Power of One Comparison Essay
Topic: Reflect (by comparing), on the similarities between John Proctor from The
Crucible and Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and their use of the power of one
to effect the thoughts of their communities and to strive for positive change.
Essay Components
Thesis Paragraph



Identify the two characters and the literary works to be discussed
Denote that one person can affect a positive change that motivates others
Identify the cause each of them is struggling for respectively, one against the
community blinded by either witch-hunt frenzy or racism
Support Paragraphs
The Crucible and John Proctor




Provide a transitional topic sentence, detailing John Proctor and his decision to
die and how that influenced the community of Salem.
Discuss in detail John Proctor and his decision, what he was accomplishing by
his death and why it was important to him and his wife, and how it influenced the
outcome of the play/Salem.
Two quotes will be utilized to prove John’s cause and his impact on his
community. A list to select from will be provided; all quotes must be cited in MLA
format.
A conclusion sentence that wraps up the main idea of the paragraph and if/how
John accomplished his goals.
To Kill a Mockingbird and Atticus Finch




Provide a transitional topic sentence, detailing Atticus Finch and his decision,
what he was trying to accomplish, and how it affected the ideas of his
community.
Discuss in detail Atticus Finch and his work, if he accomplished what he wanted
to accomplish (and why it was important to him, as an individual and as a father),
and how his work influenced Maycomb.
Two quotes will be utilized to prove Atticus’ cause and his impact on his
community. These will be student selected from the text and must be cited in
MLA format.
A conclusion sentence that wraps up the main idea of the paragraph and if/how
Atticus accomplished his goals.
Comparison Paragraph




Provide a transitional topic sentence that compares/contrasts the ideas of each
man, detailing how each used the power of one to accomplish (or not
accomplish) their individual goals as well as how they affected their communities.
Discuss in detail the comparison between the two men and their goals
Two quotes will be utilized (one from each work) to prove how/if each man used
their power of one effectively.
A conclusion sentence that wraps up the main idea of the paragraph and
contrasts how each man did/did not accomplish his goal through the power of
one.
Conclusion Paragraph



Wrap up
Restated thesis
Call to action/comment on the power of one
Dates and Deadlines
Rough Draft:
Final Draft:
MLA Formatting of Essay

Typed essay, printed on 8/5 by 11” paper

use 12 point Times New Roman

1-inch margins for all pages

indent paragraphs one tab

header with page numbers
MLA Citation within the essay
“word for word, no deviations or changes, quote” (author’s last name #).
The punctuation for the quote goes at the end of the citation; it is part of the sentence.
MLA Work Cited Page - to follow the essay as an independent page
Works Cited – Centered on the page at the top, double space
Cite both The Crucible and To Kill a Mockingbird
Cite them in alphabetical order by author’s last name
If the citation goes longer than a line, indent the second line 5 spaces (reverse of a
paragraph indent)
The website Citation Machine may be helpful in doing this page.
The Crucible should be cited in the following manner:
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Austin: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 2005.
This utilizes the basic format of:
Author last, first name. Title. City of Publication: Publishing Company, year published.
To Kill a Mockingbird should be cited in the same format, using the information found in
the novels used in class.