Easy Way to Increase Your Macbeth Essay Grade: Sophisticated Vocabulary
What I am about to say may be a 'hot take', but I stand by it: examiners are swayed by expression. I have been frustrated on many an occasion by model answers provided by the exam board which are just 'this makes the reader want to read on' expressed in sophisticated language. Now, I am not trying to add to the problem here - this video is not about teaching you empty language that sounds fancy but adds nothing.
In fact, this video is the opposite. In righteous defiance of the empty sophistication, my video aims to show that you can learn sophisticated vocabulary which actually adds insight to your essay. How does it do that? Often, it is the specificity of the words. Think about it this way - calling Macbeth 'bad' may have an accuracy to it, but it is such a simple and vague word that it isn't showing a deep insight. Now take one of the words from my list - coercive is a super specific word which shows a deep level of insight into someone's (you'll have to watch to find out who!) behaviour. With these words you will be able to elevate both the insight and the eloquence of your essays.
Timestamp
0.55 Full vocabulary list
1.37 Enigmatic
4.05 Coercive
5.23 Domineering
6.35 Malevolent
9.35 Dauntless
13.00 Nascent
14.38 Iniquitous
16.45 Ontological crisis
17.55 Turmoil
19.49 Usurp
21.25 Existential crisis
This video is on my YouTube channel. However, there are a few benefits to watching it here instead:
- You can register to keep a track of which videos you’ve watched
- You can bookmark lessons for later
- There may or may not be no ads, but I can neither confirm nor deny and I definitely didn't tell you if YouTube asked, OK?
There are also multiple resources to help you in the Study Materials section:
Unlocking Shakespeare Study Guide
This is the perfect accompaniment to my video on how to read Shakespeare's language. It goes back over the strategies with more examples and - most importantly - more opportunities for you to practice putting those strategies to use.
Macbeth Wide Margin Textbook
If you don't have a copy of the play to annotate, then this is a must, must, MUST have. If you do have a copy of the play, but it's one of those editions where they have filled every inch of the page with only slightly useful information and have left practically no space for your notes, then my version is also going to be ideal. The wide margins of this version mean that there is plenty of space for your notes. I have still provided translations for lots of the archaic language, and I've provided a list of characters at the start too. It is basically everything I always wished was in the copies of Macbeth I had to use to teach! If you are from a school and would like to order physical copies of the textbook, you can find it on Amazon too.
Macbeth Hexagons Game
If you are studying Macbeth for the purposes of an exam, then this is a fantastic, quick and easy revision game (dare I call it 'fun'?). The basic idea is that every hexagon has a character, theme or some sort of important technique on it. You have to join the hexagons up by connecting the things that link. It's a great way to practice making links and also revise what you know about every important aspect of this play.
If there are any videos or resources you'd like to help you with the study of this play, then please do leave a comment and let me know. I know that my videos only scratch the surface at the moment and you can rest assured that I fully intend to release videos on all the other characters, themes and key techniques. I'm also planning to release model essays so that you can spot the patterns of approach across top grade essays.
