Romeo & Juliet Research Starter

Why Does the work of Shakespeare continue to matter today?

Shakespeare is the only author that is singled out in the 9th-12th Common Core English standards. Why is his body of work so important that the entire country is required to read it?

• Analyze how an author draws on and transforms source material in a specific work (e.g., how Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by Shakespeare).

• Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in the text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including words with multiple meanings or language that is particularly fresh, engaging, or beautiful. (Include Shakespeare as well as other authors.)

• Analyze multiple interpretations of a story, drama, or poem (e.g., recorded or live production of a play or recorded novel or poetry), evaluating how each version interprets the source text. (Include at least one play by Shakespeare and one play by an American dramatist.)

Citations

CORE ELEMENTS FOR MLA FORMAT, 9th ed.

These are the general pieces of information that MLA suggests including in each Works Cited entry. In your citation, the elements should be listed in the following order:

1. Author.

2. Title of source.

3. Publisher,

4. Publication date,

5. Location.

6. Date accessed.

7. URL (no https or hyperlink).

Each element should be followed by the punctuation mark shown here.

Assignment