Professor Higgins teaches Liza to enunciate; you will use Shaw's play to teach your 9th graders to write a cogent essay in miniature (e.g., a paragraph).

Writing Assignment on Pygmalion

(originally created for a 9^th grade English class)

Write a well-developed paragraph (minimum 7-8 sentences) on one of the following topics:

1. The ending of the play. (Your paragraph will answer these questions: What is the main action of the play? What happens in the final scene? How is the ending appropriate to the play as a whole?)

1. The transformation of Liza. (How does she change? What factors contribute to her transformation?)

1. The effect of the experiment on Higgins. (How, if at all, does Higgins change as a result of the experiment? How do you account for his behavior at the end of the play?)

Your job is to develop a thesis about one of these topics and to substantiate your thesis in a single, unified paragraph. Think of the paragraph as a compressed essay, with a topic sentence (introduction) that states your thesis, a body that develops it through specific examples and textual evidence, and a “clincher” (conclusion) that restates your central idea in a new way.

Remember, your thesis should be more than a descriptive statement; it is an idea—claim or concept—that can be illustrated and demonstrated by reference to the play. In other words, “Liza changes from an insecure lower-class flower girl to an independent lady by the end of Pygmalion” is a description of what happens, not a true thesis.

Remember also that in using text it is preferable to weave words and phrases into your own arguments and sentences rather than quoting entire lines.