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Hamlet: Developing your thesis (Essential question)

LibGuide to support student locating critical analysis for Hamlet papers.

Finding a theme:

Start searching to get familiar with the topic! Reviewing what topics are covered in the literature criticism is helpful - but just skim for ideas at this point. Look to see what topics are covered but try not to focus on any one critical essay or academic journal at this stage- that's for later!

Searching for Shakespeare using the Library Catalogue

Shakespeare is such an important writer that he has his own Dewey number.
Books on Shakespeare have the Dewey number 822.33 and books written by Shakespeare have the number 822.3. 

 

Helpful Websites

Thesis statements

"Nothing so facilitates good writing as actually having something to say." T.S. Eliot

What Makes a Good Essential Question?

  1. Is open-ended; that is, it typically will not have a single, final, and correct answer.
     
  2. Is thought-provoking and intellectually engaging, often sparking discussion and debate.
     
  3. Calls for higher-order thinking, such as analysis, inference, evaluation, prediction. It cannot be effectively answered by recall alone.
     
  4. Points toward important, transferable ideas within (and sometimes across) disciplines.
     
  5. Raises additional questions and sparks further inquiry.
     
  6. Requires support and justification, not just an answer.
     
  7. Recurs over time; that is, the question can and should be revisited again and again.
     
  8. It is interesting to YOU!

Source: "What Makes a Question Essential?" ASCD. ASCD, 2014. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

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