Name:__________________________________________________________________ Romeo and Juliet Essay on Teen Issues

English I

Throughout our reading of Romeo and Juliet, we have been discussing issues that teens faced in Shakespeares time as well as issues that teens face today. Using your notes from the first brainstorming activity and the worksheet on issues and themes that was given to you after reading Act II, you will now be asked to write an essay addressing three issues of your choice. In this essay you will address how issues for teens have changed or stayed the same over the past 500 years by comparing/contrasting issues then and now. You must have a properly formatted essay consisting of an introduction with a thesis statement, three main points, and a conclusion with a restated thesis. There must be at least two quotes for each main point. All quotes should be properly cited with the act, scene and lines of the quote. Your essay should be written in third-person point-of-view. This means that unless it is in a quote, nowhere in your paper should I see the words I or you or any form of those words. Your essay should be typed, double-spaced and written in 12-point font. Your essay should not include contractions.

As you write your essay remember to consider what claim you are going to make in regards to the issues you address. Are you going to argue that the issue(s) you chose changed over time? That they stayed the same? Did some change and some not? If so, why? How did the issue(s) you are discussing impact the lives of teenagers then or now? Why do you think Shakespeare chose to include this issue in his writing? Why do you think that these issues still exist today? After 500 years is it surprising that the same issues are still around? Why did you choose these issues? What importance do they have to you? What importance would they have had to teenagers back then?

Please remember that this essay is not simply a summary of what happened in the play. Your task is to select specific issues within the play and compare/contrast them with things that teens face today. A summary of events that surround the issue(s) you chose is not sufficient for this essay; you need to link those events and implications to modern day issues.