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|PURPOSE | READING | THE RESERCH PROCESS |

Essential Questions:

Why did Arthur Miller choose to write a play about the Salem Witch Trials?
What connection is there between the events of the Salem Witch Craft Trials and the McCarthy Era, the time period in which Miller wrote his play?
How do writers use literature as a means of creating social and political change?
What can we do as individuals to prevent situations like these from happening again?

PURPOSE

The purpose of this project will be for you to read a work of literature, The Crucible,written by Arthur Miller and compare it to the political happenings of McCarthyism during the 1950's.

While you read and learn about the Salem witch trials of 1692, you will research the political activities of McCarthyism during the 1950's. While reading the play you will be aware of the parallelism between the two political activities--the Salem witch trials and the McCarthy hearings. You will then compare and contrast the hysteria generated by both times and answer the essential questions posed above.

Finally, you will write either a research paper or create an original play or both depending on your teacher's requirements.