The crucible
Ridgeview High School
Expository Reading and Writing
The Crucible
Bennett, Jessica. “The Flip Side of Internet Fame.” Newsweek. March 3, 2008.
Hamilton, Anita. “Outsmart Your Haters.” Time. October 6, 2008.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin Group Inc: New York, 2003.
“Witch Hunts, Pledges, and Blacklists.” www.borndigital.com/mccart.htm.
Rationale:
Witch hunts, blacklists, character, reputation, defamation, public and private identity, the dark side of human nature, and cultural norms. These are many of the still-relevant themes that Arthur Miller explored in The Crucible. In today’s technologically-dependent society, many of these issues have been complicated by the omnipresence of the World Wide Web.
Paired with the reading of The Crucible, online research about the Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism, the articles in this assignment sequence provide information and persuasive points of view on the topics of libel, mass hysteria, the importance of reputation, and the danger of defamation in our technologically-savvy world.
Pre-reading
Activity 1: Getting Ready to Read
This activity is to introduce students to Puritan values, culture, and ideals.
Read the list of Puritan ethics. Each student should pick 2-3 that still apply to mainstream American society, and 2-3 that no longer apply or have degenerated in today’s society. Give specific examples to illustrate each.
The Puritan Ethic
1. God is the supreme ruler of man.
2. Man should love God more than himself.
3. Man should live according to the Ten Commandments.
4. God is an angry God who is vengeful and punishes transgressors.
5. Heaven and hell are locations; God is male; the Devil is male.
6. Vanity is sinful.
7. Pleasure is sinful.
8. Purity must be in all things.
9. White symbolized purity; black symbolized sobriety; red symbolized passion, uncontrolled emotions and the Devil.
10. Never waste time.
11. Work hard at whatever you do.
12. Be conscious
Expository Reading and Writing
The Crucible
Bennett, Jessica. “The Flip Side of Internet Fame.” Newsweek. March 3, 2008.
Hamilton, Anita. “Outsmart Your Haters.” Time. October 6, 2008.
Miller, Arthur. The Crucible. Penguin Group Inc: New York, 2003.
“Witch Hunts, Pledges, and Blacklists.” www.borndigital.com/mccart.htm.
Rationale:
Witch hunts, blacklists, character, reputation, defamation, public and private identity, the dark side of human nature, and cultural norms. These are many of the still-relevant themes that Arthur Miller explored in The Crucible. In today’s technologically-dependent society, many of these issues have been complicated by the omnipresence of the World Wide Web.
Paired with the reading of The Crucible, online research about the Salem Witch Trials, and McCarthyism, the articles in this assignment sequence provide information and persuasive points of view on the topics of libel, mass hysteria, the importance of reputation, and the danger of defamation in our technologically-savvy world.
Pre-reading
Activity 1: Getting Ready to Read
This activity is to introduce students to Puritan values, culture, and ideals.
Read the list of Puritan ethics. Each student should pick 2-3 that still apply to mainstream American society, and 2-3 that no longer apply or have degenerated in today’s society. Give specific examples to illustrate each.
The Puritan Ethic
1. God is the supreme ruler of man.
2. Man should love God more than himself.
3. Man should live according to the Ten Commandments.
4. God is an angry God who is vengeful and punishes transgressors.
5. Heaven and hell are locations; God is male; the Devil is male.
6. Vanity is sinful.
7. Pleasure is sinful.
8. Purity must be in all things.
9. White symbolized purity; black symbolized sobriety; red symbolized passion, uncontrolled emotions and the Devil.
10. Never waste time.
11. Work hard at whatever you do.
12. Be conscious