Name ____________________________________________ Date ______________ Hour _______________
English III Summer Reading Assignment
Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter
Character Analysis
The A.R. test for Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter will count as an English III grade and A.R. points for the first
nine week grading period. Students will NOT be allowed to use The Scarlet Letter as A.R. points for summer
reading.
First, students must answer “The Scarlet Letter Study Questions” located on the attached sheets. The questions
are divided into the chapters within the book. They will be assessed for completion and accuracy.
Then, students are to compose a character analysis essay that focuses on one of the four main characters within
The Scarlet Letter. Specifically, Hester Prynne, Pearl, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale
are the four main characters from which students may choose.
To accomplish this task, students should complete the steps of the writing process as they are listed below.
1.) Pre-Writing– Complete the graphic organizer titled “Character Analysis Essay.”
2.) Rough Draft of Body– Compose the body of the paper first using the graphic organizer title
“Character Analysis Essay.” The rough draft must be handwritten and double-spaced.
3.) Rough Draft of Introduction and Conclusion – Compose the introduction and conclusion after
writing the three body paragraphs. The rough draft must be handwritten and double-spaced.
4.) Proofread and Edit – Correct all errors. Check to ensure that the essay meets the requirements on
the back of the graphic organizer title “Character Analysis Essay.”
5.) Final Copy – A final copy may be typed or handwritten. Whether typed or handwritten, a final copy
must be double-spaced.
Name ____________________________________________ Date ______________ Hour _______________
Character Analysis Essay
Characteristic of
the Chosen
Character
1.)
2.)
3.)
Evidence from text including Direct
Quotation and Page Number in
Parentheses
A.
Explanation of the Direct Quotation
to prove the Characteristic of the
Chosen Character
A.
B.
B.
C.
C.
A.
A.
B.
B.
C.
C.
A.
A.
B.
B.
C.
C.
Compose a character analysis that focuses on one of the four main characters within The Scarlet Letter.
Specifically, Hester Prynne, Pearl, Roger Chillingworth, and Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale are the four main
characters from which students may choose. Provide three characteristics of the chosen character. Support
each characteristic with evidence from the source and explanations of the evidence.
Thesis
Characteristic
Characteristic
Characteristic
#1
#2
#3
Evidence and
Explanations
(supports C # 1)
Evidence and
Explanations
(supports C # 2)
Evidence and
Explanations
(supports C # 3)
The thesis is the main idea or controlling concept of the paper stated in a complete sentence. It tells what will
be developed in the paper (Topic Sentence = Paragraph while Thesis = Essay). In this particular assignment,
the thesis is a sentence that presents the three characteristics of the chosen character. The thesis is usually the
last sentence in the introduction paragraph. It should introduce the three characteristics that will be discussed
in detail within the three body paragraphs. The body paragraphs explain or justify the thesis because they
provide the evidence from the source(s) and the explanations of the evidence.
Requirements:
Introduction - ¶ with at least three sentences including thesis
 captures the readers’ interest
 states the topic
 presents a clear thesis statement to introduce topic
Body ¶ 1
 characteristic # 1 from thesis
 evidence and explanations to support # 1 (x 3)
 paragraph format – topic sentence and conclusion sentence
Body ¶ 2
 characteristic # 2 from thesis
 evidence and explanations to support # 2 (x 3)
 paragraph format – topic sentence and conclusion sentence
Body ¶ 3
 characteristic # 3 from thesis
 evidence and explanations to support # 3 (x 3)
 paragraph format – topic sentence and conclusion sentence
Conclusion - ¶ with at least three sentences including restated thesis
 restates the introduction in order to conclude paper
(Restate means to express the same thought using different words or a different order.)
Link to questions
http://campus.kellerisd.net/Teachers/12567/Homework%20Review/The%20Scarlet%20Letter/Th
e%20Scarlet%20Letter%20Study%20Questions1.pdf