Introduction

Have you ever been falsely accused?  It doesn't feel very good. Take a look at the pictures below; then click to read  a poem  Japanese Internment Camps (after reading the poem, return to this page).

Arthur Miller's The Crucible, in the context of the historical Salem Witch Trials, shows many innocent people being accused of crimes/sins they did not commit.  Throughout history, society has been blinded to similar occurrences, or "witch hunts."  Indeed, Miller wrote The Crucible in response to one of those "witch hunts" that took place in his time period--McCarthyism.

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

Your job, in a group of 3 (or 4) students, is to research the background of the Salem Witch Trials, McCarthyism, and other "witch hunts" throughout history to find their causes, evaluate their consequences, and develop a solution that would help avoid and/or prevent such "witch hunts" in the future.

You will be creating a letter to the editor of a newspaper telling what society should do to prevent innocent people from being accused and presumed guilty in the future.

1. Take a look at the above pictures and their  following poem.  Do a quickwrite about one time you've been falsely accused.  Consider what led up to the accusation and what the results of the accusation were.  Fill one page.
 
2. Go through this Salem Virtual Witch Hunt.  You will be experiencing what it was like to have been accused of witchcraft in Salem during the Salem Witch Trials.  Your job is to experience the emotions and feelings of being falsely accused.  Write one page about your experience, what it felt like, and what you learned.
 
3. Next, you will separate into groups of 3 (or 4) students and will need to choose one of the following roles:
• Expert on the The Salem Witch Trials (context of The Crucible)
• Expert on McCarthyism
• Expert on related persecutions of innocent people
• Expert on PowerPoint (you must know the PowerPoint software and have permission from the teacher in order to choose this role; click to see the responsibilities for this role)
 
4. Do step A or B as your teacher has instructed

   A.  JOURNAL/SUMMARY OPTION:  Once you have picked a role, you must begin researching your topic and summarizing/journaling on  the information you read and learn.  You must summarize/journal on a minimum of 3 articles.  (see rubric)

   B.  ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY OPTION:  Instead of an informal journal/summary, you will complete annotated bibliography entries for 3 articles.  (sample entry for an annotated bibliography) (title page)


The grade for the annotated bibliography is based on the following requirements:
You must have a title page and 3 typed annotations of 1 paragraph each.  The annotations must include
• MLA citation format for the article
• Summary of the main ideas in the article
• 1-2 sentences stating your impression of the article (what did you like/dislike about it?)
  
5. For your role, chart out the following: (click here to get role chart, see rubric)
• the problem behind the situation (what is the issue?)
• the causes of the "witch hunt"
• the consequences of the "witch hunt"
• a possible way for that society to have avoided it
 
6. Compile the information (charts and summaries/journals) your group has collected; 
   • compare causes
   • consequences
   • solutions

   Create Venn Diagrams to show similarities of each point.  You should have at least three Venn Diagrams; one for each point.  (click here to get Venn Diagram, see rubric)

 
7. Now you must begin your letter to the editor.  To start, use the thesis builder and outline builder to generate your thesis and your outline.  Be sure to print your work.  (click here for thesis and outline builder)
 
8. Write the letter to the editor--each member contributing information on which she/he is an expert.  Discuss the issues, causes, consequences, and the main solution.  Write as if to a newspaper. (see rubric)

For this role, you must gather extensive background information related to the Salem Witch Trials, identifying

• their causes (focus on the beliefs of the people of the time),
• their consequences (both for individuals accused and accusing, and for the society),
• possible ways to have avoided them.  Be sure your solutions are applicable to the people at that time period and in that situation.

• Timeline of Salem Witch Trials
• Puritan History
• List of Accused
• Example of Martha Carrier's Trial
• Shows Background of Feelings and Superstitions of Salem

Searchable Sites:
• The Salem Witch Museum
•  Witchcraft in Salem Village
• The Crucible project

Back to Process

For this role, you must gather extensive background information related to McCarthyism, identifying

• their causes (focus on the beliefs of the people of the time),
• their consequences (both for individuals accused and accusing, and for the society),
• possible ways to have avoided them.  Be sure your solutions are applicable to the people at that time period and in that situation.

Excellent Summaries of McCarthyism Era

Short Biography of Joseph McCarthy

CNN Cold War - Episode Script: Reds

Congressional Committees and Unfriendly Witnesses

CNN - Virtual McCarthyism Trial

Back to Process

For this role, you must gather information on at least two related persecutions, and identify the following for each:

• the causes (focus on the beliefs of the society and of the leading characters),
• the consequences (both for individuals accused and accusing, and for the society),
• possible ways to have avoided them.  Be sure your solutions are applicable to the people at that time period and in that situation.

• THE HOLOCAUST AN HISTORICAL SUMMARY Holocaust
• SWC : 36 Questions About the Holocaust Questions and Answers about the Holocaust
• Japanese Internment Camps
• Arab Americans following the tragedies of 9/11/01
• Other persecutions of large groups of people 
  (be sure to view the bibliography section to use the original sources)

Searchable sites

• United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
• Simon Wiesenthal Center

Back to Process

For this role, you must compile the information gathered by your partners and present that information to the class using PowerPoint.  The presentation must include

• Cover page stating group members' names, a title, the class/period, the teacher's name, and the date
• Problem(s) behind each situation (what are the issues?)--have at least one slide introducing each issue researched.  Each of these slides must have at least one graphic relating to that topic (total of 4 graphics)
• Causes of each "witch hunt"
• Consequences of each "witch hunt
• Possible way(s) for each society to have avoided it
• Venn Diagram of the topics
• Thesis and main points from your group's letter to the editor
• Complete text of your group's letter to the editor
• To view a sample PowerPoint presentation, click here

Create a visually-pleasing presentation that is organized and thoughtful.  Be as creative as you wish.  You must have at least four graphics (one for each type of "witch hunt"), but you may have many more.  You may also include audio and/or video clips if appropriate.  The presentation grade will take the place of the 3 article summaries and role chart.
Back to Process

The grades for summaries/journals and role charts are graded on an individual basis.  These show me how thoroughly you have done your work.  The grade for the Venn Diagrams, Thesis, and Outline and for the editorial are group grades--a culmination of all of your members' findings.

So, now that you have decided what should be done to keep the innocent from being accused and presumed guilty, do you think it will work?  You have had to analyze society and how it works.  Do you think your solutions will change society significantly?  Do you think society will change and avoid "witch hunts"?  Why does society tend to repeat mistakes instead of learning from them?

Thank you to the following for images, information, and assistance:

Picture for Japanese Internment Camp
http://www.uwec.edu/Academic/Geography/Ivogeler/w188/j6.gif

Assistance from Keith Nuthall--WebQuest instructor