DRAMA PAPER GUIDELINES
ENGLISH 102: COMPOSITION II
INSTRUCTOR: Y. BAILEY-KIRBY
You will write an analytical essay on Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller that we have read in class. You will analyze
characters, symbols, and the dramatic irony of this play in terms of how each one of these elements conveys the theme. You
will select a theme from the list below and turn in a proposal with an outline as well as a clearly stated thesis behind your
analysis. The length should be approximately 750-1000 words.
Furthermore, you must include a minimum of THREE quotes from the play as evidence/support as well as apply the MLA
format for parenthetical citations. Remember, you should also provide a “Works Cited” page at the end of your essay. (Note:
Late papers automatically receive a late grade of “F/55%”; therefore, plan your schedule carefully as not to leave yourself with
no time to complete the paper by the due date.)
If you find yourself struggling at any point, arrange a time to meet with me in advance, and I will be more than happy
to assist you on organizing your ideas, answering any questions, or giving you any feedback on your analysis of the
play. Keep the following bullet points in mind when approaching this essay assignment.
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Formulate a clear and focused thesis that explains the argument you are making about the play.
Create an informal/scratch outline with headings and subheadings to organize your ideas before you begin
composing the essay.
Use quotations from the play as evidence to support your ideas.
Explain the relevance of those quotations to the argument you are making in your thesis.
Use formal language (no “I” or “you,” no contractions, no slang, etc.)
Use an elevated vocabulary that reflects your intelligence and high level of insight into the play, in order to express
ideas smoothly, clearly, and fluently. (Bring a dictionary and/or thesaurus if you need it.)
Use appropriate punctuation, capitalization, spelling, grammar, and paragraphing.(Grade: 50% rhetorical
content/50% grammar/punctuation. See the syllabus for the rubric.)
Follow the MLA format (MLA heading, double-space, blue or black ink, etc.)
Format and cite your quotations correctly in the MLA style.
Include a “Works Cited” page to document the source of any quotations you use.
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CHECKLIST FOR DRAMA PAPER:
_____1. HOW TO DETERMINE A THEME: The theme is the main idea; it is an abstract concept made concrete through the
images, characterization, and action of the text. It is not the plot or events of the story. Instead, you are considering the main
ideas or points which recur throughout the work. Once you have determined a theme, try to narrow it down even further. Push
the theme as far as you can. Here are some examples of possible themes to get you started:
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Pursuit of the American Dream
Unfulfilled Dreams/Personal
Aspirations
Abandonment
Self-Deception and Delusions
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Appearances vs. Reality
Lies and Deceit
Pride
Hypocrisy
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Respect and Reputation
Success and Failure
Class Conflict and Materialism
Betrayal
_____2. FORMULATE A THESIS AND CREATE AN INFORMAL OUTLINE: The thesis statement is the road map of your
paper and provokes thought. It asserts what your analytical argument intends to make or prove in your paper. It should be
placed somewhere in the introduction of your paper. It is usually the last sentence of the introduction and clearly identifies
what claims you are making about the text and why your claim is important. Moreover, an outline will help you organize your
thoughts in the form of a list divided into main headings and subheadings that distinguish main points from supporting points.
Here’s an example to get you started.
AN EXAMPLE INFORMAL OUTLINE:
STEPS TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR THESIS:
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The cast of characters are the individuals/persons portrayed
in the play as dynamic vs. static, round vs. flat, antagonist vs.
protagonist, etc. (See the instructor’s list of literary terms.)
o Willy Loman, Linda, Biff, Happy, Bernard, The
Other Woman, Charley, Uncle Ben, Howard
Wagner, Jenny, Stanley, Miss Forsythe, & Letta
The symbols/symbolism involve(s) any objects, places,
things, or even a person used in literature to stand for or
represent something else in a significant way, such as the
American flag is a symbol of freedom.
o Seeds, Stockings, Diamonds, Rubber Hose, the
Chop House, the Apartment Buildings, the
Jungle, Howard’s Tape Recorder, Ben, Dave
Singleman, etc.
The dramatic irony is the effect achieved by leading an
audience to understand an incongruity between a situation and
the accompanying speeches, while the characters in the play
remain unaware of the incongruity.
I.
II.
III.
Example Thesis Statement (You fill in the blanks):
In Death of a Salesman, Arthur Miller conveys the theme of
___________________________________________________
IV.
through the characters of _____________________________
and ________________________________ ; symbols of
_______________________ and ______________________ ;
and the dramatic irony.
V.
Introduction:
A. Briefly summarize the play, identify the characters,
and provide an overview about the symbols and
dramatic irony that you will be discussing in your
essay.
B. State a clear thesis
Topic sentence: Characters & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
Topic sentence: Symbols & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
Topic sentence: Dramatic Irony & Theme
A. Example 1
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
B. Example 2
1. Quote or paraphrase from the play as evidence.
2. Explain meaning/relevance in supporting your
thesis.
Conclusion: Reiterate the main points of your essay.
_____3. MLA FORMAT FOR PARENTHETICAL CITATIONS AND THE WORKS CITED PAGE: You must apply the MLA
format for citation/ documentation when quoting, paraphrasing, and/or summarizing from the play. A writer must cite the
source of phrasing, ideas, or information of another writer in written work. If one quotes, paraphrases, and/or summarizes
material from another writer, the source must be acknowledged. Not acknowledging the phrasing, ideas, or information of
another writer constitutes plagiarism. (See the course syllabus for the plagiarism policy.) Nonetheless, you must support your
analysis with passages/dialogue from the play, so apply the MLA format, or it is plagiarism if you do not credit your source.
Some examples of applying the MLA format for a parenthetical citations as well as a “Works Cited” follow:
MLA FORMAT AND GUIDELINES FOR QUOTING DRAMATIC WORKS:
1. For short quotations (less than four lines in your essay) from a single character, follow standard quoting
procedures just as you would when quoting a piece of fiction.
Early in Death of a Saleman, Willy Loman comments on his difficulties driving the car, stating, “Suddenly I realize
I’m goin’ sixty miles an hour and I don’t remember the last five minutes” (3).
2. For long quotations (four or more lines in your essay) from a single character, follow standard quoting
procedures just as you would when quoting a piece of fiction for a BLOCK quote.
Later, Willy Loman explains the situation that prompted his difficulties in driving the car:
I was driving along. You understand? And I was even observing the scenery. You can imagine, me looking at
scenery, on the road every week of my life. But it’s so beautiful up there, Linda, the trees are so thick, and the
sun is so warm. I opened the windshield and just let the warm air bathe over me. And all of a sudden I’m goin’
off the road! (3)
3. If you quote dialogue between two or more characters in a play, set the quotation off from your text. Begin
each part of the dialogue with the appropriate character’s name indented one inch from the left margin and
written in all capital letters: WILLY. Follow the name with a period, and start the quotation. Indent all
subsequent lines in that character’s speech additional quarter inch. When the dialogue shifts to another
character, start a new line indented one inch from the left margin. Maintain this pattern throughout the entire
quotation.
Arthur Miller establishes Linda Loman’s displeasure with her husband’s current career early in Death of a Salesman,
when she argues for how she believes Willy should handle the situation:
LINDA. Willy, dear. Talk to them again. There’s no reason why you can’t work in New York.
WILLY. They don’t need me in New York. I’m the New England man. I’m vital in New England.
LINDA. But you’re sixty years old. They can’t expect you to keep traveling every week. (4)
4. When quoting stage directions, do so as in numbers 1 and 2 above; however, be sure to identify the
quotations as part of the stage directions in the context information of your sentence.
In the stage directions at the very beginning of the work, Arthur Miller describes the setting of the majority of the
play’s action, “As more light appears, we see a solid vault of apartment houses around the small, fragile-seeming
home. An air of the dream clings to the place, a dream rising out of reality” (1).
5. When you are organizing the “Works Cited” page, you will apply the rule for a work in an anthology.
Miller, Arthur. Death of a Salesman. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2012. 1401-1465. Print.
Last name, First name. Title of Play. Title of Anthology. Ed. Editor's Name(s). Place of Publication: Publisher, Year.
Page range of entry. Medium of Publication.
NOTE: ITALICIZE THE TITLES!