Crucible Essay Outline
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Grading Criteria
 Focus on ARGUMENT & IDEAS
 Ideas needed to show thorough and original analysis of the
play and a willingness to probe for depth
 Argument: Format and logic needed to be strategic
 Thesis: clear, arguable, specific
 Topic Sentences: arguable and specific, demonstrating 1) what
will be proven in the paragraph and 2) how this supports the
thesis.
 Evidence: well chosen to support the topics sentences and
thesis; the quotations need to also make sense
 Analysis: Clearly explains how the evidence (quotation) supports
the paragraph’s topic sentence (and therefore the thesis)
 Conclusion: Connects your argument (and the book) to your
personal response, the “real world,” or human nature.
Grading Marks
✚
Meets or exceed requirement
✓
Needs development or clarification
-
Absent or unclear
Other:
“so what?” = Explain why this matters. Why is this significant?
Underlining or checks: interesting or “like” 
¶ = paragraph
Sample
Thesis:
In Arthur Miller’s Crucible, fear controls the citizens of Salem.
Fear affects their motives, their behavior, and the fates of all
those involved. Fear alters their mindset and moral compass,
causing them to act in ways that are opposite to their
personalities and, in this case, cause irrevocable damage.
- What is the point?
- What will he or she have to prove?
Sample
Topic sentence:
Pride informs every act of certain characters, in that they are
seeking to maintain their high esteem in society or hoping to gain
it. Pride in his reputation in the community and the prestige
associated with his position – combined with the fear of being
displaced – that prevents Reverend Parris from halting the
progress of this farce.
Evidence: “I must know it now, for surely my enemies will, and
they will ruin me with it.” (plus 3 other quotations)
Analysis: Reverend Parris takes pride in being a highly regarded
member of society and doesn’t want to topple from that lofty
perch. His pride in position motivates him to rationalize and make
moral compromises, so long as his reputation is not assaulted.
Rather than fearing for his daughter’s health, he is consumed with
fear that his “enemies” will use this scandal to remove him from
office.
Sample Conclusion
John Proctor is a tragic hero, dying a sorrowful death. However,
in that sorrow there is a small amount of joy: a man who
previously struggled with honesty, loyalty, and honor in general
now has gained all of it. He gained it so much, in fact, that he is
willing to give up his life in order to die with the honorable
attributes he now possesses. John Proctor is such a powerful
character because he sets an example not only for the
characters in the book, such as those who falsely confessed to
“witchcraft” in order to save themselves, but also for people
living today. So many of us struggle with honesty, and although
we may not have experiences that are as dramatic and powerful
as John Proctor’s, we can learn by his example. John Proctor’s
death proves that it is better to die an honest and honorable
man than live as a lying coward.
- Note the seamless transition to real/contemporary life
Tips
 Cross-examine yourself.
 What proof does my thesis require?
 Does each piece of evidence support the topic sentence? Have I
explained how it does?
 Be sure your evidence proves what you intend it to. Use short,
powerful phrases from the quotation in your analysis to anchor it in
the text.
 Don’t be afraid to be controversial. It makes a better paper.
 Avoid summary EXCEPT when giving the context for a piece of
evidence. Otherwise, it’s a waste of space.
 Follow directions. Carefully.
 Know what you are arguing. If you say “Humans are evil,” you have
to prove it for all of us. If you write, “Miller portrays humans as evil,”
you just have to prove that he makes them seem evil.
 More evidence is better. Think of your TS as generalizations. You
need more than one example to draw a conclusion.
 Get philosophical!!! Ask how? Why? So what? This lends power to
the thesis and topic sentences; it is essential in the conclusion. It’s
also fun.