The Crucible
A Puritan Diary - Project
The Crucible
A Puritan Diary - Project
The Puritans would have considered most writing, other than religious poems and
sermons, to be sinful. But…what if one of the characters from The Crucible kept a
forbidden diary of her thoughts about the events happening around her? This diary could
reveal much about the person’s inner feelings, motives, and reactions. For this
assignment, you will become one of the characters in the play, and demonstrate your depth
of understanding of your character.
The Puritans would have considered most writing, other than religious poems and
sermons, to be sinful. But…what if one of the characters from The Crucible kept a
forbidden diary of her thoughts about the events happening around her? This diary could
reveal much about the person’s inner feelings, motives, and reactions. For this
assignment, you will become one of the characters in the play, and demonstrate your depth
of understanding of your character.
Here is your task:
Here is your task:

Pick a character that interests you.

Create a personal diary or journal for that character. Your diary will depict the
major events happening in the play—both “seen” and “unseen” in the play itself.
You are writing as if you are your chosen character, from his viewpoint and
perspective, in the first person.
You will be writing a minimum of 4 entries, using one each of these modes of writing.

A descriptive entry, using strong visual and sensory images to create a lasting
impression on your reader. You can choose to describe a room, a place, an
object, a person, or an event that was significant to your character.

A narrative entry, detailing a short story of a significant event. You must
include the following elements of fiction: setting, character, brief plot, and
dialogue. This will basically be another scene.

A persuasive entry, reflecting your character’s wishes for something (an action
or a person), and how they might write to obtain their wish. This is almost
always a letter. For example, what could Abigail write to John Proctor to
convince him that she is his true love? What might Reverend Hale write to an
authority figure to try to convince him to stop the trials?

A reflective entry describing in detail what a significant event has meant to your
character personally. How has it changed her personally? What important lesson
did she learn from it? How will she use that in later life? This is really about the
character’s feelings, just as he or she would write in a diary.

Pick a character that interests you.

Create a personal diary or journal for that character. Your diary will depict the
major events happening in the play—both “seen” and “unseen” in the play itself.
You are writing as if you are your chosen character, from his viewpoint and
perspective, in the first person.
You will be writing a minimum of 4 entries, using one each of these modes of writing.

A descriptive entry, using strong visual and sensory images to create a lasting
impression on your reader. You can choose to describe a room, a place, an
object, a person, or an event that was significant to your character.

A narrative entry, detailing a short story of a significant event. You must
include the following elements of fiction: setting, character, brief plot, and
dialogue. This will basically be another scene.

A persuasive entry, reflecting your character’s wishes for something (an action
or a person), and how they might write to obtain their wish. This is almost
always a letter. For example, what could Abigail write to John Proctor to
convince him that she is his true love? What might Reverend Hale write to an
authority figure to try to convince him to stop the trials?

A reflective entry describing in detail what a significant event has meant to your
character personally. How has it changed her personally? What important lesson
did she learn from it? How will she use that in later life? This is really about the
character’s feelings, just as he or she would write in a diary.
Each entry must be at least one typewritten page in length (or the handwritten equivalent).
Please use Times New Roman 12 (or its equivalent) and double-spaced. Short entries will
not receive full credit. Put your diary together in a unique, authentic form. You
should include artwork, personal belongings or mementos, perhaps a poem—be
creative!
Each entry must be at least one typewritten page in length (or the handwritten equivalent).
Please use Times New Roman 12 (or its equivalent) and double-spaced. Short entries will
not receive full credit. Put your diary together in a unique, authentic form. You
should include artwork, personal belongings or mementos, perhaps a poem-be
creative!
DUE DATE: ________________________. Late submissions will be penalized ten
points per day. You may not use a late pass for this.
DUE DATE: ____________________________________. Late submissions will be
penalized ten points per day. You may not use a late pass for this.