Assignment
Information:
The projects below will help you extend your understanding of the Salem
Witch Trials of the 1600's and the McCarthy Trials of the 1950's, as well as expose your
classmates to the context of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. All options call
for groups of four persons, (with the exception of the drama option in Ms. McLaughlin's
project) and an 8-10 minute time limit. Tuesday, October 19 (Ms. McGraw's Class) and
the first week of November (Ms. McLaughlin) are the presentation dates. You must be
in class on the presentation date or no credit will be given. Each project will be
presented orally in front of the class. This assisgnment is worth 80 points.
Your group will be evaluated as a whole, unless group members instruct
otherwise. On the day of the presentation, you will turn in an outline of your
presentation. This outline will include the names of each group member and his/her
responsibilities.
Ms. McGraw's project:
Three or four groups will research the Salem
Witch Trials, and three or four will research the McCarthy Trials (blacklisting, the
Hollywood Ten, the Red Scare, etc.) considering:
* The cultural climate
of the time
* Events leading up to the outbreak of mass hysteria
* Who was affected and how (be specific--mention real
historical figures)
* Who, if anyone, tried to stop it and how (again, be
specific)
* How to best present the information to make it
interesting and accessible to your classmates
Possible presentation ideas include (but are not
limited to):
* A dramatic scene
* A talk show
* A newscast
* An artistic rendition
* A documentary
* A comic strip
Don't forget that even though your presentation
is creative, it is still based on facts that you will discover through research.
Effectively use the time provided in the media center.
Ms. McLaughlin's project:
Options:
1) The Practice of
Witchcraft in Modern Times--What type of witchcraft is being practiced today in
the United States? Where is it being practiced? How is it received by other
Americans? Do witches still exist? Find out more about this topic and present the
information to the class. 1 Group
2) McCarthyism--This
movement depended on mass hysteria in order to proceed. What was the cultural
climate at the time? Who was affected? Who tried to stop the trials?
(Look for specific celebrities and public figures and how/why they stood up to
McCarthy.) Take an interesting approach (drama, newscast, newspaper...) but make
sure you provide enough information to teach us. 2 Groups
3) The Salem Witch Trials--What
was the cultural climate at the time? How did this climate facilitate such an outbreak of
mass hysteria? Who was affected? Who, if anyone, tried to stop what was going on?
Take an interesting approach (drama, newscast, newspaper...) but make sure you
provide enough information to teach us. 1 Group
4) A Scene from the Play--
Choose an important scene to act out with a group or partner. Memorize the lines so
that you can give an effective presentation. You should introduce your scene by
explaining what happened just before it takes place. After your presentation, tell
why the scene you chose was particularly important to the play. Instead of handing
in an outline, your group will turn in this explanation. It should be typed (double
spaced), at least one page, and include each class member's name and the part he/she
plays. The scene should be performed live. All actors must dress the
part! Props should be included. *Make sure to get the scene approved by Miss
McLaughlin before signing-up. 2 Groups
5) Other Religious Groups--
Find out more about the other religious groups that also settled in New England (i.e.,
Quakers, Anabaptists, etc.). What did they contribute to the new Colony? What
was their attitude toward witches? Use a visual aid to complement the presentation. 1
Group