Are there any college level writers here?

[Ipod Monk]

I know this is probably not the place to ask, but:

I am in 9th grade and I need to write a essay about a character in Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, which I chose Juliet.

It needs to be sub-college lvl
It needs excellent concrete detail
Great connections
Clear and logical organization
Powerful vocab
Good and skillful use of transitions
Repeat as little as all

Any help is highly appreciated

[CookieFactory]

$50, Paypal preferred =P

[d-bear]

so you want one of us to write it for you? HA!

did you read R&J? do you have the Clif's Notes? that alone should be enough for you to throw together a simple essay.

[wldkt619]

You won't learn anything if you don't write it yourself! You are just screwing yourself when you come to testing later, trust me!

[iTara]

I'm with d-bear on this one, its not a hard topic to babble on about :p

T.

[Doug Gilmour]

Sorry, but this usually works when you actually write something, then allow us to critique it. Seems like you're essentially wanting us to write it for you.

Sparknotes, Cliff's Notes, etc. are helpful, from experience study guides served me well without ever reading the book.

-Dan

[thenerd]

i've got to read it later on in the year to, but I've already ordered a copy of Cliffscomplete so I should be ok.

right now we're reading Great Expectations by Charles ####ens... Has anyone read this and does this get any better?

[Ipod Monk]

AW, i read it, i understand it,

but:

my paragraph structure is not good enough
neither are my transitions
but my vocab is good.

i dunno
thanks, i'll check out cliffs notes

[moe_4eva]

I agree, the best thing to do is to post and let us critique what you have written. Shakespeare is definitely one of the more difficult subjects to write about. Even though you feel you understand it, every time you read it you realize he has a deeper meaning to his words. Poetry in literature, to be sure.

Here's a little help though (from something I wrote back in highschool. And yes I am anal about saving everything):
The character of Juliet and her development from childhood to adulthood within the book Romeo and Juliet is an excellent example of the characterization that Shakespeare is so famous for.

Just make sure it sounds smart. Don't worry, teachers aren't looking for perfection, you're only what, 14? Just do the best you can, and make sure it's in your own words. Teachers can easily tell if you've plagarized something.

[Amelie]

Originally posted by iPod Monk
AW, i read it, i understand it,

but:

my paragraph structure is not good enough
neither are my transitions
but my vocab is good.

i dunno
thanks, i'll check out cliffs notes

If you feel that you understand the play, that should be enough. If you are looking for help with writing skills, Cliff Notes won't help you, unless you are planning to copy paragraph by paragraph (which isn't advisable).

If possible, get a tutor to help along. When I was in highschool, there were volunteers from different orgs that would come and volunteer. Since you understand, gather some ideas together, and have that person help with with the grammar and writing issues, such as transitional sentences between paras, and so on.

[skateboarderx24]

ive been writing at college level since the 6th grade.. or well near it as my teachers have told me.. its not that hard to just expandy your vocabulary and culture yourself

[moe_4eva]

expandy? Is that some of that 'special' college vocabulary? I'm in college, and I've never heard that one :D. And to tell you the truth, gradeschool teachers know very little about college-level writing. I wouldn't trust anyone with less than a PhD to tell you that (I only say it because I was told that as well-and trust me, college is quite different).

[d-bear]

another tip: Clif's Notes aren't always 'correct'. at a high school level, teachers likely won't care, 'cause Clif gets gist of it. at a college level, understanding Clif, and writing on what Clif is saying in relation to the book will not get you far. Clif is good for a basic, high school level understanding of a piece, but beyond that, they aren't much use other than to refresh with chapter summaries.

[moe_4eva]

^^ very true. All it gives is a basic overview of the book. It tells nothing of the substance of the book, which is what most college-level professors are looking for.

[Cameron_Talley]

Cliffnotes are rubbish, IMO....

This is a great edition to get (actually, I get these editions for all Shakespeare plays...very helpful): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521634970/qid=1134337165/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-1756154-7260925?n=507846&s=books&v=glance

These Cambridge School Editions have a summary of every page as well as vocabulary. It's a great way to read Shakespeare, and it is very easy to understand.

For an essay, your teacher is not going to want a summary. You need to do some in-depth analysis of the character of Juliet. Use quotations extensively to back up your claims. If you've never written an analytical essay before, the basic outline looks like this:

Intro
Thesis Statement [usually contained within first paragraph]
Supporting evidence One
Supporting Evidence Two
Supporting Evidence Three
Conclusion, which should refer back to the thesis.

As far as transitions go, try to end each paragraph with a lead in to the idea expressed in the next paragraph. For example: Juliet blah blah blah, but in the next example, she reveals herself to be blah blah blah... You might also start each paragraph with an opening phrase such as "To begin with," or "To further analyze this subject."

For paragraph structure, try to write paragraphs that only contain a single idea. Paragraphs should be no more than a page or so in length (double spaced...); if they are more, you need to try and slim down your paragraphs.

I also agree with other posters in this thread about the idea of getting a tutor. If anything, approach your teacher after class and ask for specific help. If he/she is worth their salt, they will try to help you.