA diploma in Speech and Drama. Lucy is also passionate about helping other students through the HSC in humanities subjects, General Mathematics 2 and essay writing skills.

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How To Write A Drama Essay

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• Author Sandra W.

What Is A Drama Essay;  How To Write Drama Analysis Essay or An Essay About A Play

Writing a play analysis requires you to look at what, to many, is a simple form of entertainment in a much more in depth and critical manner. Play analysis requires you to untangle the plot and main characters, and discuss how they worked together and detracted or attracted to the overall performance. Then one must also consider the work the play is based on, and consider that as well. The following are steps recommended by iwriteessays.com on how to write a drama essay:

  What Are the Basic Elements of Play Analysis?

i.     Plot

The plot of a play is the basic structure, as well as the message of the play. It is basically, what the play entails. There are two basic structures for a play plot – linear and non-linear. Linear plots play out in chronological order; non-linear plots have "flash backs”, and take place at different points in time, not in chronological order. A plot summary, or a basic overview of the plot, is necessary in most play analysis.

ii.    Characters

These elements of the play bring the story to live. They are the integral elements by which the story revolves. The relationships between the different roles are vital to the overall mood and message of the work. There are main characters that play vital roles in the plot of the play, and secondary characters that are there to help set a mood.

iii.   Language

The way that the characters talk – the type of language they use, formal, conversational, etc. – provides a lot of insight into the environment the characters inhabit. It deepens the plot, making it more consistent with the period and mood.

iv.   Setting

The setting generally adds relevance and richness to the environment of the performance.

v.    Main Idea

This is the message of the play, or the point of the play. What was the playwright trying to get across with his or her work? That is the main idea of the play.

vi.   Performance

This is the execution of a live rendition of a written play. Here one must take into account acting, directing, staging and more.

 Writing steps of a drama essay

a.    Be specific about your drama essay topic

b.    Create an outline with concise sentences. The outline will help keep the content of the paper in a logical order and create an organized overview of the paper.

c.     Do not rely on just one source when writing the paper. Reading other play analysis might help you come up with ideas of your own. There can be many different themes of a play, decide what type of theme interest you the most.

d.    Assure that each of your main ideas are strongly supported

e.    Remember to cite when appropriate.

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Essay on Drama

Students are often asked to write an essay on Drama in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Drama

Introduction.

Drama is a unique tool to explore and express human feeling. It’s an art form that allows people to communicate and connect with each other.

Types of Drama

Role of drama.

Drama plays a significant role in education. It helps students develop critical thinking and boosts their confidence.

In conclusion, drama is a powerful medium that can entertain, educate, and inspire. It’s an integral part of our culture and society.

250 Words Essay on Drama

Introduction to drama, the evolution of drama.

Drama has evolved significantly from its inception in ancient Greece, where it was intertwined with religious rituals. The Renaissance period saw the rise of dramatic forms like tragedy and comedy, with playwrights like Shakespeare and Marlowe leading the way. The 20th century brought about realism, absurdism, and postmodernism, pushing the boundaries of traditional drama.

Elements of Drama

Drama comprises various elements such as plot, character, theme, dialogue, and spectacle. The plot is the sequence of events, the backbone of the drama. Characters are the individuals involved in these events. The theme represents the underlying message or the main idea. Dialogue is the spoken words by characters, and the spectacle includes all visual aspects of the performance.

Impact of Drama

Drama has a profound impact on society and individuals. It can challenge our perspectives, evoke emotions, and promote empathy by allowing us to experience different realities. Moreover, it serves as a platform for social commentary and critique, often inciting change.

In conclusion, drama is a dynamic and influential form of literature that has the power to reflect and shape society. Its evolution and elements make it a compelling study, offering insights into the human condition and our societal structures.

500 Words Essay on Drama

Drama, a genre of literature, is a complex and influential art form that has been an integral part of human culture for thousands of years. It is a medium through which stories are told and emotions are expressed, using a combination of dialogues, actions, and visual elements.

Historical Overview

The core elements of drama include plot, character, theme, dialogue, rhythm, and spectacle. The plot provides the structure, while characters bring life to the story. Themes present underlying messages or moral lessons. Dialogue acts as the vehicle for characters to express their emotions and thoughts. Rhythm, often achieved through the pace of dialogue and action, creates a sense of timing and flow. Lastly, spectacle, which encompasses visual elements like costumes, sets, and special effects, adds a sensory dimension to the experience.

Drama can be categorized into various types, each with its distinct characteristics. Tragedy, a form that dates back to ancient Greece, focuses on the downfall of a heroic or noble character. Comedy, on the other hand, aims to amuse the audience, often using satire, wit, and humor. Melodrama, characterized by exaggerated characters and exciting events, appeals to the audience’s emotions. Lastly, tragicomedy, a hybrid of tragedy and comedy, balances elements of both to explore the complexities of life.

Drama’s Influence on Society

Drama plays a significant role in society, often reflecting and shaping cultural and societal norms. It can be a powerful tool for social commentary, shedding light on societal issues and sparking discussions. Moreover, drama can also serve as a form of escapism, providing audiences a break from reality and allowing them to immerse themselves in different worlds.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

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How To Write A Drama Essay?

Writing an essay is a boring job unless the essay belongs to the drama domain. In this type of essay, other than evaluating one’s grip on grammatical rules, creativity is also tested, which sets it apart from the other forms of essay writing. It requires the student to adopt a critical approach and analyse how the characters, events, and conditions mingle to create a drama.

To understand the pointer mentioned above, it is important to learn about the essentials of a drama. These vital drama components are discussed below for your assistance:

A plot is the main message entailed in the essay’s body. There are two methods to deliver this message to the audience, known as linear and non-linear. In the linear approach, every event takes place in a chronological fashion, which makes it easier for the audience to follow through. On the other hand, the non-linear approach makes use of ‘flashbacks’ and connects it with other events discussed in the essay.

Characters:

Characters are the main focus of every drama writing, and they are responsible for steering the story, setting the mood, and delivering the drama’s message.

The setting is synonymous to the environment, and the background characters are exposed to. This setting adds another layered rich texture to the characters’ performance which allows audience to relate with them.

These three integral components of the drama are to be kept in mind while curating an essay. Once you are clear about these, you can use the following tips to write an impeccable piece of drama essay:

Let the Creative Juices Flow:

As writing a drama essay is all about unleashing your creativity, you should allow yourself to brainstorm and list potential ideas on a piece of paper. In this connection, you can also take inspiration from an event that has occurred to you or someone around you.

After doing this exercise, you should eliminate ideas that seem bogus or repetitive. Also, you can refine the primary listed ideas by adding further information to them.

Set a Direction for Your Ideas:

Similar to the conventional essay writing format, a drama essay also comprises three sections, namely: introduction, main body, and conclusion. Therefore, you are required to segment information in these three sections according to the purpose they serve. For this reason, you need to create a writing outline for your convenience.

It is recommended to create a list of major points and connect it with other supplementary information to evoke your readers’ interest.

Present a Unique Touch:

In the introductory section, you must present a glimpse of the event and highlight its importance to you. Since the introduction should hook the audience’s attention right from the opening sentence, you should be creative in terms of writing.

Regulate the Information

The essay’s main body is incorporated to discuss the impact and the learned lesson. To do so, you have to elaborate on how the characters were influenced by the event, their reaction, and how all of these conditions weaved to generate the main plot of the drama. For this purpose, you have to adopt an analytical and critical writing approach.

Highlight the Outcome:

The concluding paragraph in the drama essay is responsible for presenting the outcome generated by the drama. It may disclose information such as:

• What improvement or change did the characters encounter? • Would things be any different if certain measures were taken? • How is the state of change beneficial or destructive for the characters?

Polish the Write-Up

After completing the essay writing, you should pass it through the stages of proofreading and editing to filter mistakes.

By keeping the drama essentials and the tips above into account, you can write an exceptional drama essay and that too all by yourself.

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Essay on Drama in English

A drama is a medium through which any kind of story is enacted through performance and dialogue. It has a plot, characters, conflict, music and dialogue. It tries to entertain an individual or a group of individuals. Generally, dramas are performed by the actors in a place called stage or theatre.

A theatre is a place in which a play is performed. It can be big or small. It can also be an indoor theatre or outdoor one. A theatre needs at least one character. A drama always aims to reach to a large number of audience or people.

The actors in a drama are normally humans. But, broadly speaking, actors also are seen in the form of cartoons, puppets, or sometimes robots that perform with the help of human.

Today, dramas can be seen in the forms of television serials, movies, and radio plays. The T.V. serials like Motu Patlu, Chhota Bheem are all had cartoons as their actors.

Drama activities in schools are very much fruitful for children. They make learning entertaining and as well as memorable. By taking part in any of the dramas performed in the classroom, children can improve their communication skill as well as self-confidence.

Dramas are seen performing in many functions organized in the schools. They are generally based on any social cause like ‘Stop Cutting Trees’, ‘Save Water etc. It helps students to improve their knowledge of a particular subject. Likewise, drama has become an important part of human life.

In many schools, different drama clubs are formed. The aim is to allow students to think creatively. It helps students to be enough confident so to live a better life.

Table of Contents

Questions on Drama

What is drama explain.

A drama is a medium through which any kind of story is enacted through performance and dialogue. It tries to entertain an individual or a group of individuals.

What are drama and its forms?

What are the characteristics of drama.

The characteristics of drama are plot, characters, conflict, music and dialogue.

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• DRAMA ESSAYS! How to write them without dying (theatrically)

Author Topic: DRAMA ESSAYS! How to write them without dying (theatrically)  (Read 30118 times)  Tweet   Share  

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Re: DRAMA ESSAYS! How to write them without dying (theatrically)

SUSIE!!!! This is the best thing EVER!! I literally thought that drama essays would remain a mystery till the end of time but this makes everything so much better!! Now I feel so much more confident in having the balance between the storytelling component and the analytical component. I'll definitely post back when I have questions which will inevitably happen when I start revising!

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I got curious the other day and pondered when you first joined AN so I stalked your very first few posts. They were about drama and not history. Welcome back to where you started

Angela Karanikolas

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[Centre stage spotlight on SUDODDS] Hey hey! With your Trial exams coming up, I've decided to write up a quick little guide on how to approach writing a killer HSC Drama Essay - because guess what, the theory component of drama DOES actually exist! (unfortunately) [Cue applause SFX - lights dim for dramatic affect]

Oh my god!! This is the worlds greatest post to date. I have spent my assessments up to now just trying to formulate the perfect way to write those essays and here it is. I had one of the worst issues with storytelling, analyzing and synthesising. This completely puts everything into perspective in regards to being able to complete it and not completely break down in a fit of tears. Like Maria said, expect me back here. Thank you so much Susie, you have quite literally saved my drama marks!!!

This is so helpful! Thank you so much! my teacher has literally never taught us how to do drama essays despite them being a large part of our grade! THANK YOU

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How do you decide what points and examples are most important? I feel like I have so much to talk about for drama, especially for approaches to acting, but there's not enough time!

jamiesanders

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hey Susie! thanks a lot for that guide it really really helped! My question is how many quotes would you include in the essay per text? Thanks!!

irafriedberg

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Introductions

What this handout is about.

This handout will explain the functions of introductions, offer strategies for creating effective introductions, and provide some examples of less effective introductions to avoid.

The role of introductions

Introductions and conclusions can be the most difficult parts of papers to write. Usually when you sit down to respond to an assignment, you have at least some sense of what you want to say in the body of your paper. You might have chosen a few examples you want to use or have an idea that will help you answer the main question of your assignment; these sections, therefore, may not be as hard to write. And it’s fine to write them first! But in your final draft, these middle parts of the paper can’t just come out of thin air; they need to be introduced and concluded in a way that makes sense to your reader.

Your introduction and conclusion act as bridges that transport your readers from their own lives into the “place” of your analysis. If your readers pick up your paper about education in the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, for example, they need a transition to help them leave behind the world of Chapel Hill, television, e-mail, and The Daily Tar Heel and to help them temporarily enter the world of nineteenth-century American slavery. By providing an introduction that helps your readers make a transition between their own world and the issues you will be writing about, you give your readers the tools they need to get into your topic and care about what you are saying. Similarly, once you’ve hooked your readers with the introduction and offered evidence to prove your thesis, your conclusion can provide a bridge to help your readers make the transition back to their daily lives. (See our handout on conclusions .)

Note that what constitutes a good introduction may vary widely based on the kind of paper you are writing and the academic discipline in which you are writing it. If you are uncertain what kind of introduction is expected, ask your instructor.

Why bother writing a good introduction?

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The opening paragraph of your paper will provide your readers with their initial impressions of your argument, your writing style, and the overall quality of your work. A vague, disorganized, error-filled, off-the-wall, or boring introduction will probably create a negative impression. On the other hand, a concise, engaging, and well-written introduction will start your readers off thinking highly of you, your analytical skills, your writing, and your paper.

Your introduction is an important road map for the rest of your paper. Your introduction conveys a lot of information to your readers. You can let them know what your topic is, why it is important, and how you plan to proceed with your discussion. In many academic disciplines, your introduction should contain a thesis that will assert your main argument. Your introduction should also give the reader a sense of the kinds of information you will use to make that argument and the general organization of the paragraphs and pages that will follow. After reading your introduction, your readers should not have any major surprises in store when they read the main body of your paper.

Ideally, your introduction will make your readers want to read your paper. The introduction should capture your readers’ interest, making them want to read the rest of your paper. Opening with a compelling story, an interesting question, or a vivid example can get your readers to see why your topic matters and serve as an invitation for them to join you for an engaging intellectual conversation (remember, though, that these strategies may not be suitable for all papers and disciplines).

Strategies for writing an effective introduction

Start by thinking about the question (or questions) you are trying to answer. Your entire essay will be a response to this question, and your introduction is the first step toward that end. Your direct answer to the assigned question will be your thesis, and your thesis will likely be included in your introduction, so it is a good idea to use the question as a jumping off point. Imagine that you are assigned the following question:

Drawing on the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass , discuss the relationship between education and slavery in 19th-century America. Consider the following: How did white control of education reinforce slavery? How did Douglass and other enslaved African Americans view education while they endured slavery? And what role did education play in the acquisition of freedom? Most importantly, consider the degree to which education was or was not a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

You will probably refer back to your assignment extensively as you prepare your complete essay, and the prompt itself can also give you some clues about how to approach the introduction. Notice that it starts with a broad statement and then narrows to focus on specific questions from the book. One strategy might be to use a similar model in your own introduction—start off with a big picture sentence or two and then focus in on the details of your argument about Douglass. Of course, a different approach could also be very successful, but looking at the way the professor set up the question can sometimes give you some ideas for how you might answer it. (See our handout on understanding assignments for additional information on the hidden clues in assignments.)

Decide how general or broad your opening should be. Keep in mind that even a “big picture” opening needs to be clearly related to your topic; an opening sentence that said “Human beings, more than any other creatures on earth, are capable of learning” would be too broad for our sample assignment about slavery and education. If you have ever used Google Maps or similar programs, that experience can provide a helpful way of thinking about how broad your opening should be. Imagine that you’re researching Chapel Hill. If what you want to find out is whether Chapel Hill is at roughly the same latitude as Rome, it might make sense to hit that little “minus” sign on the online map until it has zoomed all the way out and you can see the whole globe. If you’re trying to figure out how to get from Chapel Hill to Wrightsville Beach, it might make more sense to zoom in to the level where you can see most of North Carolina (but not the rest of the world, or even the rest of the United States). And if you are looking for the intersection of Ridge Road and Manning Drive so that you can find the Writing Center’s main office, you may need to zoom all the way in. The question you are asking determines how “broad” your view should be. In the sample assignment above, the questions are probably at the “state” or “city” level of generality. When writing, you need to place your ideas in context—but that context doesn’t generally have to be as big as the whole galaxy!

Try writing your introduction last. You may think that you have to write your introduction first, but that isn’t necessarily true, and it isn’t always the most effective way to craft a good introduction. You may find that you don’t know precisely what you are going to argue at the beginning of the writing process. It is perfectly fine to start out thinking that you want to argue a particular point but wind up arguing something slightly or even dramatically different by the time you’ve written most of the paper. The writing process can be an important way to organize your ideas, think through complicated issues, refine your thoughts, and develop a sophisticated argument. However, an introduction written at the beginning of that discovery process will not necessarily reflect what you wind up with at the end. You will need to revise your paper to make sure that the introduction, all of the evidence, and the conclusion reflect the argument you intend. Sometimes it’s easiest to just write up all of your evidence first and then write the introduction last—that way you can be sure that the introduction will match the body of the paper.

Don’t be afraid to write a tentative introduction first and then change it later. Some people find that they need to write some kind of introduction in order to get the writing process started. That’s fine, but if you are one of those people, be sure to return to your initial introduction later and rewrite if necessary.

Open with something that will draw readers in. Consider these options (remembering that they may not be suitable for all kinds of papers):

• an intriguing example —for example, Douglass writes about a mistress who initially teaches him but then ceases her instruction as she learns more about slavery.
• a provocative quotation that is closely related to your argument —for example, Douglass writes that “education and slavery were incompatible with each other.” (Quotes from famous people, inspirational quotes, etc. may not work well for an academic paper; in this example, the quote is from the author himself.)
• a puzzling scenario —for example, Frederick Douglass says of slaves that “[N]othing has been left undone to cripple their intellects, darken their minds, debase their moral nature, obliterate all traces of their relationship to mankind; and yet how wonderfully they have sustained the mighty load of a most frightful bondage, under which they have been groaning for centuries!” Douglass clearly asserts that slave owners went to great lengths to destroy the mental capacities of slaves, yet his own life story proves that these efforts could be unsuccessful.
• a vivid and perhaps unexpected anecdote —for example, “Learning about slavery in the American history course at Frederick Douglass High School, students studied the work slaves did, the impact of slavery on their families, and the rules that governed their lives. We didn’t discuss education, however, until one student, Mary, raised her hand and asked, ‘But when did they go to school?’ That modern high school students could not conceive of an American childhood devoid of formal education speaks volumes about the centrality of education to American youth today and also suggests the significance of the deprivation of education in past generations.”
• a thought-provoking question —for example, given all of the freedoms that were denied enslaved individuals in the American South, why does Frederick Douglass focus his attentions so squarely on education and literacy?

Pay special attention to your first sentence. Start off on the right foot with your readers by making sure that the first sentence actually says something useful and that it does so in an interesting and polished way.

How to evaluate your introduction draft

Ask a friend to read your introduction and then tell you what they expect the paper will discuss, what kinds of evidence the paper will use, and what the tone of the paper will be. If your friend is able to predict the rest of your paper accurately, you probably have a good introduction.

Five kinds of less effective introductions

1. The placeholder introduction. When you don’t have much to say on a given topic, it is easy to create this kind of introduction. Essentially, this kind of weaker introduction contains several sentences that are vague and don’t really say much. They exist just to take up the “introduction space” in your paper. If you had something more effective to say, you would probably say it, but in the meantime this paragraph is just a place holder.

Example: Slavery was one of the greatest tragedies in American history. There were many different aspects of slavery. Each created different kinds of problems for enslaved people.

2. The restated question introduction. Restating the question can sometimes be an effective strategy, but it can be easy to stop at JUST restating the question instead of offering a more specific, interesting introduction to your paper. The professor or teaching assistant wrote your question and will be reading many essays in response to it—they do not need to read a whole paragraph that simply restates the question.

Example: The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass discusses the relationship between education and slavery in 19th century America, showing how white control of education reinforced slavery and how Douglass and other enslaved African Americans viewed education while they endured. Moreover, the book discusses the role that education played in the acquisition of freedom. Education was a major force for social change with regard to slavery.

3. The Webster’s Dictionary introduction. This introduction begins by giving the dictionary definition of one or more of the words in the assigned question. Anyone can look a word up in the dictionary and copy down what Webster says. If you want to open with a discussion of an important term, it may be far more interesting for you (and your reader) if you develop your own definition of the term in the specific context of your class and assignment. You may also be able to use a definition from one of the sources you’ve been reading for class. Also recognize that the dictionary is also not a particularly authoritative work—it doesn’t take into account the context of your course and doesn’t offer particularly detailed information. If you feel that you must seek out an authority, try to find one that is very relevant and specific. Perhaps a quotation from a source reading might prove better? Dictionary introductions are also ineffective simply because they are so overused. Instructors may see a great many papers that begin in this way, greatly decreasing the dramatic impact that any one of those papers will have.

Example: Webster’s dictionary defines slavery as “the state of being a slave,” as “the practice of owning slaves,” and as “a condition of hard work and subjection.”

4. The “dawn of man” introduction. This kind of introduction generally makes broad, sweeping statements about the relevance of this topic since the beginning of time, throughout the world, etc. It is usually very general (similar to the placeholder introduction) and fails to connect to the thesis. It may employ cliches—the phrases “the dawn of man” and “throughout human history” are examples, and it’s hard to imagine a time when starting with one of these would work. Instructors often find them extremely annoying.

Example: Since the dawn of man, slavery has been a problem in human history.

5. The book report introduction. This introduction is what you had to do for your elementary school book reports. It gives the name and author of the book you are writing about, tells what the book is about, and offers other basic facts about the book. You might resort to this sort of introduction when you are trying to fill space because it’s a familiar, comfortable format. It is ineffective because it offers details that your reader probably already knows and that are irrelevant to the thesis.

Example: Frederick Douglass wrote his autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave , in the 1840s. It was published in 1986 by Penguin Books. In it, he tells the story of his life.

And now for the conclusion…

Writing an effective introduction can be tough. Try playing around with several different options and choose the one that ends up sounding best to you!

Just as your introduction helps readers make the transition to your topic, your conclusion needs to help them return to their daily lives–but with a lasting sense of how what they have just read is useful or meaningful. Check out our handout on  conclusions for tips on ending your paper as effectively as you began it!

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Douglass, Frederick. 1995. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Written by Himself . New York: Dover.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to Write a Drama Essay

Essay writing only seems easy.  In fact, when a student sits down to work he or she understands how much needs to be done in order to write a persuasive and effective essay .  Academic papers are written for professors and admission boards to evaluate students’ knowledge on certain issues, as well as their writing skills.  Essay types and topics depend on students’ majors.  Technical students are assigned with engineering essays , while arts and literature students write literature and drama papers.   Writing of the drama paper can be quite difficult as a student has to penetrate in souls of literature and drama characters.

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Tragedy Essay

Drama short story, drama article, write drama essay, drama essay paper, download free sample of a drama essay.

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Literature students read a lot of poems.  Naturally, they are asked to write their own reviews and commentaries to poetry. Thus, a poetry essay is quite a frequent and popular task among students who study literature.  Writing of a poetry essay is not just about writing of an introduction, body and conclusion.  Your essay must be a masterpiece in itself.  It should be a literary work which is interesting to read and even to quote.  Very often, when writing reviews on poetry, students show their own poetic power.  Creativity is the number one concern.  It is very important to show your own attitude towards the style and contents of a poem.  You have to explain use of different literature speech tools, or at least try to do so.

The subject of dramatic arts provides ample topics for composing an essay. It can be about art in general, about a specific form of art or a specific work. Drama essays can be composed in any form of essay writing. Say, for example as a narrative essay or an informative essay . Drama essays are an imperative in literary courses. Literature is termed the “Art of written works”. Dramas are put into writing first before they are performed in any other media. Due to the volume and variety of information available on the topic do not feel that it will be easy to compose one. In reality it may be tedious to sift through all that information. ProfEssays.com experts with intimate knowledge of the techniques of successful essay writing offer services that will help you in the construction and presentation of quality essays.

Drama essays can be written in many forms. The form should match the theme of the essay. Some forms that can be used are:

• Academic essays: Generally longer in composition and often discursive. The form is often used for literary reviews.
• Descriptive essays : As the name suggests the form can be to describe a work or an art form with emphasis on the characteristics of the work or art form.
• Compare and contrast essays . A form that can be used to discuss multiple subjects like two contemporary authors, their similarities and dissimilarities etc.

To the literarily inclined, writing about a specific work will be a gratifying exercise. Drama essays in the form of a review, helps the writer to project his personality and erudition on to paper. Care should be taken to be not too critical of famous authors or their work which may project a different picture to the readers. ProfEssays.com professionals have the requisite expertise to help you prepare an appropriate review of any work.

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Who hasn’t read Shakespeare in school? Who doesn’t know who Hamlet or Othello is? But students who study literature have to go further and analyze every event and personality of these classical tragedies.  Writing of a tragedy essay is a very popular task.  Tragedy essays are so much different from other essay types.  Although students have to possess analytical skills, they also have to feel characters.  This is something that can be achieved only after reading these dramas. A tragedy essay traditionally contains introduction, body and conclusion.  It is very important to stick to the topic.  If you’re asked to analyze Hamlet’s monologue you have to do so, but not just describe this drama’s plot.

Professors love drama short stories .  These essay types fall into two categories: own dramas and essays on dramas by prominent writers.  Imagine that you were asked to write a drama short story .  You have to invent your own plot and characters.  It doesn’t have to be a recognized masterpiece but you need to follow guidelines and recommendations to drama writing.  In case you’re asked to write a short story on drama you have read, you have to select topic and focus on it.  If this is description of a character you have to merge with him or her in order to understand why he and he said or did certain things.  You can also write a review where you express personal attitude towards plot, key characters writing style etc.

Literature students sometimes watch theater performances, and after that they are asked to write drama articles .  A drama article is a short piece of writing that focuses on theater performances or drama in writing.  Often, students have complete freedom as to the topic.  At the same time, drama articles should comply with all those norms and requirements applicable to academic writing.  Thus, a drama article should have introduction, body and conclusion.  It goes without saying that you have to pick an interesting topic .  Some of the possible suggestions are analysis of key character’s personality, drama style etc.  You can also write on why a certain performance impressed you.

How do I write drama essay ?  This is a very popular question that literature students often ask themselves.  A drama essay is a special piece of writing that dwells on plot intrigues, performance style, characters’ personalities or own impressions on drama performances/texts.  For example, if you have just read Hamlet by Shakespeare, you might be asked to write drama essay .  As a rule you are given freedom to choose any topic that concerns Hamlet.  You can look for topic examples online or look for professional assistance.  We at Professays.com can suggest you a dozen of topics related to Hamlet.  Moreover, some of our writers specialize in drama essay and literature writing.

Traditionally, a drama essay paper is an extended essay which a student is asked to write after reading or watching drama performance.  Any drama essay paper should be written in a stylish language crammed with poetic words.  You are writing about arts, so you have to be creative in order to make your essay look persuasive.  At the same time, students are asked to meet requirements as to format, reference style and contents.  So, check of these before you are sitting down to work.

Looking for an exceptional company to do some custom writing for you? Look no further than ProfEssays.com! You simply place an order with the writing instructions you have been given, and before you know it, your essay or term paper, completely finished and unique, will be completed and sent back to you. At ProfEssays.com, we have over 500 highly educated, professional writers standing by waiting to help you with any writing needs you may have! We understand students have plenty on their plates, which is why we love to help them out. Let us do the work for you, so you have time to do what you want to do!

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / How to Cite Sources

How to Cite Sources

Here is a complete list for how to cite sources. Most of these guides present citation guidance and examples in MLA, APA, and Chicago.

If you’re looking for general information on MLA or APA citations , the EasyBib Writing Center was designed for you! It has articles on what’s needed in an MLA in-text citation , how to format an APA paper, what an MLA annotated bibliography is, making an MLA works cited page, and much more!

MLA Format Citation Examples

The Modern Language Association created the MLA Style, currently in its 9th edition, to provide researchers with guidelines for writing and documenting scholarly borrowings.  Most often used in the humanities, MLA style (or MLA format ) has been adopted and used by numerous other disciplines, in multiple parts of the world.

MLA provides standard rules to follow so that most research papers are formatted in a similar manner. This makes it easier for readers to comprehend the information. The MLA in-text citation guidelines, MLA works cited standards, and MLA annotated bibliography instructions provide scholars with the information they need to properly cite sources in their research papers, articles, and assignments.

• Book Chapter
• Conference Paper
• Documentary
• Encyclopedia
• Google Images
• Kindle Book
• Memorial Inscription
• Museum Exhibit
• Painting or Artwork
• PowerPoint Presentation
• Sheet Music
• Thesis or Dissertation
• YouTube Video

APA Format Citation Examples

The American Psychological Association created the APA citation style in 1929 as a way to help psychologists, anthropologists, and even business managers establish one common way to cite sources and present content.

APA is used when citing sources for academic articles such as journals, and is intended to help readers better comprehend content, and to avoid language bias wherever possible. The APA style (or APA format ) is now in its 7th edition, and provides citation style guides for virtually any type of resource.

Chicago Style Citation Examples

The Chicago/Turabian style of citing sources is generally used when citing sources for humanities papers, and is best known for its requirement that writers place bibliographic citations at the bottom of a page (in Chicago-format footnotes ) or at the end of a paper (endnotes).

The Turabian and Chicago citation styles are almost identical, but the Turabian style is geared towards student published papers such as theses and dissertations, while the Chicago style provides guidelines for all types of publications. This is why you’ll commonly see Chicago style and Turabian style presented together. The Chicago Manual of Style is currently in its 17th edition, and Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations is in its 8th edition.

Citing Specific Sources or Events

• Declaration of Independence
• Gettysburg Address
• Martin Luther King Jr. Speech
• President Obama’s Farewell Address
• President Trump’s Inauguration Speech
• White House Press Briefing

Additional FAQs

• Citing Archived Contributors
• Citing a Blog
• Citing a Book Chapter
• Citing a Source in a Foreign Language
• Citing an Image
• Citing a Song
• Citing Special Contributors
• Citing a Translated Article
• Citing a Tweet

6 Interesting Citation Facts

The world of citations may seem cut and dry, but there’s more to them than just specific capitalization rules, MLA in-text citations , and other formatting specifications. Citations have been helping researches document their sources for hundreds of years, and are a great way to learn more about a particular subject area.

Ever wonder what sets all the different styles apart, or how they came to be in the first place? Read on for some interesting facts about citations!

1. There are Over 7,000 Different Citation Styles

You may be familiar with MLA and APA citation styles, but there are actually thousands of citation styles used for all different academic disciplines all across the world. Deciding which one to use can be difficult, so be sure to ask you instructor which one you should be using for your next paper.

2. Some Citation Styles are Named After People

While a majority of citation styles are named for the specific organizations that publish them (i.e. APA is published by the American Psychological Association, and MLA format is named for the Modern Language Association), some are actually named after individuals. The most well-known example of this is perhaps Turabian style, named for Kate L. Turabian, an American educator and writer. She developed this style as a condensed version of the Chicago Manual of Style in order to present a more concise set of rules to students.

3. There are Some Really Specific and Uniquely Named Citation Styles

How specific can citation styles get? The answer is very. For example, the “Flavour and Fragrance Journal” style is based on a bimonthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal published since 1985 by John Wiley & Sons. It publishes original research articles, reviews and special reports on all aspects of flavor and fragrance. Another example is “Nordic Pulp and Paper Research,” a style used by an international scientific magazine covering science and technology for the areas of wood or bio-mass constituents.

4. More citations were created on  EasyBib.com  in the first quarter of 2018 than there are people in California.

The US Census Bureau estimates that approximately 39.5 million people live in the state of California. Meanwhile, about 43 million citations were made on EasyBib from January to March of 2018. That’s a lot of citations.

5. “Citations” is a Word With a Long History

The word “citations” can be traced back literally thousands of years to the Latin word “citare” meaning “to summon, urge, call; put in sudden motion, call forward; rouse, excite.” The word then took on its more modern meaning and relevance to writing papers in the 1600s, where it became known as the “act of citing or quoting a passage from a book, etc.”

6. Citation Styles are Always Changing

The concept of citations always stays the same. It is a means of preventing plagiarism and demonstrating where you relied on outside sources. The specific style rules, however, can and do change regularly. For example, in 2018 alone, 46 new citation styles were introduced , and 106 updates were made to exiting styles. At EasyBib, we are always on the lookout for ways to improve our styles and opportunities to add new ones to our list.

Why Citations Matter

Here are the ways accurate citations can help your students achieve academic success, and how you can answer the dreaded question, “why should I cite my sources?”

They Give Credit to the Right People

Citing their sources makes sure that the reader can differentiate the student’s original thoughts from those of other researchers. Not only does this make sure that the sources they use receive proper credit for their work, it ensures that the student receives deserved recognition for their unique contributions to the topic. Whether the student is citing in MLA format , APA format , or any other style, citations serve as a natural way to place a student’s work in the broader context of the subject area, and serve as an easy way to gauge their commitment to the project.

They Provide Hard Evidence of Ideas

Having many citations from a wide variety of sources related to their idea means that the student is working on a well-researched and respected subject. Citing sources that back up their claim creates room for fact-checking and further research . And, if they can cite a few sources that have the converse opinion or idea, and then demonstrate to the reader why they believe that that viewpoint is wrong by again citing credible sources, the student is well on their way to winning over the reader and cementing their point of view.

They Promote Originality and Prevent Plagiarism

The point of research projects is not to regurgitate information that can already be found elsewhere. We have Google for that! What the student’s project should aim to do is promote an original idea or a spin on an existing idea, and use reliable sources to promote that idea. Copying or directly referencing a source without proper citation can lead to not only a poor grade, but accusations of academic dishonesty. By citing their sources regularly and accurately, students can easily avoid the trap of plagiarism , and promote further research on their topic.

They Create Better Researchers

By researching sources to back up and promote their ideas, students are becoming better researchers without even knowing it! Each time a new source is read or researched, the student is becoming more engaged with the project and is developing a deeper understanding of the subject area. Proper citations demonstrate a breadth of the student’s reading and dedication to the project itself. By creating citations, students are compelled to make connections between their sources and discern research patterns. Each time they complete this process, they are helping themselves become better researchers and writers overall.

When is the Right Time to Start Making Citations?

Make in-text/parenthetical citations as you need them.

As you are writing your paper, be sure to include references within the text that correspond with references in a works cited or bibliography. These are usually called in-text citations or parenthetical citations in MLA and APA formats. The most effective time to complete these is directly after you have made your reference to another source. For instance, after writing the line from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…,” you would include a citation like this (depending on your chosen citation style):

(Dickens 11).

This signals to the reader that you have referenced an outside source. What’s great about this system is that the in-text citations serve as a natural list for all of the citations you have made in your paper, which will make completing the works cited page a whole lot easier. After you are done writing, all that will be left for you to do is scan your paper for these references, and then build a works cited page that includes a citation for each one.

Need help creating an MLA works cited page ? Try the MLA format generator on EasyBib.com! We also have a guide on how to format an APA reference page .

2. Understand the General Formatting Rules of Your Citation Style Before You Start Writing

While reading up on paper formatting may not sound exciting, being aware of how your paper should look early on in the paper writing process is super important. Citation styles can dictate more than just the appearance of the citations themselves, but rather can impact the layout of your paper as a whole, with specific guidelines concerning margin width, title treatment, and even font size and spacing. Knowing how to organize your paper before you start writing will ensure that you do not receive a low grade for something as trivial as forgetting a hanging indent.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s a formatting guide on APA format .

3. Double-check All of Your Outside Sources for Relevance and Trustworthiness First

Collecting outside sources that support your research and specific topic is a critical step in writing an effective paper. But before you run to the library and grab the first 20 books you can lay your hands on, keep in mind that selecting a source to include in your paper should not be taken lightly. Before you proceed with using it to backup your ideas, run a quick Internet search for it and see if other scholars in your field have written about it as well. Check to see if there are book reviews about it or peer accolades. If you spot something that seems off to you, you may want to consider leaving it out of your work. Doing this before your start making citations can save you a ton of time in the long run.

Finished with your paper? It may be time to run it through a grammar and plagiarism checker , like the one offered by EasyBib Plus. If you’re just looking to brush up on the basics, our grammar guides  are ready anytime you are.

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Get Accepted: What Is A Good GPA For Getting Into College?

Updated: Nov 9, 2023, 1:10pm

The higher your high school grade point average (GPA) is, the easier it will be to gain admission to the college of your choice. That’s a simple fact. However, the college admissions process is more nuanced than that. Standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and the rigor and variety of your high school classes all play a role in whether you will be admitted. But as more colleges and universities go test-optional , your GPA remains one of the most important factors in the admission process.

Read on to learn more about the role GPA plays in the college admissions process and then contact your admission counselor for more assistance.

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What Are the GPA Requirements for College?

Each college sets its own requirements and expectations for GPA. ACT® reports that the average high school GPA has risen from 3.22 in 2010 to 3.39 in 2021, demonstrating a trend of grade inflation. As a result, the value of a GPA is not as clear-cut as many students would like.

Most community colleges only require a high school diploma or GED® certificate for admission. If you want to attend a four-year school, however, having a GPA higher than 3.0 is ideal. Schools with more mid-level admissions selectivity may set minimum GPA requirements, usually asking for a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Surprisingly, highly selective Ivy League universities such as Harvard and Yale do not list minimum GPA requirements, but you usually need a 4.0 GPA or higher to get into one of these universities.

Wondering how you can do better than a 4.0 GPA? That’s where weighted GPAs come in. We’ll explore that more in the next section.

How Do Colleges Calculate High School GPA?

Calculating GPA can be both straightforward and complex. The traditional GPA is calculated on a four-point scale that converts grades such as A, B, C, D and F into scores of 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0, respectively, and divides the total score by the number of graded classes.

However, because classes like Advanced Placement® (AP) and honors courses are considered more academically rigorous, many high schools give extra weight to those grades. Weighted GPA scales exceed a 4.0. If your high school weights AP class grades with an extra point, for example, a B in that class would be worth a 4.0 rather than a 3.0. An A would be worth a 5.0.

Colleges may require applicants to self-report their grades and provide transcripts. Even so, every college’s admission board will calculate each applicant’s GPA according to their own scale.

A holistic GPA includes grades from every high school course you took, but there are other ways to calculate your GPA. Some colleges may exclude your electives and look just at your grades earned in core courses such as English, math, science and social studies. Other colleges may look more intently at your math and science courses, especially if you’ve applied for an engineering program or another STEM major.

What Is a Good GPA To Get Into College?

A “good” GPA for college admission depends on which college you’re applying to. Like we discussed above, if you want to get into an Ivy League university, your GPA should probably have a minimum 4.0 GPA. But most schools are not that selective.

To see how your GPA stacks up against the competition, research admissions data for your prospective colleges. The College Board provides a college search tool that allows you to view typical GPA ranges for most admitted students at a given college. You’ll see what percentage of admitted students had a GPA of 3.75 and above, 3.50 to 3.74, 3.25 to 3.49 and so on.

Can You Get Into College With a Low GPA?

If you don’t feel particularly confident about your GPA, there are other ways to make your college application stand out. You can still get into college with a lower GPA, but you’ll have to give extra care to other parts of your application. Here’s what to do.

Aim for High Standardized Test Scores

Although many colleges and universities no longer require applicants to submit SAT® or ACT® scores , scores are still welcome, and high scores can give your application a boost.

Colleges see high SAT scores , for example, as an indication that a student can excel in college-level classes regardless of their high school grades. High scores on either the SAT or the ACT can sway a college admissions board to look more favorably upon a low GPA.

Write a Memorable College Essay

Crafting a college essay that stands out involves writing skills, creativity and vulnerability. In some ways, the essay may be the hardest part of the application process since it’s not based on quantitative numbers like your GPA or AP exam scores.

The essay gives you a chance to show colleges who you are in your own words. And if your GPA misses the mark because you faced personal challenges that prevented you from doing well in your high school classes, the essay gives you a chance to explain your circumstances.

For students from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds, the essay has taken on even greater weight after the U.S. Supreme Court banned the use of race-based affirmative action in the college application process. The college essay is your chance to discuss how personal identity markers such as race might have contributed to your academic journey.

Commit to Your Extracurriculars

As numbers-driven as the college admissions landscape can be, admissions boards still want to know about each applicant’s passions. When students invest their time and energy in extracurricular activities , they showcase their interests outside of class.

Whether they partake in the Spanish Honor Society or the lacrosse team, students can use extracurriculars to showcase their strengths. By committing to a club or sport for several years, and by taking on leadership roles, students demonstrate their potential to become reliable leaders in and beyond college.

Apply to Less Competitive Colleges

Given that there are nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics , you have plenty of schools to choose from. Be realistic about your chances of admission to your schools of choice based on your GPA and overall high school performance. Make sure to apply to at least a couple of schools that you’re confident will admit you.

Prestigious public universities and student-focused liberal arts colleges are increasingly seen as desirable options for incoming college students who want a solid education without constantly worrying about maintaining a perfect GPA.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About College GPA Requirements

What gpa do you need to get into college.

Though some individual colleges set minimum GPA requirements, there is no overall minimum GPA for college. Even if you have a lower GPA, you can gain admission to a good college.

Can a 2.5 GPA get you into college?

Yes, if you apply to a less selective college or a college with open admissions. Most community colleges, for example, require just a high school diploma or a GED certificate for admission. Many public and private universities set more relaxed admissions policies as well.

What GPA do most colleges require?

A general rule of thumb is that a 2.0 GPA, or a “C” average, is required for admission to most colleges and universities. This minimum GPA can also be a requirement for financial aid, scholarships and graduation. Keep in mind that different colleges set different minimum GPA policies, and many colleges do not require any particular minimum GPA.

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With more than two decades of experience in higher education, cultural criticism and politics, Horacio Sierra's writing and public speaking aims to demystify higher education and promote the democratic values of the arts and humanities.