The Crucible Paragraph Planner
Topic Sentence
Identify the character this paragraph is going to focus on: _________________________
Example: Abigail, John, Elizabeth, Giles, Hale
Identify the keyword the character is employ: ________________________________
Example: power/manipulation, pride, betrayal
How does this character show the keyword? Write your sentence on the lines below.
Example: Elizabeth Proctor experiences self-discovery when she realizes that she has made mistakes in her
marriage.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The above sentence becomes your topic sentence. To ensure that you have all the parts, complete the
following steps:
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put a circle around your keyword (“self-discovery”)
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put a box around the speaker’s name (“Elizabeth Proctor”)
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Underline the argument you are making in the paragraph (“experiences self-discovery when she
realizes that she has made mistakes in her marriage”).
Paragraph Planner: First Quote
Select your first quote which shows your keyword. Then, write a transition into your first quote which
demonstrates the speaker, context, and the connection to your keyword.
Example: Before her self-discovery, Elizabeth believes that she is not at fault in her marriage; she believes all
of the problems stem from John’s affair:
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_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The above sentence becomes your transition. To ensure that you have all the parts, complete the following
steps:

put a circle around your keyword (“self-discovery”)

put a box around the speaker’s name (“Elizabeth”)

Underline the argument you are making in the paragraph (“believes that she is not at fault in her
marriage; she believes all of the problems stem from John’s affair”
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Put a triangle around your correct punctuation (a colon!)
Now write your quote…ensure that your quote is not much more than 4-6 lines in the text.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (______).
Now it is time to consider your analysis of the above quote. What specific words, punctuation, metaphors,
similes, diction, etc. prove the argument you laid out in your transition? Make at least 4 points for each quote!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Paragraph Planner: Second Quote
Select your second quote which shows your keyword. This might identify the moment that your character
demonstrated pride or experienced a self-discovery, if these items are appropriate to your topic.
Example: Elizabeth’s self-discovery occurs while she is discussing with John whether he should confess:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The above sentence becomes your transition. To ensure that you have all the parts, complete the following
steps:

put a circle around your keyword (“self-discovery”)

put a box around the speaker’s name (“Elizabeth”)

.Underline the argument you are making in the paragraph (“occurs while she is discussing with John
whether he should confess”

Put a triangle around your correct punctuation (a colon!)
Now write your quote…ensure that your quote is not much more than 4-6 lines in the text.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (______).
Now it is time to consider you analysis of the above quote. What specific words, punctuation, metaphors,
similes, diction, etc. prove the argument you laid out in your transition? Make at least 4 points for each quote!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Paragraph Planner: Third Quote
Select your final quote which shows your keyword. If you are discussing pride or self-discovery, you would
probably look at end result on the character. How was John Proctor affected by pride? How was Elizabeth
affected by her self-discovery?
Example: One sees that Elizabeth’s self-discovery—especially the acceptance of her own faults—allows her to
accept John’s decision:
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
The above sentence becomes your transition. To ensure that you have all the parts, complete the following
steps:

put a circle around your keyword (“self-discovery”)

put a box around the speaker’s name (“Elizabeth”)
Underline the argument you are making in the paragraph (“self-discovery—especially the acceptance of her own
faults—allows her to accept John’s decision:”

Put a triangle around your correct punctuation (a colon!)
Now write your quote…ensure that your quote is not much more than 4-6 lines in the text.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________ (______).
Now it is time to consider your analysis of the above quote. What specific words, punctuation, metaphors,
similes, diction, etc. prove the argument you laid out in your transition? Make at least 4 points for each quote!
1.
2.
3.
4.
Paragraph Planner: Conclusion
Summarize the argument that you have made about your character and your keyword to conclude your
paragraph.
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
Paragraph Planner: Ready to Write
You are now ready to write this paragraph! Each paragraph should have the following parts, which you have
already written above:
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Topic Sentence
First Transition
Quote & Citation
Analysis
Second Transition
Quote & Citation
Analysis
Third Transition
Quote & Citation
Analysis
Conclusion