Ms. Kray
Name:______________________
Block:_________
American Literature
Due Date:______
The Crucible Character Analysis (100 Points)
As we finish reading The Crucible, you should select a character of interest to you who undergoes an
important change (or changes) throughout the play. In a well-written essay of at least five paragraphs,
describe how the character changes over time during the play, and address what Arthur Miller might
be saying about the meaning of these challenges (and the character’s response to them) to the work as
a whole. You will probably choose to write one body paragraph for each of three or four different
important moments in the play for the character.
Your work on the character charts, reading, notes, and class discussion should help you formulate your
ideas about the character of your choice. Characters such as Danforth, Hale, and Giles Corey can also
be good choices for writing about change.
What must the analysis include?
 Introduction: RATSCAT (Reel in your reader (thematic statement), Author, genre, Title, year of
publication, Setting, Character, Action, Thesis)
 P1: A BRIEF description of who your character is and the role he or she plays in the play.
 An analysis of how and why the character changes/evolves
 You may go about this in several ways. Some options are:
o An in-depth analysis of the character’s personality revealed through dialogue, thoughts,
and actions.
o What is revealed about the character based on the interaction with and reactions of
other characters?
o Strengths and weaknesses of your character?
o Is there a difference between how the character sees him/herself and how the other
characters see him/her?
 What conclusions have you drawn and what inferences have you made about the nature of
your character.
 Check the accuracy of what you write!
 Use a minimum of three short quotations, accompanied by the proper in-text citation.
What is meant by “analysis”
Analysis is a VERY close look at your character. You must go beyond what is simply written on the page
and make inferences, theories, educated guesses, and conclusions based on solid evidence from the
play.
What are the technical guidelines of this assignment?
 Two to four pages long, no more, no less.
 One-inch margins.
 Typed in Times New Roman, double-spaced, twelve-point font.
 MLA-style heading.
 Parenthetical references after all examples and quotes.
 Please be sure to run spell and grammar checks before handing in any papers!
Due Dates?
Typed “polished” rough draft:____________
Typed final draft: ____________
Ms. Kray
Name:_______________________Block:____ Date:_______
American Literature
 +, , -
The Crucible: Literary Analysis Rubric
Intro, Thesis, and
Conclusion
(Ratscat! Minimum
1:2 ratio!)
Analysis
(use your marker
verbs!)
Style and Voice:
Diction and syntax.
Mechanics
(Write about
literature using the
present tense!)
Advanced (A)
20 Points
Exemplary and rich
introduction, (includes
RATSCAT),
sophisticated thesis,
and conclusion that
link the literature to
the analysis.
50 Points
Analysis is exemplary
and rich in all body
paragraphs; writer
utilizes analytical
verbs to discuss an
insightful and
accurate comment
about the changes the
character has
undergone that links
back to the thesis
statement. Beautifully
uses at least 3 wellselected quotes with
accurate in-text
citations.
10 Points
Wide, academic
vocabulary artfully
and appropriately
used. Demonstrates
sophisticated
sentence structure
and variety. The
writer’s voice is
purposeful and clear.
20 Points
Proficient (B)
17 Points
Effective
introduction(includes
RATSCAT), clear
thesis, and conclusion
that link the literature
to the analysis.
In Progress (C)
15 Points
Somewhat effective
introduction, thesis,
and conclusion. Needs
better link between
the literature and the
analysis.
42 Points
Analysis is effective in
all body paragraphs;
writer utilizes some
analytical verbs
correctly to create an
accurate comment
about the changes the
character has
undergone linking
back to the thesis
statement.
Appropriately uses at
least 2 well-selected
quotes with accurate
in-text citations.
38 Points
Analysis is somewhat
effective, but lacking
depth; writer utilizes a
couple of analytical
verbs to create a
comment on the
changes the character
has undergone linking
back to the thesis
statement. Uses at
least two quotes, but
may still need work on
quote selection, and
may have a mistake in
the in-text citation.
9 Points
Wide vocabulary used,
sometimes awkwardly
as the student
struggles to learn to
use it. Good sentence
variety.
7 Points
There are at least a
couple of academic
words in there. Some
sentence variety.
17 Points
15 Points
Exemplary control of
conventions. No
errors. Analysis is in
present tense.
Good control of
conventions. Few
errors. Analysis is in
present tense.
Limited control of
conventions. Many
errors. May need to
work on verb tense
uniformity (write in
the present tense).
Also affecting your score:
Does the essay follow all directions?
Is it correctly formatted?
Does the essay fulfill the length requirement (2-4 pages)?
Is your rubric attached?
Beginning (D-F)
0-13 Points
Earned
Poorly constructed
introduction, thesis,
and conclusion that
lack any connection
between the literature
and the analysis.
0-33 Points
Analysis is poorly
written or may only
tangentially respond
to prompt; lacks
analytical verbs; ideas
rarely link back to the
thesis statement.
Writer may
summarize characters
and events instead of
analyzing them. May
not appropriately use
sufficient quotes and
may not use in-text
parenthetical
citations.
0-6 Points
Student uses every
day vocabulary. Not
much sentence
variety. Diction may
lack sense of purpose
and voice. May need
work on vocabulary
and sentence
structure.
0-13 Points
Poor control of
conventions. Many
errors.
Your
Score: