Mini Group Research Project
The Assignment: With your group, you will research your chosen topic, create a presentation of your choosing and present it to the class. You may use PPT, Google Slides, iMovie, etc. in order to present your information to the class. Presentations will begin on Monday, August 24. You should plan for your presentation to be between 5-7 minutes in length and EACH member of the group must have an equal role in both research and presentation. You must have an MLA Works Cited slide at the end of your presentation.
Group 1 - Arthur Miller
Arthur Miller Links:
Witchcraft Links:
Group 3 - Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s
Salem Links:
Group 4 - McCarthyism, the Red Scare and communists
McCarthyism Links:
Group 5 - New England in the 1690s - The Puritans
The Puritans Links:
Groups 6-7 - Modern Day Witch Hunts - no two groups may have the same one
- Key events in his life.
- Other works (especially Death of a Salesman)
- His beliefs/political outlook including communist connections
- Arraignment by the House Un-American Activities (HUAC)
Arthur Miller Links:
- Arthur Miller Society (Ibiblio)
- New York Times Drama Review from 1953
- New York Times articles about Arthur Miller - look for articles dealing with visa troubles, testimony, contempt charges, and communism.
- New York Times articles by Arthur Miller - look for articles in which Miller states his views on the background to "The Crucible," freedom, etc.
- The New Yorker (1996) - "Why I Wrote The Crucible: An Artist’s Answer to Politics" by Arthur Miller. Miller reflects on the 1950’s political origins of his play, as the motion picture is about to be released.
http://the_english_dept.tripod.com/miller.html - Library of Congress - Collection of Political Cartoons on the Red Scare
- What was witchcraft? Who practiced it?
- Describe the social response to witchcraft in Europe in the 16th and 17th centuries.
- What social and religious factors are given to account for the harsh response to witchcraft?
- What can you find out about modern witchcraft?
Witchcraft Links:
- Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts - see links to The Word Witch (general information about witches) & Witches Today
- Witchcraft in Salem Village: Intersections of Religion and Society - see other links from this page from the National Humanities Center.
Group 3 - Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s
- What events led to these trials?
- Who was involved -as prosecutors? As victims?
- What were the outcomes of the trials?
- How do historians interpret these events?
Salem Links:
- Welcome to Salem - The official guide to the Salem Witch Trials. See the links for a chronology of events and images of the stones laid to memorialize the victims.
- Interactive Map of Salem Village - shows where individual people lived and famous landmarks, such as "Witch Hill," where executions took place.
- National Geographic - online exhibit about Witch Hunt Hysteria
- Famous American Trials: The Salem Witchcraft Trials - from Dr. Linder's Famous American Trials website, includes court transcripts and other primary sources, images, and background.
- Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive - provides trustworthy information including graphics & primary source documents.
- Secrets of the Dead: Crime Scene Investigations Meet History - Behavioral Psychologist Linnda Caporael investigates a shocking new idea about the girls’ convulsions that led to the Salem Witch Trials of 1692
- Witchcraft in Salem Village (from the National Humanities Center) - includes an examination of the beliefs of the Puritans
Group 4 - McCarthyism, the Red Scare and communists
- What was the Cold War?
- What was McCarthyism? Who was Joe McCarthy? What were his aims? methods? Who were his victims? What lead to his eventual downfall?
- How does this tie into the play?
McCarthyism Links:
- The Eisenhower Presidential Library Archives - presents a short overview of McCarthyism and documents related to the era.
- The Christian Science Monitor - updated archival releases shed new light on McCarthy hearings.
- Fox Valley History - a Wisconsin museum exhibit on Joseph McCarthy.
- PBS NewsHour - an interview with some victims of the "blacklists."
- “Have You No Sense of Decency”: The Army-McCarthy Hearings - links to the full texts of the Army-McCarthy Hearings in 1953-54.
- McCarthy - Welch Exchange - Full text, mp3 audio and video of Army-McCarthy Hearing exchange between Josesph Welch and Joe McCarthy
- Famous American Trials: The Rosenberg Trial - another link from Dr. Linder's site, this time on the trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg.
- F.B.I. - documents released to the public under the Freedom of Information Act (F.O.I.A.)
Group 5 - New England in the 1690s - The Puritans
- What type of people settled Massachusetts?
- How did they survive?
- What were their main fears and anxieties?
- What were their social structures/hierarchies?
- What was daily life like?
The Puritans Links:
- Puritan Life
- Puritanism in New England
- Puritanism
- Massachusetts Bay - "The City Upon a Hill"
- Early Settlement
- World Book Online
Groups 6-7 - Modern Day Witch Hunts - no two groups may have the same one
- Cultural and historical background - what types of people were targeted?
- Discrimination and effect - unfair treatment and government's reaction to the issue
- Lasting effects on the targeted group, their country of origin and mistreatment and the world as a whole.