The Crucible Essay
Prompt: For your essay response to this play, you will be analyzing the way that
Arthur Miller’s message in this work is or is not relevant in today’s society.
A good way to approach this assignment is to determine one of the “starter questions”
below that you feel passionate and confident about and analyze Miller’s message (what
is the author’s opinion that he asserts through the story?). You will need to support this
analysis by giving specific examples from the text as well as at least two additional
sources. After you have analyzed Miller’s message, you will then explain how it relates
to the world today. Again, you will need to provide specific examples for support
(though, in this case, they will obviously be real-world examples).
Starter Questions (use one of these to kick-start your ideas!):
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What impact does a character’s motives have on others and on the events of
the story?
What responsibility does the individual have to speak out against social
injustice and community wrongs?
Is it possible for the logic and rationalism of law and justice to be effective in
the face of the emotionalism of fear and hysteria?
How do people change when they are suddenly given power?
How important is reputation and respect in a community? Is it more valuable
to have personal integrity or the good opinion those around you?
Though the play is set over 300 years ago and was written over 50 years ago,
does it carry meaning today?
Essay Expectations:
 Include a thesis statement that overviews the main points of the essay and
the larger provable point that guides the whole paper (ex: In the play The
Crucible, Arthur Miller asserts that individuals who are motivated by selfinterest instead of the good of the whole community can bring destruction for
all involved. This concept is still applicable to today’s world.)
 Use topic sentences that break down the main points of the paper and
provide focus for each paragraph.
 Use transitions between the main ideas and paragraphs.
 Support topic sentences by providing specific examples (at least 2 per
paragraph) and analysis of each example.
 Include a concluding paragraph that provides closure to the entire point.
 MLA citation of play as well as two other sources (minimum)
Essay Rubric
Exceptional
Good
Average
Below Average
Ineffective
Content/
Ideas
The paper
provides a
thorough,
insightful
response to the
question(s)
The paper
provides an
original, logical
response
The paper
provides an
adequate
response.
The paper shows
an attempt to
respond, but
needs far more
development; may
not address all
components of
the question(s)
The paper does
not provide an
attempt to
respond
adequately at all,
or fails to answer
the required
question(s)
Organization
Ideas and
narrative
transition
smoothly from
paragraphs and
sentences. The
paper is
structured in
accordance to the
suggested
guidelines, or in
an equally
effective manner
Students
thoughtfully and
insightfully cited
strong, specific,
and relevant
textual evidence.
Ideas and
narrative
transition well and
are easy to follow
between
paragraphs and
sentences
Ideas and
narrative
transition okay
from paragraph to
paragraph, but
there is some
disorganization at
the sentence level
Ideas and
narrative do not
always transition
well between
paragraphs or
sentences; specific
reflections may
not be contained
in their own
paragraphs
Ideas are
presented in a
choppy and/or
illogical order
Students cited
specific and
relevant textual
evidence.
Student cited
textual evidence
that is mostly
specific and
relevant, but could
use further
development.
There is an
attempt to
provide evidence,
but it is vague and
are usually not
relevant to the
goals of the
response.
Students did not
cite adequate
textual evidence.
Elaboration
Students
communicated
analysis that was
exceptionally
focused, in-depth,
and informative.
Students
communicated
analysis that was
on-topic, in-depth,
and informative.
Students
communicated
analysis that was
on-topic and
informative.
Students
communicated
analysis that was
somewhat ontopic and
informative.
Students
communicated
analysis that was
off-topic,
repetitive, and/or
confusing.
Conventions
There are no
severe grammar
or punctuation
errors. The few
errors that occur
are minor.
There are some
grammar or
punctuation
errors, but they do
not interfere with
the paper’s
content
There are some
grammar and
punctuation
errors, and at
times they
interfere with the
paper’s content
There are several
grammar and
punctuation errors
that often
interfere with the
paper’s content
and
comprehension
The grammar and
punctuation errors
significantly
interfere with the
paper’s content
and
comprehension
Evidence
Comments
Score: _______________________