Hello, my name is Miss Grant.

I'm so glad that you have decided to learn with me today.

We are going to be looking at the play "Macbeth" in the unit Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain.

Today we're going to consider how to construct a really strong argument in relation to an essay question.

I am gonna be your support and guide throughout this lesson.

I can't wait to hear all of your fantastic ideas.

Let's get started.

So by the end of today's lesson, you're going to have planned a well-structured and convincing argument.

We're gonna think what does a really, really good plan look like, and how can I make sure that I've got an excellent foundation to start building an essay from? Our argument is gonna focus on the character of Lady Macbeth.

Throughout today's lesson, we're gonna reference some key words.

They're gonna help us to achieve our objective.

They are Machiavellian, thesis, topic sentence, overarching, and judicious.

Their definitions are gonna come up one at a time on the next slide.

If you want to spend some more time with our keywords and their definitions, pause the video at the end of the next slide.

So our lesson outline for today, we're gonna start off by looking at the character of Lady Macbeth and consider if she's presented as a Machiavellian villain.

Then we're going to look at thesis statements and topic sentences.

And finally, we're gonna finish today's lesson by looking at judicious supporting detail.

Let's start off with Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain.

Some people argue that Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain.

Let's look at this word in a bit more detail, this phrase Machiavellian.

Well, Machiavellian is an adjective.

It describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless, and immoral ways.

Villain.

Villain is a noun, a naming word, and in literature, this term refers to someone who commits evil actions in the story.

Now that we have our definition, I'd like you to pause the video and discuss this question.

Why might some argue that Lady Macbeth is a Machiavellian villain? Pause the video now.

Some really lovely discussions getting to grips with this phrase straight away.

And absolutely in lots of ways, Lady Macbeth does seem to be a Machiavellian villain.

She knows what she wants, she wants the crown, and she is indeed ruthless.

Lots of you citing the idea that she's willing to murder her king to get what she wants.

Lots of you are focused on this word cunning, and said she does seem very cunning because she manages to get what she wants from Macbeth by goading him into regicide in act one, scene seven.

And I love that specific reference that I heard lots of people refer to.

Now, the phrase Machiavellian villain became popular after a man called Niccolo Machiavelli wrote a book called "The Prince" in 1513.

"The Prince" is about what it takes to be a successful ruler.

Machiavelli's thesis, his main idea, is that to get and maintain power, you have to be prepared to be evil.

And this might include being immoral and duplicitous, resorting to treachery, using fear to control others, and eliminating opponents.

And lots of you referenced some of these key points from Machiavelli's thesis.

You actually ascribed these to Lady Macbeth in the discussion that we just had.

So she does seem to be a bit of a Machiavellian villain.

Well, you can see why some people might argue that she is a Machiavellian villain, that she has some of these attributes.

Here are all the appearances of Lady Macbeth in "Macbeth." So in act one, scene five, we meet her for the first time, and she asks spirits to remove her remorse, her feelings of guilt.

And in act one, scene seven, she tells Macbeth, "When you durst do it," when you commit the regicide, "then you are a man." In act two, scene two after the regicide, she tells an anxious Macbeth to "consider it," the regicide, "not so deeply." In act two, scene three, she pretends to be shocked and angered by Duncan's death.

She says, "Woa, alas!" In act three, scene one, as Queen, she prepares for "our great feast." In act three, scene two, she asks Macbeth, "Why do you keep alone?" And without her, he arranges Banquo's murder.

In act three, scene four, she asks, "Are you a man?" when Macbeth sees Banquo's ghost.

And in her final appearance, she sleepwalks and talks, and says, "Here's the smell of blood still." And she dies soon after this final appearance.

So now that we've got all the appearances of Lady Macbeth in the play in front of us, I'd like you to pause the video and discuss this question.

Does Lady Macbeth exhibit any qualities of a Machiavellian villain? Pause the video and use the plot points from the play to support your discussion.

Pause the video now.

Some lovely discussions there looking at a character across a whole play, really getting to terms with this phrase Machiavellian villain, and looking at specific plot points to see does she exhibit any qualities of a Machiavellian villain? Here are some ideas that you might have had.

Well, in act one, she seems to desire immorality and inhumanity, and she controls Macbeth to get what she wants.

In act two, scene two, she eliminates Duncan seemingly without remorse.

In act two, scene three, she's duplicitous.

She pretends to be upset, shocked by the regicide, but she's not.

She helped commit that regicide.

She is not upset, and she is definitely not shocked.

In act three, scene one, she's gained power, and we see this.

She is Queen, she's hosting that feast, but she's gained it through treachery.

In act three, scene two, she's concerned with maintaining power even if it means further bloodshed.

Whilst Macbeth doesn't tell her about his plans for Banquo, she is worried about Banquo and the idea that his sons will be king, so she is concerned with maintaining her power.

In act three, scene four, she tries to control Macbeth using that same emasculating language, "Are you a man?" because she knows she needs to maintain power and maintain appearances.

In act five, scene one, it's a bit more complicated.

I heard some interesting discussions about this moment in the play.

Her treacherous route to power has seemingly caught up with her.

She does seem to feel guilty, and so some of you questioned well, is she a Machiavel after all, is she a Machiavellian villain? A check for understanding.

Which of the following could be used to argue that Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain? Select two that apply.

Is it a, she wants power for Macbeth, b, she plots to kill King Duncan to get what she wants, c, she is consumed by guilt at the end of the play, d, she pretends to welcome Duncan whilst plotting to kill him? Pause the video and select your responses now.

Well done if you selected b and d.

Now I'd like you to use the three sentence stems to explore Lady Macbeth's presentation as a Machiavellian villain.

Here are the sentence stems. Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain because.

Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain but.

Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain so.

Pause the video, use the discussion to help you complete these sentence stems. Pause the video now.

Well done for completing those sentence stems, and it was lovely to see how the discussion we had about all the appearances of Lady Macbeth in the play really supported your written responses.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain because she resorts to treachery to gain power.

Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain, but she never truly gains power, only Macbeth does, and her reign as Queen is short-lived.

Arguably, Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain, so the audience might view her downfall as just.

Well done for completing those sentence stems and thinking about this idea of Machiavellian villain from a number of different angles and with this character of Lady Macbeth.

So we're gonna move on to our second learning cycle.

We're going to look at thesis statements and topic sentences.

These are gonna help us construct an argument about Lady Macbeth.

You're gonna plan an answer to this question in today's lesson.

To what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? Here's how you could break down the question.

Let's look at the question and break it into fragments.

The first one being "To what extent." Well, what is that actually asking? It's asking what is your overall thesis, your main idea, in response to this question.

"does Shakespeare present." Well, what were the writer's intentions? We need to think about Shakespeare when we're thinking about this question.

What were his intentions for this play and for this character? And, "Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain?" What ideas are there around this concept in the play? And all of our discussion and written responses from learning cycle one are really gonna help us with this section of the question.

When writing an essay, one way to support your planning is with the thesis statement and supporting topic sentences.

Let's look at that in a bit more detail.

Your thesis statement is general and overarching, your big idea that is supported by the whole text.

Then it's a good idea to come up with about three topic sentences.

One, two, three.

And your topic sentences are specific and focused.

You want to look at a certain aspect of the text and explore that in a main body paragraph.

We're gonna look at a student plan which answers this question.

To what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? Here's their plan.

Their thesis statement, their general overarching thesis statement, here it is.

"In some ways Lady Macbeth is a Machiavellian villain and in some ways she isn't.

She pursues masterdom but then is consumed by guilt." So that's their thesis statement.

Let's look at their first topic sentence.

"Lady Macbeth is very dominant in act one, scene seven, when she says, 'When you durst do it, then you were a man.

'" Their second topic sentence.

"Jacobeans had shared common expectations of women." And their third topic sentence.

"At the end of the play, Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt." So this is this student plan.

They've got their thesis statement and three topic sentences.

Now, this plan has some merits, but there are quite a lot of improvements that the student could make, and I'd like you to pause the video and discuss what improvements would you suggest this student makes to make this plan even stronger and even stronger base for their written response? Pause the video and discuss this question now.

Some lovely discussions there showing your really good understanding of what makes a powerful plan, one that you can rely on to help you write a really fantastic essay.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

So their thesis statement.

Lots of people said this isn't an overarching thesis.

Instead, this student has looked at the question from two completely different angles.

She pursues masterdom, but then is consumed by guilt.

So it's not a thesis.

It's a bit more descriptive.

With their topic sentences, lots of people said your topic sentences should focus on one idea that can be developed in a paragraph, and you should link them to the question and your thesis.

So if we take the first topic sentence, for example, "Lady Macbeth is very dominant in act one, scene seven, when she says, 'When you just durst it, then you were a man.

'" That's not a big idea.

It focuses on one quotation, and it is not clear how this links to the question or indeed their thesis.

So some really clear ideas there about how to improve this student plan.

Now, this student redrafted their plan, and redrafting is such an important part of writing, and this is how it reads now.

Their thesis statement.

"Arguably, Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth is the epitome of a Machiavellian villain.

She desires masterdom and is unscrupulous in its pursuit." Their first topic sentence.

"Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as ambitious and intelligent in act one.

She is a Machiavel because she uses these attributes to achieve power." Their second topic sentence.

"Significantly, Lady Macbeth does not conform to common expectations of women.

This subversiveness is yet another way that her villainy is highlighted." And their third topic sentence.

"Lady Macbeth's fate in act five means Shakespeare reestablishes the status quo, but this doesn't alter her Machiavellian characterization." So a really nice redraft there using the feedback that you gave to improve this plan.

I'd like you to discuss just as we looked at how could the student improve their plan, now let's think why is this a really, really successful redraft, a really successful plan? Pause the video and discuss the question now.

Some lovely discussions there praising fantastic student work.

Always nice to hear.

Here are some ideas that you might have had.

So looking at their thesis statement, they've now got an overarching thesis statement.

It's clear and it links to the question.

And each topic sentence, they have develops the thesis continuing to link it to the question.

So let's look at the first one again.

"Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as intelligent and ambitious in act one.

She is a Machiavel because she uses these attributes to achieve power." So we know the student is going to look at act one.

They've got all of act one to play with in that paragraph, and they've linked to the question because they've used that word Machiavel.

Now a check for understanding.

I want you to select the most powerful thesis which answers the question to what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? You're going to read through each thesis and then select the one that you think is the most powerful.

Pause the video, read through each thesis, and select your response.

Pause the video now.

Well done for reading through all of those example theses, and congratulations if you selected b as the most powerful thesis.

You can see that in a, "Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth is presented as a Machiavellian villain.

This phrase describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless, and immoral ways," the student has given a definition of Machiavellian, which is not necessary.

Instead in b, they have focused on the idea of a Machiavel, picked it apart and this student has said, no, she's not Machiavellian.

Instead, she's presented as a dutiful wife.

We're gonna look at another check for understanding, and this time we're going to focus on the idea of the topic sentence.

So which topic sentence supports this thesis: Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a Machiavel.

She embodies the qualities of a great ruler, and is only prevented from realising her own ambitions because of the patriarchy.

So a really nice thesis.

You are gonna select either a, b, or c.

Which topic sentence best supports that thesis? Pause the video and select your response now.

Well done if you selected c, Shakespeare uses act one to establish Lady Macbeth's qualities as a leader.

That absolutely supports the student thesis in a way that b, which looks at the idea of vulnerability, does not.

And a is not a very powerful topic sentence.

Starting with a quotation and doing a short piece of analysis is not opening up or setting up your paragraph for a developed response which will build on your thesis.

Now I'd like you to write your own thesis and three supporting topic sentences which answer this question: To what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? You can see the diagram on the board, which is going to support writing your own plan.

So pause the video and you're now gonna write your thesis and three supporting topic sentences which answer the question about Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain.

Pause the video and create your plan now.

Fantastic to see people writing really powerful thesis statements and topic sentences which support that thesis statement.

Before we celebrate your great work, we're gonna do some self-assessment.

So use the following questions to assess your plan.

Does your thesis have a clear and overarching argument? Does each topic sentence support and develop your thesis? Does each topic sentence have a clear focus so you can explore the play? Pause the video and use these questions to self assess your plan now.

Fantastic to see people applying all those evaluative skills that we applied to the first student plan to help them do a successful redraft to their own plan.

We're gonna move on to our third learning cycle now.

We're going to look at judicious supporting detail.

This is gonna be the final thing we add to our plan so that we have a really powerful argument about Lady Macbeth.

So you can develop your plan by adding supporting detail to each topic sentence in a single paragraph outline.

So remember that your topic sentence explains the specific focus of a paragraph, and you write in full sentences.

Your supporting detail is judicious evidence that supports the topic sentence, and this can include context, and you can write it in note form when you are planning.

And your concluding sentence is a summary of your paragraph with a clear focus on writer's purpose.

And again, just like with your topic sentence, you'll write in full sentences.

So let's look at a student plan, and we're going to think about what improvements could be made to their single paragraph outline.

So their topic sentence is, "Shakespeare uses act one to establish Lady Macbeth as a leader." They're supporting details.

One, "Unsex here," et cetera.

Two, in act five, Lady Macbeth is consumed by guilt.

"Here's the smell of blood still," which shows she's no longer a Machiavel.

Three, she contrasts to Macbeth in act one.

And they're concluding sentence is, "Ultimately, Lady Macbeth is a villain which is unusual for the time because she is a woman." So pause the video and discuss this question.

What improvements could be be made to this single paragraph outline? Pause the video now.

Fantastic to hear people showing off a really deep understanding of what makes a good single paragraph outline with their specific improvements for this student.

Here are some ideas you might have had.

Their topic sentence could more clearly link to the question.

For example, they could use the word Machiavellian.

Their supporting detail.

Their notes are short, and notes can be short, but et cetera lacks any detail.

The evidence does not seem to be selected judiciously.

If the topic sentence says they're going to talk about act one, why is the student referring to act five? And the idea of contrast needs to be developed with quotation.

It is a nice idea, but I'm not sure what the student is going to do with it yet.

Their concluding sentence could use Shakespeare's name and think more carefully about his intentions rather than a vague comment about the time.

So quite a few things here the student could do to improve their single paragraph outline.

The student redrafted their single paragraph outline.

As always, redrafting is a really important part of the writing process.

Let's have a look at it now.

They've written, "Shakespeare uses Act 1 to establish Lady Macbeth as a leader with Machiavellian qualities." Their supporting detail.

Introduced Macbeth's partner of greatness, which is unusual, partner, greatness, therefore capable of achieving the golden round.

Their second piece of supporting detail.

Immediately starts plotting and strategizing "thou shalt be what thou art promised," but realises she'll have to overcome Macbeth's "milk of human kindness." Therefore, and now they bring in their third piece of supporting detail, she asks spirits to "unsex her" and fill her with "cruelty." The student thinks that that makes her the ultimate Machiavel.

Final piece of supporting detail.

Act one, scene five, immediately followed by act one, scene six, Lady Macbeth pretends to welcome Duncan and encourages Macbeth to do the same, to "look like the innocent flower." She is duplicitous.

And their concluding sentence.

"Ultimately, Shakespeare creates a Machiavellian villain but increases the shock we might feel to such blatant cunning by embodying these characteristics in a woman." So a really successful redraft there.

And I'd like you to discuss why is this a much more successful single paragraph outline.

Pause the video and discuss this question now.

Lovely to hear people praising student work.

And I heard some really nice ideas about how the topic sentence much more clearly links to the question because it uses that word Machiavellian, that the supporting detail all supports the topic sentence, is written in nice note form, but got enough detail, nice short quotations that they can rely on when they're doing their writing.

And they're concluding sentence is no longer really vague, but is actually linking to Shakespeare's intentions.

Well done for looking at this single paragraph outline and drawing out what makes it so successful.

So a check for understanding.

I'd like you to match the purpose of each aspect of the single paragraph outline.

Pause the video, look at the diagram of the single paragraph outline, and match each section to its purpose.

Well done if you matched the topic sentence, which explains the specific focus of the paragraph and is written in full sentences, the supporting detail to judicious evidence that supports an argument, this can include context and could be written in note form, and finally, the concluding sentence, which is a summary of a paragraph with a clear focus on writer's purpose, and again, written in full sentences.

Well done for showing off your knowledge of the single paragraph outline.

Now I'd like you to complete the planning grid below for the following question.

To what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? Remember, you already have your thesis and your topic sentences, so you're going to focus on supporting details and your summary sentence.

Pause the video and complete the grid now.

Well done for applying yourself to completing that grid.

You now have an incredibly strong plan in answer to the question to what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as Machiavellian villain? Before we celebrate those really powerful plans, we'll do some self-assessment.

I'd like you to use the following questions to self assess your plan.

Does your thesis have a clear and overarching argument? Does each topic sentence support and develop your thesis? Does each topic sentence have a clear focus so you can explore the play? And do you have judicious supporting details to support each topic sentence? Pause the video and self assess your plan using these questions to guide you now.

Well done for your honest and evaluative look at your plan.

You've now got a really successful strong foundation for creating a brilliant written response to the question to what extent does Shakespeare present Lady Macbeth as a Machiavellian villain? In summary, Machiavellian is an adjective.

It describes someone who gets what they want in cunning, ruthless, and immoral ways.

A thesis statement is a clear overarching argument.

Topic sentences give focus to individual paragraphs.

Topic sentences should support the overarching thesis.

Identifying judicious supporting detail to include in each paragraph supports planning.

I've loved hearing all of your fantastic ideas in today's lesson and seeing those plans really come to life.

I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson.

Goodbye.