English III
1
Pre-reading:
1) Complete your section of the Webquest. Share your information with your partners.
2) Answer the following questions on your own:
Salem Witch Trials
1. What were people accused of?
2. Who were the accusers?
3. Who were the ones in society accused (types of people)?
4. What did the accusers stand to gain if the others were found guilty?
5. When did these accusations occur?
6. Where did they occur?
7. How were people punished if found guilty?
8. Why did innocent people suffer?
9. How did people get themselves out of trouble?
10. Why didn’t people stand up and stop this nonsense?
McCarthy Hearings
1. What were people accused of?
2. Who were the accusers?
3. Who were accused (types of people)?
4. What did the accusers stand to gain if the others were found guilty?
5. When did these accusations occur?
6. Where did they occur?
7. How were people punished if found guilty?
8. Why did innocent people suffer?
9. How did people get themselves out of trouble?
10. Why didn’t people stand up and stop this nonsense?
-- Create a list of at least 7 similarities between what happened in Salem and what
happened in the McCarthy hearings.
2
-- Create a list of at least 7 differences between what happened in Salem and what
happened in the McCarthy hearings.
-- Ultimately, what lesson is Miller trying to reinforce through this play? (How to Learn
From the Blacklist http://writing.upenn.edu/~afilreis/50s/learn-from-blacklist.html)
After you have answered these questions, your task is to do the following:
Create a visual essay (pictures and some words) explaining the similarities and
differences between the Salem Witch Trials and the McCarthy Hearings. For every
similarity, you need a picture to symbolize your idea. The same is true with every
difference. You should have a minimum of 5-7 accurate ideas under each category.
Label each category as “Similarities” or “Differences.” Then, in headline format, you
need to summarize the lesson Miller was trying to teach his readers. Neatness counts!
3
Act I
Vocabulary and Allusions
Define the following words using the correct definition for the context. The ones that
have the definitions already provided are “Biblical allusions.”
Page
828
Word
Crucible
Definition
829
The Puritans believed that their religious beliefs
were the only correct ones, and that it was their
God-given duty to share the beliefs and convert
others to Christianity.
830
“They believed
they held in their
steady hands the
candle that would
light world.”
Salem/Jerusalem
830
Fanatics
832
Paradox
832
Theocracy
832
Exclusion
832
Prohibition
833
Faction
833
Corroborating
836
Psalm
837
Conjured
838
Hypocrisy
The town of Salem was named after the holy city
of Jerusalem in Israle.
Book in the Old Testament of the Bible
4
839
“I know you.”
A Biblical allusion to having been sexually
intimate with the other person.
Key Ideas for Act I (Take notes)
1. The Crucible as a classic “tragedy”
 Lots of suffering/death; no “happy ending”
 Caused by the flaws of a “tragic hero”
 “Tragic hero” struggles with
2. John Proctor as a “tragic hero”
 Basically a good man with a tragic flaw.
i. Not a classic hero
ii. More of an anti-hero (lacks traditional heroic traits; not perfect)
 This flaw is his pride.
 This causes his downfall.
 He brings others down with him.
 He only redeems himself in the end, as he faces death.
 He changes throughout the course of the play (dynamic)
3. Abby as a stereotypical “villain”
 Only one side to her character (flat): evil
 Does not change throughout the course of the play (static)
4. The use of Biblical allusions
 Watch for the references to the Bible and Christianity in this play.
 These are used for two purposes:
i. Two understand the abstract concepts of “good” and “bad,” as defined
Biblically, so there can be no misconception of what is right or wrong. These
concepts are all viewed in terms of how they are defined in the Bible.
ii. Use of the Bible would be historically accurate for this time period. It was at
the heart of what drove Puritan society, for better and for worse.
Character List
Name
Rev. Parris
Role
Salem’s minister; father of Betty; uncle
of Abigail; greedy; doesn’t act humble;
expects people to listen to him
because of his position
Abigail
Antagonist; served as John &
Elizabeth Proctor’s servant; breaks
5
Object of desire
Doesn’t want any blame
placed on him (even
through his relatives)
because he doesn’t
want to lose his job
Marry John Proctor
Commandments; had an affair with
John Proctor; uses the accusation of
witchcraft for own purposes; bully; liar
Married to Thomas; Ruth, one of the
afflicted girls, is her daughter; has had
multiple children die shortly after birth;
grief stricken
Seeks an answer –
other than blaming
herself or her family –for
the deaths of her
newborn children
Thomas
Married to Ann Putnam; wealthy man; Wants more power,
Putnam
thinks he and his family are better
which comes from
than others; greedy; his daughter is
owning more land, so
Ruth; uses the witchcraft accusations he uses the accusations
for his own advantage; tries to force
to grab land from those
others to do his will through his money in jail, even if it means
and status; unethical
having his own
daughter accuse
someone, so he can get
the land.
Mary Warren Proctor’s new servant; low social
Wants to be recognized
status as single, older teen female;
as a person and valued
Proctor’s servant; easily manipulated, as such; seeks status
going with whoever is strongest at the and recognition
moment (gives in to peer pressure);
weak personality; friends with Abigail;
was dancing in the woods with the
others; wants to reveal the truth but
recants when put under pressure from
Abigail.
John Proctor Protagonist of the story; flawed “hero” Wants to repair his
– his pride is his downfall; initially
marriage to Elizabeth;
refuses to admit Abigail expects him
when she is jailed
to marry her because of their affair,
because of his
which means getting rid of his wife,
blindness to Abigail’s
Elizabeth; does not put up with any
plan, he wants to save
nonsense; speaks his mind, even if
Elizabeth. He wants his
not the “proper” thing to do; does not
“goodness” back as a
like Rev. Parris and isn’t afraid to
man, despite his
voice that; not the “perfect” Christian;
previous sins.
feels like he is the only one in Salem
who has ever committed a sin; guilt
ridden; basically a good, but flawed,
man; good father; only as he faces
death does he redeem himself.
Elizabeth
John’s wife; mad at him for his affair
To repair her marriage;
Proctor
with Abigail; recognizes Abigail’s plan to get John to see what
to get rid of her; does not trust John
Abigail is thinking; to
Goody (Mrs.)
Putnam
6
Rebecca
Nurse
Rev. Hale
Tituba
but wants to love him again; good
mother; not a perfect Christian; does
not put up with nonsense, like her
husband; wants John to suffer some
for the pain he causes her
Member of one of the original
founding families of the town; strong
Christian whose virtuous life serves as
a role model for other Christians; only
wants them to all love one another;
warns them to avoid blaming
witchcraft; her family has prospered
Very religious; “Book smart” but
lacking in common sense, especially
when it comes to understanding
human nature; wants others to
recognize his expertise (pride is a sin);
expects all people to follow all of
God’s rules, and it never occurs to him
that they wouldn’t; naïve; considers
himself an expert in sorcery (after only
one case); brought in to determine
who is/isn’t a witch; believes, initially,
that he can tell but then realizes that
he made mistakes, and people died
because of his word, which causes
him to deny his faith in the end. He
completely changes and becomes
totally disillusioned with God and man.
Rev. Parris’s slave from Barbados;
practiced voodoo in Barbados; the
girls asked her to cast spells for them;
when the girls are caught, they put all
the blame on Tituba. Because she is a
slave, she has no one to stand up for
her, so she is the first one to suffer
under false accusations, led by
Abigail.
save herself from being
hung as a witch.
Everyone to act as good
Christians – to love one
another, to seek peace
Initially wants to be
recognized for his
expertise, but when he
realizes the wrong that
he did and the ensuing
suffering, he seeks to
save the others by
getting them to save
themselves by lying,
which is a sin.
Save herself from death
Literary Terms (Put the definition next to the term.)
Allegory - a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a
moral or political one.

How is this story an allegory about what happened in the 1950’s with the
Communist witch hunt?
7
Motivation – What drives a character’s a actions/thoughts
 What motivates the girls to lie about what happened in the woods when asked by
Parris? (833)

Why does Parris feel that he must know what was going on in the woods? (833)
Characterization – The techniques used by an author to give characters their personalities: “Direct
characterization” states the character’s trait, such as “She was 17-years-old”; “Indirect characterization”
requires the reader to draw a conclusion about the character’s personality based on the character’s
thoughts, words, or actions or what other characters say, think, or do about the character. For example,
John Proctor refuses to let Rev. Parris baptize his youngest son saying, “I like it not that Mr. Parris should
lay his hand upon my baby.” Nowhere does Proctor say that Parris is ungodly, but that conclusion can be
drawn based on the fact that he won’t let the minister commit a holy rite.

What does Parris’s question of the state of Abigail’s reputation on pg. 834
suggest about her values?
Conflict – literally, a “struggle”; the generic types of struggles are man versus man, man versus
himself, man versus nature, man versus society. At this level, not only do you have to list the generic
struggle, but then, you need to fill in who is the “man” and who is the opposition.

Explain the specifics of the conflicts as it has to do with:
o Parris versus his parishioners
o Abigail versus John
o Goody Putnam versus herself
o Betty versus herself
o Abigail versus the other girls
Reading Skills and Strategies
Interpreting a text (Understanding the text)
o What is wrong with Betty? (833)
o Why is it advantageous for the girls to blame Tituba for what has happened to
Betty? (833)
Analyzing the text (Breaking down larger ideas into smaller components to examine
closely)
8
o Why are the parents so anxious to blame what is wrong with the girls on
witchcraft? (835)
o Why does Tituba start naming names at the end of the Act? (848)
Journal entry
Think about a time that either you lied to get yourself out of trouble or you were the victims of
someone else’s lying. What happened? How did you feel about the event? Is everyone guilty
of this? Is this acceptable? At what level does this type of self-protection become wrong, or
even criminal?
Act II – Vocabulary and Allusions
Pg. # Word
Definition and part of
speech
850
Reprimanding
Example: Rebuking;
scolding(verb)
*851
“…part like the
sea for Israel.”
Biblical allusion to when
Moses parted the seas to
allow the Israelites safe
passage as their pursuers
were closing in on them.
The sea did close in on the
Egyptians, killing them, after
the Israelites got through
852
Magistrate
853
Entranced
856
Covenanted
*857
The
Biblical allusion -- The Ten
9
What does it mean in
this sentence? (Rewrite
the sentence with the
definition instead of the
word.)
Example: Rebecca
scolds herself for having
forgotten to serve her
husband a drink with his
dinner.
People would move apart
when Abigail would pass,
as if she were Moses,
one of God’s chosen
leaders. They believe
God inspires her
accusations; therefore,
she is highly respected
and feared.
The Puritans are
Commandments Commandments to guide
people’s lives that God gave
to Moses and Moses gave
to the people.
*858
Gospel
862
Pretense
Biblical allusion – means
“the truth,” which refers to
the New Testament, which
tells of the life of Jesus
Christ as the savior of the
world.
expected to live their
lives according to these
rules. To break a rule
was to sin against God
and risk eternity in hell.
The Puritans believe
Jesus Christ is the son of
God, which is what the
New Testament of the
Bible is all about. Those
who do not believe in
Jesus, do not believe in
the Bible, and therefore
are not Christians.
Literary Terms
Motivation:
 What is motivating John to hold back? (851)

What does the punishment of Sarah Good suggest about the court’s true
motivation? (852)

What might be Mary’s ulterior motivation for participating in the trials? (854)

Why does John blush when he passes Abigail in church? What meaning might
Abigail see in John’s blush? (855)

What does Proctor’s anecdote about the candlesticks reveal about Parris’s
character? (856)

Do you think the courts will accept Proctor’s testimony? Why or why not (what’s
their motivation?) (857)

What parallels can you see in the motivation behind the accusations of Rebecca
and the accusation of Martha Corey? (858)

How do you think the needle got into Abigail’s flesh? Why? (860)
Symbol
 How can John’s comments about “flowers” and “winter” be interpreted,
symbolically (850, rc, middle)?
10
Figurative Language – Words or expressions used outside of their traditional meaning. Includes
multiple literary devices meant to bring words to life for the reader.

What does the metaphor “The promise a stallion gives a mare I gave that girl!”
suggest about the relationship between John and Abigail (855)?

What does Hale mean when he uses a euphemism saying that there is a
“softness” in Proctor’s record? (856, rc, bottom)

What does does Francis Nurse mean when he uses the metaphor “My wife is the
very brick and mortar of the church….”? (858, rc, top)
Theme – The main idea of a piece of literature; used to drive the plot. Revealed through the use of
symbols, repetition of key words, synonyms for key words, syntax, diction, and actions in the story.

Is John right to imply that Elizabeth has “broken charity” with him? How does this
compare with John’s betrayal of Elizabeth or the frenzy of mutual betrayal that is
tearing Salem apart? (852, lc, top)
Reading Skills and Strategies

Interpreting a text
o Why does everyone follow Abigail as is she were a “saint”? (851, lc,
bottom)
o How do you interpret Proctor’s bitter response regarding Elizabeth’s
coldness? Is Proctor’s response appropriate, or does his anger
indicate that he knows she is actually right – that it is his own heart that
judges him most harshly? (852, lc, middle)
o How has Rev. Hale changed? (855, rc, top)
o What does Elizabeth’s comments, “Why--! The girl is murder! She must
be ripped out of the world!” reveal about her character? (860, rc, top)
o Why do you think Proctor “cannot bear to look” at Elizabeth now? What
emotions is he experiencing? (861, lc, top)
o What does Proctor mean when he says, “We are only what we always
were, but naked now”? (862, lc)

Analyzing a text
o Why do you think Miller includes the details at the opening of Act II of
Proctor coming in, testing the stew, and secretly adding the salt? (850)
11
o Mary’s gift is unusual; as in today’s world, grown women were normally
not given dolls in the 17th Century. Why, then, might Mary Warren give
Elizabeth a doll? (852, rc, top)
o What do Mary’s words, “But, Mr. Proctor, they will not hang them if
they confess….” Indicate about her understanding of the witchcraft
trials and their consequences? Does she really understand that the
stakes are life and death? (854, lc, mid)
o How do you think the court knew that Elizabeth had a poppet? What
does this suggest about Abigail? (859, lc, bottom)
o Proctor makes a valid and important point in his speech that begins, “If
she is innocent!...I’ll not give my wife to vengeance!” Why, then, won’t
people stand up to Abigail and the court? (860, rc, bottom)

Making predictions – Good readers can “read between the lines” and make inferences
and draw conclusions based on details in the story that then may be used to predict what will
happen further along in the story.
o Do you think John, Giles, and Francis will prevail and free their wives?
Why or why not? (861, rc, middle)
Key Ideas – Read and highlight.
1) John and Elizabeth’s relationship is strained because of not only his relationship
with Abigail but because of his disappointment in himself. He has fallen short of
his own expectations of himself and of common human decency.
2) Abigail and the girls, previously powerless in this society, now strike fear in the
hearts of Salemites.
Journal entry
The insanity reaches new heights as some of the most respected people in Salem
are accused of witchcraft. Their motives are lust, greed, revenge, anger, etc. Yet,
those who are accused of witchcraft are really helpless to defend themselves. If they
confess to witchcraft, even though innocent, they are put to death. If they refuse to
confess, they are punished, and if they die in the course of punishment, it
supposedly proves they are guilty. Where do you see this type of hysteria in our
world today? What examples are there of innocent people who have been
proclaimed guilty despite their innocence. How does this play out in today’s high
12
schools? Has this ever occurred to you, or have you been guilty of assuming
someone else’s guilt without knowing the truth?
Act III – Vocabulary and Allusions
Pg.
#
Word
863
contemptuous
864
Contempt (as
in court)
870
perjury
870
deposition
871
contemplation
873
harlot
874
transfixed
875
confounded
875
unintelligibly
Definition and part of
speech
Write a NEW sentence
using the word
correctly. Make sure
the meaning of the
word is clear in the
sentence that you
wrote!
Example: (noun) A lie told to
the court while under oath to
tell the truth.
Example: Despite being
under oath, the
defendant committed
perjury when he lied and
told the jury that he was
nowhere near the scene
of the crime that night.
13
876
anti-Christ
876
denounce
Biblical allusion to the Book
of Revelations to the “man”
sent from Satan who will
arise in end times as a
leader to oppose Jesus
Christ; he will be ultimately
evil.
John Proctor is accused
of being the anti-Christ
because he questions
their Christian beliefs and
attitudes since they aren’t
truly acting as the Bible
decrees; however, since
people don’t want to hear
that, though, it is easier
to blame him of heresy
than to accept the truth of
what he’s saying
because then they would
all be at fault.
Literary Terms
Motivation:

What motivates Francis Nurse to stand up to the judge? (863)

Why won’t Judge Danforth accept Proctor’s deposition? Why is he concerned
that Proctor might have spread the story throughout the village? (865)

Why do you think Hale tries to intervene? What is he feeling at this point in the
proceedings? (865)

Why is it important to the plot that Elizabeth is pregnant? (866)

What is the flaw in Parris’s assertion? Why does he make this statement? (867,
lc, top)

Why does Danforth try to force Giles to give the name of the man from whom he
got the information? (868)

Why is Danforth so deliberate and careful in his questioning of Abigail and her
followers? (870)

Why does Parris keep interrupting the court proceedings? (871)
14

Why can’t Mary faint now? (871)

Why does John reveal his affair with Abigail? (873)

Why does Elizabeth, who has been characterized as someone who never lies,
now lie? (874)

Why does Mary Warren reject the truth and condemn John? (876)
Allusion
 “Hathorne’s questioning of Giles, pushing him to name names (868) is an
allusion to the McCarthy era when people were called before the HUAC and
were threatened and browbeaten into revealing others who might have had
Socialist or Communist sympathies.
 Abigail turns on Danforth (872) threatening him openly with accusations of
witchcraft. This famous “crying out” scene has been compared to Senator
McCarthy’s attack on the Army, which brought the Communist witch hunt to their
climax.
Dynamic character – the character changes from the beginning of the piece to the end of the piece.

Why does Hale urge Danforth to be cautious? How has Hale changed? (869, lc,
top)

What motivates Mary Warren to initially follow Abigail, switch to defend Proctor,
only to return to supporting Abigail? Is she a dynamic or static character, then, in
the final analysis? (869+)
When Hale identifies “private vengeance” as the source of the testimony, whose
words does he echo? From where in the play? (874, rc, top)


How has John Proctor changed in this act?
Static, flat character – static – a character who does not change throughout the course of the
pieces; flat – a character who only shows one side of his/her personality as compared to a “round”
character who displays multiple traits. Abigail is a static, flat character; John Proctor is dynamic, round
character.

Abigail is characterized only in one, never-ending way –evil. However, how does
she specifically come across in Danforth’s examination of her in regard to the
poppet? (870, rc, top)
Theme
15

What does Giles mean when he says that he has “broke charity with the woman,
I have broke charity with her”? (864)

How does Danforth’s speech on the top lc of 865 reinforce the play’s theme as
suggested by the title of the play?
Reading Skills and Strategies

Interpreting a text
o How have the charges against Martha Corey escalated since Act II?
How do you interpret the “evidence” of fortune-telling and Martha’s
response to it? (863)
o What does Mary mean when she says, “I am with God.”? (870, lc, top)
o What does Proctor mean by “the last night of my joy”? What is he
saying about the past eight months. (873, lc, bottom)
o What is the effect of the children’s mimicry on Mary? (875)
Key Ideas – Read and highlight. Answer any questions.
1) John reveals his affair with Abigail. He does it to save his wife; however, it
backfires on him. Did John do the right thing at the right time? Is he to be
admired for at least trying, at his own expense? Note the impact that his attempt
must make on Elizabeth.
2) John declares God as dead. This is not a blasphemy. Instead, the God of the
Bible – loving, forgiving, all-seeing, all-powerful – seems to have left the hearts of
these people who established a new world for their religious freedom to worship
this God.
3) On pg. 866 Danforth asserts “The pure in heart need no lawyers.” Yet, now, our
courts require that all defendants be provided with a lawyer, if they cannot afford
one. What do you think has prompted this change?
Thinking about the story
1) What do you think of Francis Nurse standing up to the judge? Was this foolhardy
or wise, and why? (864)
16
2) What might be the real reason that Mary has been absent from court during the
previous week? (864)
Journal entries

Mary struggles mightily to do the right thing. She tries, but then she, too, fails as
she can not stand against the peer pressure from Abigail and others. Is she a
sympathetic character at that point? Miller uses her to point out the human
condition in that we all face doing the right thing, even when it’s difficult. The
question becomes how many times do you become a Mary, and how many times
are you a John?
Act IV – Vocabulary and Allusions
.
Pg.
#
Word
878
transformation
879
contention
879
providence
880
discontent
*881
“… like Joshua
to stop the sun
from rising ….”
*881
“… like our
Lord into the
wilderness.”
Definition and part of
speech
Biblical allusion to the Old
Testament when Joshua
prayed to God that the sun
would not set so that his
army could defeat their
enemy in battle
Biblical allusion to when
Jesus went into the
wilderness for 40 days and
40 nights to battle
17
What does it mean in
this sentence? (Rewrite
the sentence with the
definition instead of the
word.)
temptation.
882
sibilance
883
indictment
885
empowered
Literary Terms
Motivation:
 Do you think Hale is simply performing the traditional role of minister to the
condemned, or is he himself seeking absolution? (878)

What outcome does Parris hope for at this point? (879, rc)

How does the passage at the top of the lc on 881 highlight Danforth’s
fundamental motivations in the trials? How are they different from those of other
accusers?

What does Hale’s sarcastic tone reveal about his state of mind? (881, rc, topmid)

What motivated Giles to die without confessing? How does his decision compare
with John Proctor’s decisions thus far? (883)

Do you agree with Hale that John’s decision to die is based on vanity? Or do you
agree with Elizabeth that he now his “goodness”? Why? (887)
Irony – Expecting one thing but you get something else; Types of irony: “verbal” – say one thing but
mean something else; “situational” – expect one thing but opposite thing happens; “dramatic” – audience
knows something the characters do not.

What is the irony in the fact that Parris is now penniless? (879, rc, bottom)

What is ironic about Danforth’s comments, “…I cannot pardon these when twelve
are already hanged for the same crime. It is not just.”

What is ironic about John and Elizabeth’s final private moments? (884)

What is the irony of Danforth’s entreaty to Proctor to, “…let her witness your
good example….” (885, lc, top)
18

What is ironic in Danforth’s chastisement of Proctor when he says, “…you cannot
live in a Christian country.” (885, rc, top)

What is the irony in that they want John to sign a document that has him admit to
signing “the devil’s book”? (885, rc, mid – bottom)
Dynamic character
 What proof do you have of Hale’s loss of faith? Cite specific lines from the play.
(882, 887)

In what ways did Giles, know only as the comic relief, redeem himself? (883)
Static, flat character
 In what ways does Parris show that although his circumstances may have
changed, he is still self-centered and self-serving? (880-882)
Figurative Language
 Personification – giving inanimate objects human-like qualities
o What does Elizabeth mean when she says, “Suspicion kissed you when I
did….: (884, lc, top)
Reading Skills and Strategies

Interpreting a text
o What does Hale mean when he says, “…cleave to no faith when faith
brings blood” and “…life is God’s most precious gift; no principle,
however glorious, may justify taking of it.” (882, lc, top – mid)

Critical thinking
o Why might Abigail and Mercy have run away at this point? (879)
o How has public opinion changed in Salem? What proof is there that it
has changed, and what might have caused this change? (880, lc,
middle; 881, rc, top)
19
o Did you initially think Elizabeth would try to convince John to confess?
Why or why not? (882)
o Why does John agree to confess and then change his mind? (884)
o Why is Danforth insisting that 1) John must make a written versus an
oral confession, and 2) it is not enough for him to sign the paper
privately, rather it must be posted publically? (885)
Key Ideas
 Why does John withdraw his confession?


Did John die a noble death? Did his death make a difference?
Did Rebecca Nurse do the right thing to go to her death? What would you have
done?
Thinking about the story - Read and highlight. Answer any questions.
 Who were the “villains” in this story? Support your answer with specific examples
from the play.
Journal Entry
How could this tragedy been avoided? How do we know we’re not allowing this type of
thing to happen today? What are our personal responsibilities to seek out the witch
hunts of contemporary society and take a noble stand?
Extension activity – Due ________
The purpose of this assignment is to allow you to dig deeper into this time period in a
way that is meaningful to you in order to develop a closer connection to and deeper
understanding of this piece of literature and the time period it reflects. You have a
variety of options to express your understanding, but all must be grounded in research
and be factually accurate for the setting: Salem, MA in the 1690’s.
1)Choose one of the projects listed below or present your own idea to the instructor by
the end of the day on the next day the class meets. You may not change your mind
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once you select your project because this is a long-term project. Last minute changes in
topic result in poor quality work or high stress levels. I expect to see one month’s worth
of effort in this project, which means a minimum of three hours/week or 12 hours’ worth
of work. Do NOT leave this until the last minute.
2) You are to create and to fill out a log of your work hours on this project. The columns
should include: date, times (actual close times: 1-1:30 p.m.), total number of hours
spent on that date, and work accomplished during that time period. Total your number
of hours at the bottom of your sheet.
Example:
Date
11/1/1
Time
10-10:30 p.m.
Total Hours
.5
Tasks
Research types
of houses on
mayflower.org
3) You must also include a list of Works Cited with your project. This should include
every reference tool that you found AND used from your research. Each entry
should be properly formatted, and all entries should be double spaced, using
hanging indents, and listed alphabetically by the author’s last name. Please use
easybib.com to create citations. Use only reliable sources. You may want to use
sources listed in Google Scholar to help assure reliability. If you do not include a
properly formatted list of Works Cited, there is no proof that your work is accurate or
not plagiarized, and therefore, it will not be graded. This list of Works Cited is due
when the project is turned in. Any written work, including the list of Works Cited,
must be submitted to turnitin.com prior to the start of class on the last day this
project is due.
4) Consider the “due date” the last day I will accept your project. You may turn it in any
time prior to that date. However, if you have not turned it in prior to this last date, and
you are not here on this last day the project will be accepted, you must email me a
picture of the completed project to ldunnreier@mchs.net and have all written work
submitted to turnitin.com prior to the start of your class. The project is then due in to
me the first time you are back in school – even if it’s just later that day. No
extensions will be given; no late work will be accepted.
i. Theater/Film – Rewrite the script for Act I or Act IV, using a different setting
(time, place). The language, costumes, props, etc., as described in the
script, must reflect the new setting. Then, film your script and play the film for
class. You must turn in a copy of the rewritten script using MLA formatting,
as well as the copy of the film. This film should be saved in .mov format or
posted to YouTube.com or Teachertube.com with the appropriate link shared
with the instructor. The script must also be submitted to turnitin.com. Cite the
original source in your Works Cited. Technical difficulties will not be allowed
as a reason for an extension on this assignment. Work ahead to make sure
everything is ready to go.
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ii. Journalism/Social Studies -- Visual Essay – A modern day witch hunt, as
defined by dictionary.com, is “an intensive effort to discover and expose
disloyalty, subversion, dishonesty, or the like, usually based on slight,
doubtful, or irrelevant evidence.” Reading this play as a contemporary
allegory demonstrate today’s “witchcraft hysteria” (Reminder: this has
NOTHING to do with witches!) Create a full-size poster, filling it with
headlines and pictures that address these modern day witch hunts. Be ready
to present and explain your project to the class. Include an entry for each
headline/picture used in your Works Cited.
iii. History/Technology - Investigate Senator Joseph McCarthy and the
Hollywood Ten. Create a Power Point or Prezi presentation explaining what
happened during the Senate investigations of Communist involvement. Do
NOT read to us what’s on the PowerPoint. It should contain mostly pictures,
which you show, while YOU explain each slide’s content! Include video clips
from the actual hearing. Include all sources used in your Works Cited.
Technical difficulties will not be allowed as a reason for an extension on this
assignment. Work ahead to make sure everything is ready to go.
iv. Construction/History/Drafting - Research the construction of Pilgrim
homes or meeting houses around 1640-1690. (Warning: do not Google
“Colonial homes”!) Based on your research, make a blueprint, 3-D model, or
scale drawing of a typical house in colonial New England. This MUST be
historically accurate! You may choose to do a simple farmer’s home, like
John Proctor’s, or a wealthier home, such as Rebecca Nurse’s, or you may
choose to research their meetinghouses, which served as their church.
Include all sources used in your Works Cited.
v. Art -- Create a color rendering of a witch, a minimum of 8 x 10, as imagined
by the Puritans, based on your research and understanding from the play.
There is an accurate answer for what this piece should portray. This is only
for those who are “A” or “B” students in art classes as only the highest quality
of work is expected. If you are not an artist, this is not the project you want to
choose. This must be on white canvas or special paper selected for the
medium being used. Include all sources used in your research in your list of
Works Cited.
vi. Science(Medical)/Writing -- Do research to determine what you think may
be the medical cause of Betty’s and Ruth’s physical problems as described
in Act I. Write a report as if you are presenting your findings on these
unusual cases at a medical conference. Justify your findings using proof
from the play as to symptoms and causes and from your research that
accurately reflects a medical diagnosis based on this information. Your
report must be in final MLA format, and you must use reliable resources,
citing your sources both in-text and in the Works Cited at the end of your
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paper. You will deliver this presentation live, or you may pre-record it and
share the recorded version. You may display this in .mov format or post it to
YouTube.com or TeacherTube.com. Technical difficulties will not be allowed
as a reason for an extension on this assignment. Work ahead to make sure
everything is ready to go.
vii. Drama/History/Construction - Create a diorama depicting the courtroom
scene in which Mary Warren calls out John Proctor as a witch. It must be
historically accurate, based on your research, and reflect the text of the play.
Include all sources used in your Works Cited.
viii. Law Enforcement - Research the life of the American Puritans, specifically
the punishments created to redirect the behavior of wayward Puritans.
Create an illustrated booklet of the punishments used in this time period that
describes each punishment and under what circumstances it was given. This
should include a minimum of ten punishments. Bind these punishments in a
way that would reflect is as being a book used in this time period. Include all
sources used in your Works Cited.
ix. Creative writing/Crafts - Become Mary Warren, John Proctor, Rev. Parris,
or Abigail, and create seven journal entries at that person (at least one full
page each, handwritten or printed in an appropriate computer font)
explaining, from your unique perspective, what is happening and how you
feel about it. The emotional impact of the actions is key to demonstrating you
understand the nature of the character. Give insights that are not offered in
the text itself but that accurately reflect the plot action and characterization of
the person. Do additional research on this time period and the witchcraft
accusations and hearings to gather further information upon which to base
your comments. Gather these entries into a journal. Make sure that you
make these entries look like an actual journal from 400 years ago! Include all
sources used in your Works Cited.
x. Medical/Journalism - Some have suggested that the roots of the witchcraft
hysteria were based on ergot poisoning (hallucinations caused by eating
moldy wheat). Research this theory and then decide whether or not it seems
valid. Write your findings into a news report, citing your sources, and either
film it or record it to play in class as if you were the reporter. Include all
sources used in your Works Cited and cite your sources in your news report,
as would a reporter. You may display this in .mov format or post it to
YouTube.com or TeacherTube.com. Technical difficulties will not be allowed
as a reason for an extension on this assignment. Work ahead to make sure
everything is ready to go.
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xi. Music/Language - Puritans used the book of Psalms in the Bible as the
basis of hymns used in church. The singing of Psalms was an integral part of
worship. Here is an excerpt from the 23rd Psalm:
The Lord to mee a shepheard is. Want therefore shall not I. Hee in the folds
of tender grasse, doth cause mee downe to lie. To waters calme me gently
leads Restore my soule doth hee: He doth in paths of righteousness: for his
names sake leade mee.
xii. Translate another verse of this Psalm in a similar manner (into the older
English, including spelling, word choice, and sentence structure). Add a
chorus between verses and repeated at the end of the song. Set this to
music, writing up your original score. Turn in the original score. You may play
and sing this live in front of the class, or you may pre-record it and play it in
front of the class. You may display this in .mov format or post it to
YouTube.com or TeacherTube.com. Technical difficulties will not be allowed
as a reason for an extension on this assignment. Work ahead to make sure
everything is ready to go.This project is only for those students who can read
and write music since the score has to be turned in. If you can’t read or write
music, you can’t do this project. Include all sources used in your Works
Cited.
xiii. Sewing/Crafting - Research the types of toys -- particularly dolls -- that were
available to Puritan children. Recreate a historically accurate “poppet” like
the one that Mary Warren gave to Elizabeth Proctor. Include all sources used
in your Works Cited.
xiv. Computer/Geography – Research the layout of the village of Salem and
Salem (two different locations). Re-create a 3-D map of these two areas that
may be navigated through, labeling key locations mentioned in the play.
Include all sources used in your Works Cited.
xv. Computer/Videogames – Create a video game that accurately reflects the
characters and actions of the play, as determined by the choices that a
character makes (i.e. John chooses to go into town right away to reveal what
Abigail told him versus John holds back going into town right away to try to
figure out a way to have the court believe him. What happens based on each
of the choices the character could make?) Include all sources used in your
Works Cited.
xvi. Other – See me by the end of the day the next time we meet, if you have
other ideas for this project that you want me to consider.
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