Name The Crucible: Argument Essay Essay Question: Arthur Miller often creates characters who must choose between conduct serving only their own self-interests and conduct demonstrating commitment to the larger community. Discuss the theme of individual vs. society with specific reference to John Proctor in The Crucible. How does John Proctor s conduct initially serve his own self-interest, but how does it later serve the larger community? This means you must show a progression from the beginning of the play to the end. Your explanation must have examples that deal with character development. Your final paper must be typed, in MLA format, and between 2-5 pages. You must use MLA citation format for your quotations. This packet will be due with your final paper. Essay Planning: Use the graphic organizer below to plan your essay. What is my opinion? Why do I believe this? (It s important to have at least three reasons here.) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. What examples from the book could I use with my reasons to help support my opinion? (No need to quote here just list them, you can find them later.) 1. 2.
3. 4. 5. Essay Organization: Fill out the graphic organizer below to outline your essay. My thesis: Support #1 the weakest of your three points: Quotation support: Support #2 the 2 nd best of your three points: Quotation support: Support #3: The best of your three points: Quotation support:
Essay Configuration: Use the graphic organizer below to create the rough draft of your essay. Paragraph 1: Introduction: Start with an attention getter like a rhetorical question, dialogue, flashback, description of how readers respond to the play, a shocking generalization, etc., that is relevant to the topic. Then, mention the author s full name (Arthur Miller), the underlined title of the play (The Crucible), and a brief plot summary that serves to focus your paper on the topic. Finally, end with your two-part claim: Your position and the three reasons to back up your position. Make sure it doesn t sound tacked on. Make it flow. Example: My attention getter: My plot summary with mention of book and author: My two-part thesis/claim: ** Remember, this is all one paragraph.
Paragraph 2: First support paragraph the weakest of your three points Start with your topic sentence (major support), which focuses your paragraph on one supporting idea. Notice that the topic sentence begins with a transition that indicates that your argument has started. (One reason, to begin, first of all, first ) Develop your paragraph with minor supports, giving reasons why this point is correct and use a quotation from the book to support it, if possible. Notice that before the quotation, there is an introduction for the quote, so the reader understands its context, and that after the quotation, there is an explanation of why the quote is relevant to the paragraph s topic. End by connecting your paragraph back to your thesis. My Topic Sentence: My reasoning supported with a quotation that I explain and connect back to my thesis: My paragraph conclusion that connects everything in this back to my thesis:
Paragraph 3: Second support paragraph the 2 nd best of your three points Now, just do it again with your second reason. Make sure that the topic sentence begins with a transition that creates coherence with your previous paragraph (next, in addition, similarly, another reason, etc.). My Topic Sentence: My reasoning supported with a quotation that I explain and connect back to my thesis: My paragraph conclusion that connects everything in this back to my thesis: Paragraph 4: Third support paragraph the STRONGEST of your three points And again with your third and best reason. Make sure that the topic sentence begins with a transition that creates coherence with your previous paragraph. My Topic Sentence:
My reasoning supported with a quotation that I explain and connect back to my thesis: My paragraph conclusion that connects everything in this back to my thesis: Paragraph 5: Conclusion Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis, usually without the second part of the two-part thesis. Two things to remember in your conclusion: 1) Be absolutely sure you don t just repeat the thesis you used in your introduction; 2) Do not introduce any new information in your conclusion. Briefly remind the reader of your argument by summarizing your argument. Be sure to state these briefly and differently than in your original thesis or support paragraphs or you will sound redundant. End with the usual flair of the So what? conclusion. Tell the reader why they should care: Give them something to think about, make a prediction, connect them to your side of the argument. My restated thesis: My argument summary to remind the reader of my side of the argument:
My so what statement: Remember: Do not use 1 st person! (No I think ) Use transition words between sentences, ideas, and paragraphs Follow your thesis/claim Answer the entire question