Arthur Miller’s

The Crucible

 

A Webquest for 10-0 English

 

Designed by Mrs. Cathy Cassady and Mrs. Theresa Moran

 

 

Introduction                       Task                          Process                      Evaluation                  Credits

 

                              “All Students Are Cheaters—

Never Trust Them With Anything”

 

                  Have you ever been falsely accused?  How did you feel?  Look at the

                        pictures below.  Then click to read a poem That Damned Fence. After

                        reading the poem, return to this page.

 

 

 

The Task

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible shows innocent people being accused of crimes they did not commit. In all of history such incidents, sometimes called “witch hunts,” have occurred.  Arthur Miller was inspired to write The Crucible as a response to the McCarthy hearings- considered a modern day “witch hunt.”

 

The Question:  What should be done to protect innocent people from being accused and presumed guilty?

 

In groups you will investigate the background of the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and other “witch hunts” throughout history to find their causes, evaluate their consequences, and develop solutions to help avoid or prevent such “witch hunts” in the future. The “witch hunts” to be included are:  Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, Japanese Internment Camps, the Holocaust, and the persecution of Arab-Americans after September 11, 2001.

 

Your group will write a letter to the editor of a newspaper suggesting what society should do to prevent innocent people from being accused and presumed guilty in the future.  You will also prepare a PowerPoint presentation on your group’s findings that will be presented to the class.

 

 

The Process

1.     Look at the pictures above and read the poem.  Write a one-page response about one time you were falsely accused of something.  Tell what led up to the accusation and what the results of the accusation were.  Tell how you felt about it.

 

2.  Go to the Salem Virtual Witch Hunt.  Follow the directions given.  At this site you will experience what 

it was like to be accused of being a witch.  At the end of this exercise, write one page about the experience, how you felt and what you learned.

 

3.     In your group you will need to choose one of the following roles:

§       Experts on the causes of the “witch hunt.” (2 students)

§      Experts on the consequences of the “witch hunt.” (2 students)

§       Experts on solutions. (1-2 students)

 

4.     Each member of the group will do the following:

§        Begin researching your topic using the websites listed below.  You will journal on the information you learn. You must journal on a minimum of three sources. (See Rubric)

§       You will complete the role chart for the role you have selected.

 

5.     In your group you will compile the information each member has gathered.  The group will discuss the thesis of your letter to the editor and create an outline of what you will write in the letter.  Each member will contribute information on which he or she is an expert.  Discuss the issues, causes, consequences, and the main solution.  Write it as if you are writing to the editor of a newspaper. (See Rubric)

 

6.     The group will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to present the information you have gathered to the class.  The presentation must include the following:

 

§       An introductory slide stating the title of the presentation and the names of the group members

§        The problems behind the situation-what are the issues?   Each of these slides should have at least one graphic relating to the issue.

§      Slides illustrating the causes of the “witch hunt”

§       Slides illustrating the consequences of the “witch hunt”

§       Slides illustrating possible ways for each society to have avoided the situation

§      The thesis and main points of your letter

§       Bibliography of sources used, including sources for graphics, video, and audio clips.

 

Create a visually pleasing presentation that is well organized.  Be creative.  You must have graphics, but may also include video or audio clips.

 

Copies of your letter to the editor should be provided for each member of the class.

 

Roles

 

Role of the Experts:

          For each role you must gather extensive background information related to your “witch hunt,” identifying the following:

§         The causes (focus on the beliefs of the people of the time)

§         The consequences (both for the individuals accused and accusing, and for the society they lived in)

§         Possible ways to have avoided the situation (be sure your solutions are applicable to the people at that time period)

 

Research Links for the Experts on the Salem Witch Trials

§       Timeline of the Salem Witch Trials

§       Puritan History

§      List of the Accused

§       Example of Martha Carrier’s trial

§       Background of the feelings and Superstitions of Salem

§      The Salem Witch Museum

§      Witchcraft in Salem Village

§       The Crucible Project

 

Back to Process

 

Research Links for the Experts on McCarthyism

§       Summaries of the McCarthy era

§      Short biography of Joseph McCarthy

§       CNN Cold War- Episode Script: Reds

§      Congressional Committees and Unfriendly Witnesses

§      CNN- Virtual McCarthyism Trial

 

 

Back to Process      

 

Research links for the Experts on Related Persecutions

§       United States Holocaust Museum

§       Genocide in the 20th Century

§      Japanese Internment Camps

§        Japanese American Internment Experience

§       Witch Hunts- site includes Holocaust, Japanese Internment, and McCarthyism

§      Arab Americans following the tragedies of 9/11/01

§       100 Questions and Answers About Arab Americans:  A Journalist’s Guide

§       Impact of September 11, 2001 on Traditional Openness to Immigrants and Non-Immigrants…

§       Arab American Institute

 

 

 

 

 

Back to Process

Evaluation

          The grades for the response to the poem, the journals, and the role chart will be given individually.  The grades for the Letter to the Editor and the PowerPoint Presentation will be given to the group.

 

          The following Rubric will be used in assessing your work:

 

 

Beginning

1

Below Average

2

Average

3

Above Average

4

Excellent

5

Response to Poem

 

 

 

(20 points)

Shows lack of understanding of poem

Unable to answer the question.

Not edited

Shows some understanding of poem.

Attempts to answer the question.

Not edited.

Shows understanding of poem.

Answers the question

Shows some editing.

Shows understanding of poem.

Answers the question clearly.

Well-edited.

Shows clear understanding of poem.

Answers the question clearly and thoughtfully.

Well-edited.

Journals

 

 

(60 points)

Fewer than 3 journals.

Does not include the main points.

Shows no under-standing of the articles.

Not edited

Has 3 journals.

Includes main points.

Shows no under-standing of the articles.

Not edited

Has 3 journals.

Includes the main points.

Shows an under-standing of the articles.

Minimally edited.

Has 3 journals.

Detailed with clear points.

Shows an understanding of the articles.

Well-edited.

Has 3 journals.

Detailed with clear, insightful points.

Shows excellent understanding of the articles.

Well-edited.

Role Chart

 

(20 points)

Role Chart not filled out.

Role Chart partially filled out.

Role Chart filled out.

Role Chart filled out thoroughly.

Role chart filled out thoroughly and with much thought.

Letter To The Editor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(50 points)

Letter mentions the witch hunt.

Does not list causes.

Gives no solution.

Not persuasive.

Not edited.

Letter describes the witch hunt with few details.

Attempts to identify causes.

Proposes unclear solution.

Not persuasive.

Not edited.

Letter adequately describes the witch hunt with some details.

Identifies causes.

Proposes a solution.

Is persuasive.

Is minimally edited

Letter describes the witch hunt clearly with many details.

Identifies and describes causes.

Proposes a clear, thoughtful solution.

Is persuasive.

Is edited.

Letter clearly and concisely describes the witch hunt.

Concisely identifies and describes causes.

Proposes a well-thought-out solution.

Is strongly persuasive.

Well-edited.

PowerPoint Presentation

 

 

 

 

 

 

(50 points)

Has fewer than 10 slides.

Has no introductory slide.

Has no graphics.

Does not include required elements.

Not edited.

Has at least 10 slides.

Has an introductory slide.

Has fewer than 4 graphics.

Includes some required elements.

Not edited.

Has at least 10 slides.

Has an introductory slide.

Has at least 4 graphics.

Includes all required elements.

Minimally edited.

Has at least 10 slides.

Has an attractive introductory slide.

Has at least 4 well-chosen graphics.

Includes all required elements.

Well-edited.

Has at least 10 slides.

Has an attractive introductory slide.

Has 4 or more well-chosen graphics.

Includes all required elements, clearly and thoroughly displayed.

Well-edited.

 

 

Credits

“Accused of Witchcraft.” Online.  Available: http://www.rootsweb.com/~nwa/witch1.jpg

 

“Joseph McCarthy.” Online. Available: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USAmccarthy3.jpg

 

Truman Presidential Museum and Library. “The War Relocation Authority and the Incarceration of Japanese Americans During WWII. Online.

Available:  http://www.trumanlibrary.org/whistlestop/study_collections/japanese_internment/japan_internmentphotos.htm

 

“WebQuests by April Moore.” Online.  Available: http://www.teachtheteachers.org/projects/AMoore/?Crucible.htm