The Crucible
Choose one writing assignment from the Creative or Analytical options:
Creative

Act Two of The Crucible originally consisted of two scenes. The second scene dramatized a meeting between John Proctor and Abigail Williams. Miller later omitted this scene from the published version, and it is not usually performed. Write your own scene between Proctor and Abigail to serve as a bridge between Acts Two and Three.

Write an epilogue to extend the story. Your epilogue should include characters from the play in a new situation or facing a new conflict related to events in the story.

If audience sympathy were not with John Proctor in the matter of his adultery, we might be able to see Abigail’s side of the story. Write an account of Abigail’s feelings before she was caught dancing in the forest.

Write the letter that John Proctor might have written to his sons at the end of Act IV.
Convey his emotions as well as his reasons for his actions to his sons.
Analytical

The witch trials upon which this play is based are historically true. However, in the actual events, John Proctor was involved with Mary Warren, and Abigail was only 12 years old.
Why do you suppose Miller chose to change these facts? How would the play be different if he had remained true to the history?
 In a morality play, characters are intended to dramatize Good and Evil. In what ways is
The Crucible a morality play? (Who are the good characters and who are the bad characters in the play? How do you know? Is knowing this important to the play?)

As a socially conscious writer, Miller intended this play as a comment on McCarthyism.
What are the parallels between the incidents Miller dramatizes and the acts of Senator
McCarthy in the 1950’s?

Although Salem was supposed to be a Christian community, some members had hidden desires, resentments, and grudges that arose during the play. Discuss these hidden feelings and show how they determined people’s actions.

Name ____________________________________
Scoring Guide for the analytical essay of The Crucible
First Draft _____ (10)
+
Second Draft
Focused subject
Awareness of audience
_____ (3)
_____ (3)
Thesis statement _____ (3)
Relevant details _____ (3)
Appropriate Organization _____ (5)
Style and Voice _____ (3)
=
TOTAL _____ (30)
Purpose
Inform audience about a focused subject.
Audience
Demonstrate an awareness of the audience, including prior knowledge, position, attitude, belief, and/or abstract circumstances.
Development
Develop an appropriate, limited thesis/main idea.
Provide relevant, specific details to support thesis/main idea.
Demonstrate understanding and insight into complex issues.
Organization
Develop an introduction that engages the reader’s attention and presents a thesis.
Use subtle transitions.
Develop a conclusion that moves beyond summary.
Organize writing by selecting text structure appropriate for the assignment.
Style and Voice
Vary sentence structure.
Use vivid and precise words that convey appropriate voice.
Deviate from Standard Written English only for a specific rhetorical function.

Name ____________________________________
Scoring Guide for the creative essay of The Crucible
First Draft _____ (10)
+
Second Draft
Focused subject
Awareness of audience
_____ (3)
_____ (3)
Specific details _____ (3)
Understanding of the issues _____ (3)
Appropriate organization _____ (5)
Style and Voice _____ (3)
=
TOTAL _____ (30)
Purpose
Entertain audience about a focused subject.
Audience
Demonstrate an awareness of the audience, including prior knowledge, position, attitude, belief, and/or abstract circumstances.
Development
Provide relevant, specific details that engage the reader’s attention.
Demonstrate understanding and insight into complex issues.
Organization
Organize writing by selecting text structure appropriate for the assignment.
Style and Voice
Vary sentence structure.
Use vivid and precise words that convey appropriate voice.
Deviate from Standard Written English only for a specific rhetorical function.