The Crucible Thematic Essay

What do we know?  We’ve been practicing with these ideas all year, now we’ve got to put them to practice!  In your notes, write the definition for each of these: What is a motif? What is a theme? What is a thesis?

How’d you do?  Motif: word or term that represents a universal idea that the author addresses multiple times in the piece Examples from The Crucible?  Theme: what the text implies about that motif Pick one motif from that list and write a theme  Thematic Thesis Statement: a sentence that includes a judgment about the motif the driving force of the essay defines what you will prove in your paper last sentence of the introductory paragraph

Now for the new stuff What do good papers have?

EVIDENCE (examples) It is time to develop the evidence for your paper so you can prove your thesis is true.  Evidence: quotes, character and plot references (very specific—no summary) that support your topic sentence (which supports your thesis)  Once you have compiled all the evidence and examples you can find, you must organize it so you can write your paragraphs.

Topic sentences/Claims  The paragraphs are organized by idea The idea is stated in the topic sentence (claim)  Begins each body paragraph  Answers HOW or WHY the thesis is true (each paragraph always answers the same question)  NOT plot-related  NOT character-related

Example  Thesis: We must be honest.  Claim 1: We must be honest in order to help others.  Claim 2: We must be honest in order to help ourselves.  Claim 3: We must be honest in order to maintain our sense of integrity.  All answer same question (why)  All stay on the same topic (remember there will be whole paragraphs between them, so don’t worry about repetition

Analysis (explanation)  This is where you connect it all together  The “heart” of the paragraph Topic sentence (claim) tells the audience what it will be about Evidence proves you were right Analysis links everything and shows evidence of thought

The Process  Step 1: brainstorm motifs  Step 2: pick one  Step 3: determine what the text implies about that idea  Step 4: write your thesis  Step 5: compile evidence (pick lots of quotes and examples from the piece). Think about probing the thesis, not the plot  Step 6: organize those ideas by topic  Step 7: write your claims based on step 6  Step 8: be sure they all answer the same question (how or why)  Write the essay!

Tips  Keep the thesis as simple as possible  Keep the thesis to 1 sentence  Don’t change topics/directions in your paper

Day 3

Now turn that into a paragraph 1. Claim 2. Transition into quote/Intro quote 3. Quote 4. Citation 5. Analysis 6. Repeat 2-5 for each quote 7. Clincher sentence

To begin, when we are not honest, it effects our relationships. The negative impact John’s dishonest has on his relationships is most clearly seen in his relationship with his wife. It is when Proctor is alone with Elizabeth that we see the impact his dishonesty has had on their relationship. After asking her husband to talk to Abby, John lashes out at his wife, saying this in response to her suspicions, “Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!” (Miller 53). He seems angry at her though she has said little to deserve this comment. What we see is not a fight between husband and wife—it is the lasting impact his dishonesty about Abby has had on their relationship. He was dishonest, he had an affair, and now he is lying again about spending time with her. He lashes out at Elizabeth because his dishonesty has so tainted their relationship that they cannot find solutions to their problems. Another example of the impact dishonesty has on a relationship is that between John and himself. (REPEAT THE PROCESS)

Citing line quotes  If you are citing one line of dialogue (not one line of text), start after the character’s name and go on until the end of what you need “Oh, Elizabeth, your justice would freeze beer!” (Miller 53).  Be sure to introduce it so your audience knows who is speaking!  Add citation with author’s name and page number

Citing Conversations  If you are citing parts of a conversation between two or more characters, use a block quote (look at the info from independent study). No quotation marks Citation at end Indent all of it.5 Here’s how that would look within your paragraph: The tension between husband and wife is obvious, as can be seen in their conversation about Abby: ELIZABETH: John, you are not open with me. You saw her with a crowd, you said. Now you— JOHN: I’ll plead my honesty no more, Elizabeth. ELIZABETH: …John, I am only— JOHN: No more! (Miller 52) John and Elizabeth both accuse the other person of not being honest and forgiving, when in reality, it is themselves they cannot forgive—John for cheating, and Elizabeth for not being able to forgive her husband.

Other things to remember  Use an ellipsis (…) instead of using stage directions unless the stage directions are part of the importance If you do use stage directions, make sure to keep it in italics  Characters’ names in all capitals when citing conversations  Consider the order of your paragraphs (Cause and Effect; Chronological; Order of Importance) Be sure your transitions indicate that relationship

Things to do  Find the word “you” and replace it  Make sure you have varied evidence (not the same characters, not the same place in the book)  Think about the order of your claims  Add transitions between claims  Write the intro Hook Transition into thesis (should mention author’s name, book title, and a little about the motif you will focus on) Thesis

Reminders  MLA heading, header, page numbers, citations  Title  5 paragraph essay  Add transitions between your paragraphs  Add transitions between your examples  Double spaced  Printed for class Friday