Stevenson

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet

Final Writing Assignment Argumentative Paper

Due Date:
INTRODUCTION: An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies
this claim with specific evidence. The goal of the argumentative paper is to
convince the audience that your claim is true based on the evidence you
provide to support your side of the argument. Your argument will include
convincing evidence to support your side, but you also will offer reasonable
points to an opposing argument. This is known as a concession.
TASK: Write a 2-4 page essay that is typed, double-spaced, and 12 pt font with 1inch margins. In your essay, you are going to argue and prove:

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF ROMEO AND JULIET?

To do this, you need to come up with a reasonable person or thing that you think the
blame can be traced back to. If you completed your ballot thoughtfully, you already
have the answer to this very important question. Now you just need to prove it.
You must do some investigating and discover the roots that laid the foundation for
them to commit suicide. Think about what had to happen, what series of events
had to take place, in order for Romeo and Juliet to end their lives. Make a choice.
Keep in mind that there are many different approaches you can take. There is no
right or wrong answer here. Rather, there are well supported arguments and poorly
supported arguments. Trace your characters actions through the play. Come up
with THREE good reasons why the person or thing you pick is to blame either
character traits, specific actions he/she took, etc. Use quotations from the play that
are relevant and present them in a logical order.
In addition to your main argument, you MUST have a concession in your paper. This
is where you explain that a different person might have played a significant role in
the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. (A concession is a point that you let the other
side score.) Adding concessions to your argument usually adds believability to your
claims. Concessions use words like even though, admittedly, while it is true that,
some may argue that; however, this is not the case, granted, etc.
GRADING:
_____ / 10
Thesis Statement: Does your thesis statement answer the question:
Who is responsible for
the deaths or Romeo and Juliet? Is it the last
sentence in your introductory paragraph?
_____ / 15
Organization: Do your body paragraphs have topic sentences that refer
back to your
thesis statement? Do your paragraphs make
sense? Is your strongest argument in your
final body paragraph?
_____ / 20
Specific Evidence: Do your body paragraphs have adequate support
from the play? Do
you provide enough details about your choice? Did
you use quotations from the play as
support?

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______ / 10 Concession: Did you include a concession in the beginning of your

paper? Did you give
an opposing view and address why your
argument is more logical?
______ / 10 Grammar & Mechanics: Proper spelling and grammar. Do not use I,
you, or me.
______ / 5
Followed Directions: Typed, double-spaced, 2-4 pages, 1 inch margins.
Give your paper
a title!
______ / 70 TOTAL

Stevenson

Your Name
Mrs. Stevenson
Eng 9 Period ___
____ March 2014
Title
The deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeares play,
____________________________________, are both ______________ and _____________.
Although much could have been done to prevent their suicides, these star-crossed
lovers ultimately are not able to avoid their destiny. A series of unfortunate
circumstances result in disaster, and even though many people could be to blame
for their deaths, _______________________________plays a particularly integral role.
While some believe that ________________________________ is responsible for
Romeo and Juliets death, this is not the case. Upon further investigation,
_______________________should receive the blame. Admittedly,
__________________________ has a large influence on Romeo and Juliets death
because
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________
_________________________________________________________. But, ___________________ is
truly to blame because ________________________
___________________________________________ ,
________________________________________ ________ _______, and

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_____________________________________________________________________________________
______.
First of all, ________________________ is to blame because
____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________ . Shakespeare
wrote,_____________________________________________________________________________
______________
___________________________________________________________________ ( .

).

This basically means

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________ . The quote
demonstrates that __________________________ is responsible because it states that
___________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________ .
Another example of this is when ____________________ states,
_______________________________________________
___________________________________________________ ( .

).

In other

words,____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________ . This quote proves that
________________________ is to blame because ________________________

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_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________ .
Another reason that blame can be placed on ______________________ is
because ____________________ _____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________.
________________ stated,
__________________________________________________________________________ ( .
).

To put it another way,

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________ . The quote reveals that ___________________ at fault because it means
that
________________________________________________________________________________.
Another example of this is when___________________ replied,
________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
____________ ( .

).

In other

words,______________________________________________________________________________
__________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________ . This quote shows that
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_______

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_______________________________________________________________ . Because of these

statements, ________________ _______________________________ is most definitely to
blame at this point.
Additionally and perhaps most notably, ________________________ is blame
because _________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________ .Shakespeare wrote,
___________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
______________ ( .

).

This proves that __________________________ is a

________________________ because it states that ______________

_____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________ . _______________ also stated,
________________________________________________________________________ ___________
____________________________________________________________________________________
( .

).

This means

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________ . The quote also
demonstrates that __________________________ is responsible for Romeo and Juliets
deaths because it shows that
________________________________________________________________________________ .
In conclusion, the deaths in Shakespeares
_______________________________________________ can be blamed on the actions of just
one person, ________________________________. Particularly, in the _____________

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__________________________ scene, and by

_________________________________________________________________, and
_______________________________________________ . If _______________________________
had only __________________ ____________________________________ or
_____________________________________, Romeo and Juliet may have ended differently.
(Conclude your paper with a thoughtful but more general statement about William
Shakespeare or his play, Romeo and Juliet.)
__________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________
___________________________________________________________________________.

Last page:

Works Cited
Authors Last Name, First Name. Title. Holt: Elements of Literature. City
of Publisher: Name of
Publisher, copyright year. Page numbers of entire story in book. Print.