 Focus on ARGUMENT & IDEAS
 Ideas needed to show thorough and original analysis of the play and a willingness to probe for depth
 Argument: Format and logic needed to be strategic
 Thesis: clear, arguable, specific
 Topic Sentences: arguable and specific, demonstrating 1) what will be proven in the paragraph and 2) how this supports the thesis.
 Evidence: well chosen to support the topics sentences and thesis; the quotations need to also make sense
 Analysis: Clearly explains how the evidence (quotation) supports the paragraph’s topic sentence (and therefore the thesis)
 Conclusion: Connects your argument (and the book) to your personal response, the “real world,” or human nature.

✚ Meets or exceed requirement
✓ Needs development or clarification
- Absent or unclear
Other:
“so what?” = Explain why this matters. Why is this significant?
Underlining or checks: interesting or “like” 
¶ = paragraph

Thesis:
In Arthur Miller’s Crucible , fear controls the citizens of Salem.
Fear affects their motives, their behavior, and the fates of all those involved. Fear alters their mindset and moral compass, causing them to act in ways that are opposite to their personalities and, in this case, cause irrevocable damage.
What is the point?
What will he or she have to prove?

Topic sentence:
Pride informs every act of certain characters, in that they are seeking to maintain their high esteem in society or hoping to gain it. Pride in his reputation in the community and the prestige associated with his position – combined with the fear of being displaced – that prevents Reverend Parris from halting the progress of this farce.
Evidence: “I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and they will ruin me with it.” (plus 3 other quotations)
Analysis: Reverend Parris takes pride in being a highly regarded member of society and doesn’t want to topple from that lofty perch. His pride in position motivates him to rationalize and make moral compromises, so long as his reputation is not assaulted.
Rather than fearing for his daughter’s health, he is consumed with fear that his “enemies” will use this scandal to remove him from office.

John Proctor is a tragic hero, dying a sorrowful death. However, in that sorrow there is a small amount of joy: a man who previously struggled with honesty, loyalty, and honor in general now has gained all of it. He gained it so much, in fact, that he is willing to give up his life in order to die with the honorable attributes he now possesses. John Proctor is such a powerful character because he sets an example not only for the characters in the book, such as those who falsely confessed to
“witchcraft” in order to save themselves, but also for people living today. So many of us struggle with honesty, and although we may not have experiences that are as dramatic and powerful as John Proctor’s, we can learn by his example. John Proctor’s death proves that it is better to die an honest and honorable man than live as a lying coward.
- Note the seamless transition to real/contemporary life

 Cross-examine yourself.
 What proof does my thesis require?
 Does each piece of evidence support the topic sentence? Have I explained how it does?
 Be sure your evidence proves what you intend it to. Use short, powerful phrases from the quotation in your analysis to anchor it in the text.
 Don’t be afraid to be controversial. It makes a better paper.
 Avoid summary EXCEPT when giving the context for a piece of evidence. Otherwise, it’s a waste of space.
 Follow directions. Carefully.
 Know what you are arguing. If you say “Humans are evil,” you have to prove it for all of us. If you write, “Miller portrays humans as evil,” you just have to prove that he makes them seem evil.
 More evidence is better. Think of your TS as generalizations. You need more than one example to draw a conclusion.
 Get philosophical!!! Ask how? Why? So what? This lends power to the thesis and topic sentences; it is essential in the conclusion
. It’s also fun.