Research Paper Skills Name ______
Mixing Concrete Details & Commentary Practice
The Crucible
Read the excerpts below and determine whether the author did a good job at mixing concrete details, in this case a quote, with commentary. If the answer is YES, explain WHY it was a good job. If the answer is NO, re-write the excerpt to demonstrate how the author should have integrated commentary.
- “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!” (Miller 886). John Proctor doesn’t want to lie to the town and doesn’t want his name posted on the church doors. Proctor knows that lying will damn his reputation forever.
Circle one: Are the concrete details and commentary mixed effectively in this paragraph? YES or NO
- In the opening of the play, John knew that the girls were pretending “a black mischief” and nothing actually happened relating to witchcraft (Miller 851). When Proctor revealed that the girls were lying, that is when Abigail decided to use her influences to convict Elizabeth, John’s wife, of being a witch. Therefore, Elizabeth was arrested and sent to jail. This is when John Proctor started enduring the ultimate test of his life against Abby as he’s forced to realize that “it is not easy to prove she’s fraud” (Miller 851).
Circle one: Are the concrete details and commentary mixed effectively in this paragraph? YES or NO
- Throughout The Crucible, Reverend Hale makes some wise and not so wise decisions. He chooses to come to Salem and help the people with their problems, yet he gets so wrapped up in the idea of witchcraft that he starts accusing people only if their name is said. Without acknowledging the fact that the age of the girls is the primary source of the problem, he listens to their every word and believes everything they say. Hale had good intentions coming to Salem, but after he arrived, more people were accused and hanged.
Circle one: Are the concrete details and commentary mixed effectively in this paragraph? YES or NO
- Elizabeth Proctor is the loving wife of John Proctor. John Proctor eventually reveals his infidelity with Abigail Williams to her, and Elizabeth starts to doubt John. He pleas for forgiveness and begs her not to judge him. “Spare me! You forget nothin’. Learn charity, woman” (Miller 852). This is what he said to her.
Circle one: Are the concrete details and commentary mixed effectively in this paragraph? YES or NO
- Hale again defended Proctor when Elizabeth lied to the court about John’s affair saying, “Excellency, it is a natural lie to tell” (Miller 874). At the end, Hale worked to defend all of the people that he originally blamed.
Circle one: Are the concrete details and commentary mixed effectively in this paragraph? YES or NO