Salem Witch Trials and Thesis Statement free essay sample

Discuss how specific characters play a role in this conflict as well as how it ontributes to the meaning of the play. 3. Some of the characters in the play are blind to the truth. Choose three characters and discuss why they are blind to truth as well as how their blindness affects the outcome of the play. 4. The word crucible can be defined as a severe ordeal or a set of circumstances where people are subjected to forces that test them and often make them change. What is the significance of the title of the play? Which characters best illustrate the titles meaning? . Perform an analysis of John Proctors character. What does he represent in the play? What is Johns major conflict? How does he overcome it? What does his character reveal about the plays deeper meanings? Requirements -Your essay must be at least five paragraphs in length. -It must follow the guidelines outlined in this assignment. -It must be typed, double spaced, with one inch margins, in size 12, Times New Roman font. -Your final draft must be submitted on Wednesday, November 17. Late papers will lose 10 points per day, including weekend days. No papers will be accepted after November 24. Important Due Dates Thesis Statement: Thursday, November 4 Introduction: Friday, November 5 Gathering Support Assignment: Monday, November 8 Rough Draft: Monday, November 15 Final Draft: Wednesday, November 17 Guidelines An analytical essay provides your perspective on a piece of literature. Think of your paper as the fulfillment of the following goals: 1. You want to communicate what you have learned about Arthur Millers play, The Crucible. 2. You should create a claim or argument that provides your response to one of the prompts. 3. You must show that your claim is supported by the text. 4. You need to show that your view of this idea is correct. 5. You need to illustrate that this idea reaches beyond the pages of The Crucible. These five goals represent the five elements of your paper. The first two information on the author, play and your thesis are discussed in your introduction. The next two a discussion of how your examples support your thesis and evidence from the text- are examined in your body paragraphs. The last one a synthesis and broader implications of your analysis is presented in your conclusion. Creating a Thesis Statement and Writing an Introduction The Thesis Statement The thesis statement is the glue that holds your paper together. Once you have chosen a topic, answer the following questions: 1 . What is my claim or argument? This claim could be an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. This claim must be a statement that people could either agree or disagree with, because the goal of your paper is to convince your audience that your claim is true based on your presentation of reasons and evidence. It should not be a simple statement of the facts. . ) What are the examples that support my claim? You must have three distinct examples to support your claim. Example: Topic: character flaws Claim: characters who could not deal with their flaws became either perpetrators or ictims of injustice Examples: Mary Warren, Judge Danforth and John Proctor Thesis #1: In The Crucible, characters who could not deal with their flaws became either victims or perpet rators of injustice. This is best illustrated by Mary Warren, Judge Danforth and John Proctor, who all exhibit some type of weakness. Thesis #2: In Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, Mary Warren, Judge Danforth and John Proctor became victims or perpetrators ot injustice because they could not deal witn character flaws. You should choose a topic and write a working thesis statement tonight. Topics and hesis statements will be collected Thursday, November 4 for approval. The Introduction Your introduction should move from general information to very specific information. You should imagine familiarizing the reader with: 1 . ) the title and author 2. ) some information about the text 3. ) your topic 4. ) your thesis and three examples. Be sure to include: 1 . A strong opening statement General 2. An establishment of the author and novel 3. An establishment of your topic More Specific 4. Your thesis statement and three examples 5. A transition into the body paragraphs Very Specific Move through this set of information in this order. This will give your introduction the appropriate set-up and flow. Example: Arthur Millers play, The Crucible, is wonderful example of how mass hysteria can spread throughout a small community. The setting of the play is Salem, Massachusetts in 1692 during the infamous Witch Trials. Miller uses these trials and the way they impacted the Salem community as a parallel to the Red Scare of the 1950s. Both time periods show the effect corrupt authorities can have on the lives of others. The authors most striking commentary is on the role individuals play in acts f injustice. Most of these acts seem to be a result of some form of character flaw or weakness. In The Crucible, characters who could not deal with their flaws became Judge Danforth and John Proctor who all exhibit some type of weakness. These characters were all at the center of plays major conflict. You must submit your complete introduction, Friday, November 5. If you are late submitting this assignment, you will lose an opportunity to receive valuable feedback as well as full credit. Body Paragraphs Once you have written an introduction that sets the tone for your essay and provides clear thesis as well as your three supporting examples or details, your next task is putting together your body paragraphs. Each body paragraph should consist of three parts: 1 . an introduction of the example being discussed 2. support for this example in the form of a quote 3. n explanation of how this example support your thesis. Each paragraph should consist of 6-10 sentences that provide the following: 1 . A topic sentence that introduces your example/supporting detail 2. An explanation of the example that connects it to your thesis statement 3. Textual support for your example in the form of a quote with a proper lead-in 4. An explanation of how this quote connects to your thesis statement 5. A concluding sentence that allows you to transition into the next paragraph Stick to proving your thesis and avoid summarizing or retelling the plot. This is not a book review. Thesis Statement: In The Crucible, characters who could not deal with their flaws became either victims or perpetrators of injustice. This is best illustrated by Mary Warren, Judge Danforth and John Proctor, who all exhibit some type of weakness. Mary Warrens flaws lead to the imprisonment of John and Elizabeth Proctor as well as Johns execution. Early in the play, she is described as a subservient, naive, lonely girl (1043). These characteristics allow her to become Abigails pawn. It is clear that Mary is unaware of Abigails plans to accuse Elizabeth of witchery using a doll Mary made in the court. She weakens when Elizabeth is arrested based on this evidence even though she knows the doll could not have been used for witchcraft. When John Proctor takes her to the court to save his wife, she maintains her allegiance to Abigail nd girls. During intense questioning in the court, Mary exclaims, mioure the devils . Ill not hang with you! He come to me by night and every day to man! sign (1102). When the situation becomes too extreme for Mary, she abandons any notion of telling the truth and falsely accuses John Proctor of witchery. She allows herself to be used by the other girls and is too afraid to present the truth to the court. Mary Warren gives in to her fears and fails to save the innocent people she could have protected due to her weak character. This flaw contributes to the acts of njustice against John Proctor, who is imprisoned, tortured and eventually hanged. The Crucible Essay Gathering Support Assignment You should use at least one quote per body paragraph in your essay. Remember that each quote must directly support your example and thesis. In other words, it should illustrate that point you are trying to make. Use this sheet to gather support for your essay. Thesis Statement: Example One (First Supporting Detail): Quote: (page number): ( How does this connect to your thesis? Example Two (Second Supporting Detail): Example Three (Third Supporting Detail): Writing the First Draft The first draft of your essay is due in class Wednesday, November 17 for peer editing. As you put together your first draft, use the following reminders/guidelines: Introduction -It should set the tone for the entire essay and begin with a strong opening statement that is connected to your topic. It should start with general information about the play, author and your topic. It should provide a clear thesis statement that presents an argument or claim based on an interpretation of the play. It should provide the three examples being discussed. Body Each body paragraph must discuss one example from the text that supports your thesis statement. Each body paragraph must include a quote from the text to support your example. Remember that each quote must be sandwiched between a lead- in and a follow-up. Put the page number you got each quote from in parenthesis at the end of the sentence containing the quote. Integrating Quotes Using MLA Style Short Quotations To indicate short quotations (fewer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Punctuation arks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation. Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text. For example: Early in the play, she is described as a subservient, naive, lonely girl (1043). During the intense scene, Mary exclaims, mioure the devils man! Ill not hang with you! He come to me by night and every day to sign (1102). Long Quotations Place quotations longer than four typed lines in a free-standing block of text, and mit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented one inch from the left margin; maintain double-spacing. Only indent the first line of the quotation by a half inch if you are citing multiple paragraphs. Your parenthetical citation should come after the closing punctuation mark. When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay. ) For example: Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no ore sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr.