The Scarlet Letter Writing Assignment:
Advanced Research & Writing
After reading The Scarlet Letter, choose one character and write a character analysis
essay based on your character of choice. You should analyze the character based on
actions and behaviors throughout the novel as well as physical appearances. Also
consider the character’s interactions with other characters throughout the novel. You
might include your observation of the character as well as other characters’ interactions
and thoughts of your specified character. As you analyze the character, make sure you
cite specific examples from the novel to support your ideas and opinions. If you make
specific reference to a passage in the book, make sure that you identify the page number
that the passage came from within the text of your essay. Your parenthetical citation will
be (Hawthorne 226) if your quotation is found on page 226. Put the parenthetical
citation at the end of the quoted or paraphrased information. You should have citations
from the novel within nearly every paragraph to reinforce your philosophy. Your works
cited page will then include The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Develop an attention-grabbing introduction and identify which character you are
analyzing. You NEED a thesis that includes your character and an overall reflection of
the ideas from your paper. Please put thesis in bold print.
Your character analysis should be a minimum of 2-3 pages, typed, double-spaced PLUS a
works cited page. Realistically the novel should be your ONLY source, as I want YOUR
analysis of the character you choose. Use the default margin settings and the font size
and type of 12 point Times New Roman.
Please copy/paste the rubric from my webpage to the end of your analysis.
Name your file as follows:
LastName.FirstName.SL.docx
Final drafts will be emailed upon completion.