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AS English Lit Coursework!? (AQA Spec B)

I have to produce a 1200-1500 word essay on Much Ado about Nothing by Shakespeare and I have literally no idea what to do. My teacher hasn't really gone through anything with us. All I know is I have to make up my own title..?

I am at my weakest when analysing Shakespeare so this task is particularly difficult. My teacher has run some study support sessions for me and some others since I am under target (B) but they haven't made me improve in the slightest.

Help!? :frown:

Get a tutor

I'm not 100% sure if we're doing the same thing but if it's the same spec, then you're not actually analysing shakespear, you're using the text to support your knowledge of the comedy genre.
if so, maybe ask your teacher to give the class a list of possible titles (thats what ours did) and start from there?

Reply 3

username1355940

We're doing Much Ado About Nothing too! Erm what about: To what extent is comedy at the expense of love? or something like that. It seems simple.

What are you doing for your other coursework? We're doing Educating Rita. I'm so confused on how to answer that one. My question looks easy but the play is just so dull and boring. I don't see any comedy anywhere.

Reply 4

edgarcats

I'm doing the same, only with A Midsummer Night's Dream. I think one of the most important parts is doing supplementary reading to use as evidence/context in your essay. Search the internet for anything related to the comedy of your chosen play, then search for articles about comedy more generally (e.g. the various theories of comedy, etc).

Make sure that the title you choose allows for your to debate, but is also quite specific so you can show that you were able to precisely answer the question.

Reply 5

username1355940

Original post by edgarcats

I can't really find much for Educating Rita.

Reply 6

edgarcats

Original post by S.Mundane

I can't really find much for Educating Rita.

Sorry, my class is doing The Importance of Being Earnest instead so I personally can't offer advise.
Here are some things I found when I googled Educating Rita. I don't know how useful they'll be, but maybe they'll help you think about the play more analytically.
http://www.human.nu.ac.th/jhnu/file/journal/2011_02_17_17_42_50-1-2-16.pdf

http://www.litnotes.co.uk/educatin.htm

https://merrylandsseniorrevision.wikispaces.com/file/view/Educating+Rita+Study+guides.pdf

http://2010trialsandbeyond.weebly.com/uploads/4/2/1/1/4211132/educating_rita_excel.pdf

http://www.omdix.com/pdf/docs/thesis_teacher_school_essay_1071118546.pdf

Have you asked your teacher? The difficulty with modern texts is that there is comparatively little articles/essays about them. I studied Blood Brothers by the same playwright in GCSE Drama and truly hated it, but hopefully this play is better.

If you want, I could try to find some links to articles about comedy more generally that you could use for both coursework pieces?

Reply 7

username1355940

Sorry, my class is doing The Importance of Being Earnest instead so I personally can't offer advise.
Here are some things I found when I googled Educating Rita. I don't know how useful they'll be, but maybe they'll help you think about the play more analytically.
http://www.human.nu.ac.th/jhnu/file/..._50-1-2-16.pdf

http://www.litnotes.co.uk/educatin.htm

https://merrylandsseniorrevision.wik...udy+guides.pdf

http://2010trialsandbeyond.weebly.co...rita_excel.pdf

http://www.omdix.com/pdf/docs/thesis...1071118546.pdf

Have you asked your teacher? The difficulty with modern texts is that there is comparatively little articles/essays about them. I studied Blood Brothers by the same playwright in GCSE Drama and truly hated it, but hopefully this play is better.

If you want, I could try to find some links to articles about comedy more generally that you could use for both coursework pieces?

Omg thanks! Yeah, I did and I need to send her a plan of what I'm thinking to do. I hate studying modern comedy aha. I've heard of Blood Brothers, haven't read or watched it though. It sounds really good, better than Educating Rita.

Reply 8

username1355940

Original post by edgarcats

Thank you! I've finally finished my draft for this coursework and the links you found really helped :smile:

Reply 9

edgarcats

Original post by S.Mundane

Thank you! I've finally finished my draft for this coursework and the links you found really helped :smile:

Awesome, hope it went well.

Reply 10

ema97

Original post by S.Mundane

Thank you! I've finally finished my draft for this coursework and the links you found really helped :smile:

hey ive got to do my draft for educating rita too but i have know idea what to do, could you maybe give me some tips please ahah?

Reply 11

Jacob Boris

I got full marks on it last year with this question: "What contrasting views of love are portrayed in the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, and how do they contribute to the comedy?"
I focused on Act 1 Scene i, Act 2 scene iii, Act 3 Scene i, Act 4 scene i, and act 5 scene i. I showed how their relationship develops, and the dramatic irony used by Shakespeare, which adds to the comedy. I also spoke about the merry war of wit betwixt them, and their use of innuendo, double entendré. I also concentrated heavily on the gullings. You can also contrast them with Claudio and Hero a little as foils to them.
Here are some good sources: GAY. P ‘The Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare’s Comedies’ (CUP, 2008)
RSC ‘Introductory Notes/Interviews’
SHAKESPEARE. W ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ (Oxford School Shakespeare, 2004)
SINGH. J ‘Wooing and Wedding’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Much_Ado_About_Nothing
http://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/SLT/plays/much%20ado%20about%20nothing/adobb.html
http://shakespeare.about.com/od/muchado/a/muchado_char.htm
http://www.shmoop.com/much-ado-about-nothing/benedick-timeline.html
http://www.shmoop.com/much-ado-about-nothing/beatrice-timeline.html
http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/muchado/
BRANAGH. K ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ (BBC/Renaissance Films, 1993)

(edited 10 years ago)

Reply 12

username1355940

Original post by ema97

hey ive got to do my draft for educating rita too but i have know idea what to do, could you maybe give me some tips please ahah?

What's ur question?

Reply 13

ema97

Original post by S.Mundane

What's ur question?

To what extent can Rita be viewed as a clown?

what was yours?

Reply 14

ema97

Original post by S.Mundane

What's ur question?

actually ive just changed my question to How Willy Russell use relationships to develop dramatic comedy in ‘Educating Rita’?

i have tyo hand it in on friday and i have extreme writes block urgh

Reply 15

username1355940

Original post by ema97

actually ive just changed my question to How Willy Russell use relationships to develop dramatic comedy in ‘Educating Rita’?

i have tyo hand it in on friday and i have extreme writes block urgh

Oh yours sounds easier! Mine was 'We might say that comedy traces the movement from distress to happiness from bad to good. How far is this true in Educating Rita?

Sorry if I've replied late. Literally just saw this. Basically talk about the contrasts in the different relationships. So Frank and Rita, Rita and Denny, Frank and Julia. Talk about structure. Use critics.

Reply 16

username1355940

Original post by ema97

actually ive just changed my question to How Willy Russell use relationships to develop dramatic comedy in ‘Educating Rita’?

i have tyo hand it in on friday and i have extreme writes block urgh

did u get it done??

Reply 17

Rere97

Hi, I'm doing A Midsummer Night's Dream for my coursework, what was your essay title or any you think might help :smile:

thanks

Reply 18

username1355940

Original post by Rere97

Hi, I'm doing A Midsummer Night's Dream for my coursework, what was your essay title or any you think might help :smile:

thanks

Hi I didn't do a midsummer night's dream. I did much ado about nothing. My question was on female characters being on the comical expense. What do u have in mind for ur question?