You Can't Handle the Truth:

Arthur Miller's The Crucible

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Teachers: Here are some writing assignments that you can assign during The Crucible unit. Student samples of some of these assignments can be accessed at the "student work" page below. I also have linked directly to a sample of the assignment directly from this page.

- After completing internet research on The Puritans, the class will work collaboratively on a "Guide to Puritan Life". (One group of my students fabulously put this assignment in a Ten Commandments format, but that's not required.)

- Assign students to do research on one of these four topics: 1) Hollywood Ten/Hollywood Blacklist 2) Senator Joseph McCarthy 3) House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) 4) "Red Menace" or Communist threat/anti-Communism in the US . Hand out slips randomly to students, assuring that an equal number of students receive each topic. Students will work individually, then bring their research to class. In groups, students will work together, compiling their information, to create a presentation for the class on their topic. They must also illustrate how their topic relates to either The Crucible or Arthur Miller.

- Write a newspaper story about the appearance of witchcraft in Salem.

- Write a monologue in the voice of one of the main characters in the play, describing their situation at the end of Act Two.

- Write the arrest warrant for Elizabeth Proctor, Martha Corey and Rebecca Nurse.

- Write a tabloid-style story about the affair between Abigail and John Proctor and how the truth is revealed in the courtroom in Act Three.

- Stage a mock-trial in class. Have some students be the accusers, and some be the accused. Afterward, have them write a reflection: What would they have done? Sold out their friends? Potentially face death? Go along with something you know isn't true?

- Write an obituary for John Proctor

- In groups, students will come up with their own notes on The Crucible.

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