Essay Assignment: The Crucible
Write a 5-pargraph essay on the topic of evil in the play. Use the partial thesis printed in
the box below, adding your ideas in the blanks. Then follow with three support
paragraphs and a conclusion.
BEFORE YOU WRITE: At the top on page 1, after your header, but
before your title, summarize briefly the corrections I made on your
Montana 1948 essay; keep these comments in mind as your write this
essay to avoid repeating the same mistakes.
INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
[WRITE YOUR OWN ATTENTION GRABBER] Evil in Salem, as demonstrated
by Arthur Miller in The Crucible, occurs when people who claim to be acting for the
common good are really acting for selfish reasons.[MRS. ANN PUTNAM], [NAME
CHARACTER #2] and [NAME CHARACTER #3] clearly demonstrate such selfish
behavior. Goody Putnam declares that she is benefiting the town when she accuses
Rebecca Nurse of bewitching the Putnam babies, but in reality Mrs. Putnam is only
looking for someone to blame for her own problems. Similarly,
[CHARACTER#2]_______________________________________________________].
Finally [CHARACTER #3 ____________________________________________
_________________________]. The actions of these characters lead inevitably not to
the common good but to widespread false accusations, injustice and executions of the
innocent. Miller suggests through these characters that the evil present in Salem
comes not from the practice of witchcraft, but from [state your three main points
using parallel structure]_______________________________________
___________________________________________________________________.
BODY PARAGRAPHS
Devote one paragraph to each character you have chosen. Be sure to explore the character’s
actions, the stated reason for his/her behavior, the true reason for the behavior, and the evil that
follows from that behavior.
Include in each paragraph at least two brief quoted passages, correctly cited, that support the
point you are making. Use a total of six brief quoted passages from the play in your essay.
Three body paragraphs
BODY PARAGRAPH 1
Character #1, Mrs. Ann Putnam (from thesis statement)
Topic Sentence
Example #1 (Quotation)
Page #
Example #2 (Quotation)
Page #
BODY PARAGRAPH 2
Character #2 (from thesis statement)
Topic Sentence
Example #1 (Quotation)
Page #
Example #2 (Quotation)
Page #
BODY PARAGRAPH 3
Character #3 (from thesis statement)
Topic Sentence
Example #1 (Quotation)
Example #2
Page #
Page #
Conclusion
1. Thesis restatement. Restate your thesis, but do not just cut and paste. Change the
sentence structure.
2. Final analysis. Provide a final analysis of your proven position. Make sure you answer the "so
what?" question in this paragraph. Try to conclude with force and power and some idea of why
your point is important or compelling.
3. Final statement. Finish your essay by relating it back to the idea you introduced in your
attention-grabber.
Reminders:
 Give your essay an informative title
 Avoid plot summary
 Write in the present tense
 Do not use the first person (“I”).
 Vary your sentence patterns and lengths
 Include effective transitions between paragraphs
 Be attentive to the conventions of grammar and usage, especially those we have
covered in class.