–Create a limited topic based on Shakespeare’s Hamlet. Do not write about the entire play. –Write an interpretation of the work within your limited topic using literary elements to explain important ideas that may not be apparent to the reader. –Do not use outside works. Do not Google the work on the internet. Do not read summaries or other people’s interpretations. –You must have a thesis statement. It must be the last sentence of the introduction. –You should write your essay using an outline based on the subtopics in your thesis statement.