The Scarlet Letter
ESSAY TIPS! HOW TO
AVOID A SCARLET C-----ON YOUR ESSAY!
Theme vs. Fact
 Thesis must have a provable idea, and not simply
state a fact. Some examples include:
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Hawthorne illustrates through the main character, Hester
Prynne, the variety of ways that sin can isolate the sinner.
Nathaniel Hawthorne uses Hester Prynne to show how sin
can isolate the sinner physically, socially, and religiously.
In The Scarlet Letter, Hawthorne illustrates the guilt that
Arthur Dimmesdale suffers socially, physically, and
emotionally.
Hawthorne uses Pearl to demonstrate how sin victimizes
those innocent of sin.
Hawthorne uses Dimmesdale to show that guilt can destroy
a person, both in body and soul.
Theme vs. Fact
 Topic sentences/ Secondary Claims must also provide
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an idea to prove or support. This is where you might
state one effect of your topic.
Near the middle of The Scarlet Letter, Dimmesdale’s
guilt greatly affects his spiritual and emotional life.
In the beginning of the book, Hester is isolated from
society both socially and physically.
Hawthorne depicts how sin isolates Hester Prynne
physically from the society in which she lives.
From the moment Hester enters the novel, Hawthorne
hints at how her sin cuts her off psychologically from
society.
Thesis words
 Define your terms!
 Look at the key words of your thesis. Find other ways
to say these words. HINT: Do not simply use a
thesaurus.
 Look at the text carefully to examine the various
ways Hawthorne defines or shows us these terms.
 What does it mean to be isolated?
 What does it mean to be destroyed by guilt?
Analysis
 Focus on Hawthorne.
 What is his intent/purpose/meaning in illustrating
these instances?
 Hawthorne does not “use” his own quotations or
“provide” examples.
 Do not simply list examples of how the character
shows the idea of the theme. You must examine how
Hawthorne creates these situations in an effort to
demonstrate his theme.
 Look carefully at the text. Avoid plot summary.
Quotations
You should have a minimum of two quotations incorporated
into each body paragraph. Ask yourself these questions
regarding each quote you include:
1) Does this quote directly and clearly support the topic of
my support and this body paragraph.
2) Is my quote part of a sentence?
3) If I have a block quotation (longer than 3 lines), does it
begin on a new line?
4) Is this quote the absolute best quote to extract from the
text to prove my claim? Be sure to consider your choices.
Ask me for help with this if you are unsure.
Additional tips for success!
Watch out for the following:
 Run-on sentences
 Usage of comma’s and semicolons ,/;
 Whom/who
 16 vs. sixteen- you always should write out the number!
 Rhetorical questions—DO NOT ASK THESE
 Use of the word “like” –instead try “for example” or “for instance”
 Sentence fluency/ fragments- this goes along with proofreading
 Present tense! Be sure to refer to the plot/ characters in the
present tense at all times throughout your essay
 Be sure to underline or italicize titles! Integrate quotations
seamlessly into your own sentences.
 “This” should be followed by a noun.
 Better yet, do NOT use the sentence construction “This example
shows….”
Conclusion
Remember, you did not have to write a conclusion for
your first essay in this class. Please follow the
guidelines below when writing your conclusion for
this essay.
 4-6 sentences
 Summarize last 1-2 pages of novel.
 Connect what’s happening on those last pages to the
theme you’re analyzing.
 Universal idea: Mention how theme is still relevant
today.
Organization
A) You may choose to organize and write your
essay chronologically
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For example:
Body paragraph #1:
 “Hawthorne demonstrates that guilt can destroy a person both
in body and soul in the beginning of the novel when
Dimmesdale’s Health is fair”
Body paragraph #2:
 "Hawthorne demonstrates that guilt can destroy a person both
in body and soul in the middle of his novel when his health is
deteriorating”
Body paragraph #3:
 “Hawthorne demonstrates that guilt can destroy a person both
in body and soul at the end of the novel when Dimmesdale’s
body and soul is ultimately annihilated”
Topic
B) You may choose to write by topic
 For example:
 Body paragraph #1:
 “Hawthorne demonstrates that sin isolates the sinner
when Hester’s sin isolates her is socially”
 Body paragraph #2:
 “Secondly, Hawthorne demonstrates that sin isolates
the sinner through Hester’s sin isolating her physically”
 Body paragraph #3:
 “Thirdly, Hawthorne demonstrates that sin isolates the
sinner through Hester’s sin isolating her religiously”
Both
 C) You may choose to do both (this is the most difficult
method to attempt)
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For example:
Body paragraph #1:
 “Hawthorne
first illustrates how Pearl becomes an innocent
victim of sin in the beginning of the novel, when the Puritan
community wrongfully places their anger from Hester’s
affair on Pearl”
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Body paragraph #2:
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“In the middle of the novel, it is evident that Pearl is an
innocent victim of sin when she grows up without a
patriarchal family in Puritan society”
Body paragraph #3:
 “Lastly,
at the end of Hawthorne’s novel, he illustrates Pearl
to be an innocent victim of sin by demonstrating her lack of
any human sympathies”