The CrucibleThe Crucible Essay Essay Issues!Issues!

Note these errors and make Note these errors and make changes to improve future changes to improve future

work!work!

Literary Present TenseLiterary Present Tense

When you write about When you write about literature, you need to write literature, you need to write as if the events are currently as if the events are currently happening. Essentially, the happening. Essentially, the text is timeless.text is timeless.

““When Abigail is accusing When Abigail is accusing Mary of being a bird…” NOT Mary of being a bird…” NOT “When Abigail accused…”“When Abigail accused…”

SlangSlangUse your words but DON’T Use your words but DON’T

use slang in essays!use slang in essays!No: “back in the day,” No: “back in the day,”

“sleeping around,” etc.“sleeping around,” etc.Use the formal register- the Use the formal register- the

type of language you read in type of language you read in your book - not the words you your book - not the words you use to text your friends!use to text your friends!

AgreementAgreementPronoun/antecedent: agree in Pronoun/antecedent: agree in

number, for example, “If one is number, for example, “If one is to…, he/she will face the to…, he/she will face the consequences.” NOT “If one is to…, consequences.” NOT “If one is to…, they will face the consequences.”they will face the consequences.”

“ “One” is always singular. You can One” is always singular. You can choose he or she instead of putting choose he or she instead of putting both there; but don’t use they! both there; but don’t use they!

““They” is plural! They” is plural!

More AgreementMore Agreement

Tense agreement: Keep the Tense agreement: Keep the same tense throughout. same tense throughout. Especially within a sentence!Especially within a sentence!

““When Abigail tries to kiss John, When Abigail tries to kiss John, she is trying to get him to admit she is trying to get him to admit his love.” NOT “When Abigail his love.” NOT “When Abigail tried to kiss John, she is trying tried to kiss John, she is trying to get him to admit his love.”to get him to admit his love.”

““Essay Title”Essay Title”The essay title goes in quotation The essay title goes in quotation

marks. It is not in italics, not marks. It is not in italics, not underlined.underlined.

Do NOT give the title of the book or Do NOT give the title of the book or short story as your own. You didn’t short story as your own. You didn’t write it!write it!

The name of the assignment is NOT The name of the assignment is NOT your title. You need a creative/original your title. You need a creative/original title. Try making one up from your title. Try making one up from your thesis or conclusion.thesis or conclusion.

IntroductionIntroductionSee the power point notes on See the power point notes on

introduction, posted online. introduction, posted online. Many of you are missing a hook Many of you are missing a hook

or the background. Remember, or the background. Remember, you must write like your reader you must write like your reader has not read the story/text has not read the story/text you’ve read. The intro helps fill you’ve read. The intro helps fill in this information.in this information.

Spelling Counts!Spelling Counts!It is absolutely unacceptable to It is absolutely unacceptable to

misspell characters’ names! They misspell characters’ names! They are written for you and you are are written for you and you are supposedly the expert writing about supposedly the expert writing about them!them!

Watch out for homonyms: two/too/to, Watch out for homonyms: two/too/to, they’re/their/there, past/passed, etc.they’re/their/there, past/passed, etc.

Use your spell check program. Fix Use your spell check program. Fix the errors!the errors!

Forbidden Pronouns – Again!Forbidden Pronouns – Again!Academic literary analysis essays Academic literary analysis essays

MAY NOT have the following MAY NOT have the following pronouns in them: I, we, us, our, pronouns in them: I, we, us, our, ourselves, my, me, myself, mine, ourselves, my, me, myself, mine, you, your(s), yourself.you, your(s), yourself.

These pronouns may ONLY be used These pronouns may ONLY be used in direct quotes from the text!in direct quotes from the text!

You will receive a 0 on your essay if You will receive a 0 on your essay if you use the pronouns! you use the pronouns! Even one Even one time!time!

Extra Credit Opportunity!Extra Credit Opportunity!Using the previous power point Using the previous power point

slides, make corrections to your slides, make corrections to your current essay. (transcendental, current essay. (transcendental, romantic, gothic literature)romantic, gothic literature)

Make notes of the changes you Make notes of the changes you make on a separate piece of paper make on a separate piece of paper and attach the paper to your essay. and attach the paper to your essay.

Extra credit points will vary Extra credit points will vary according to the overall according to the overall improvement of your essay.improvement of your essay.