The Crucible

Learning Goal: To be able to break down an essay question and effectively plan a

response

Breaking Down An Essay Question

Practice Questions:‘The play demonstrates the destructive nature of power.’ Do you agree?To what extent is John Proctor justified in choosing to die for his principles?

‘The play demonstrates the destructive nature of power.’ Do

you agree?

• What do you need to do to fully explore this idea?

• What are you being asked to agree or disagree with?• That the play demonstrates the destructive

nature of power?• That power is destructive?

Evidence For and Against

Who has power at any point in the play?Does this power lead to destruction? How?Does this power ever not lead to destruction? How?

Who does not have power at any point in the play?

Is that destructive? How?Is it not destructive? How?

People with Power How it Leads to Destruction

How it does not lead to destruction

People without Power

How it Leads to Destruction

How it does not lead to destruction

Or Complete Table:

Possible Paragraphs:1. How those with power create destruction

2. How those without power create destruction (possibly to get power)

3. The argument against – how power does not necessarily lead to destruction, how other things lead to destruction.

Or

• How Character A’s power leads to destruction

• How Character B’s power leads to destruction

• How Minor Character’s Power leads to destruction

Introduction

B – Book – one sentence introducing the Book or the central theme of the Book that you are focusing on

I – Idea – One sentence explaining the central idea or contention of your essay (your major point)

P- Paragraphs – One sentence for each paragraph explaining what you will argue in that paragraph

• Do not use “in this essay” or “in this paragraph” • You can use:

• “Miller demonstrates this by firstly… secondly … thirdly”

• “This is shown when, firstly…. Secondly … thirdly”

Homework

Write an introduction for the practice essay question, ‘The play demonstrates the destructive nature of power.’ Do you agree?

Use the BIP structure!