Exploring theExploring theSalem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials

IntroductionIntroductionYou are part of a special group of historical fiction You are part of a special group of historical fiction

writers, and a major book publisher has decided writers, and a major book publisher has decided to send you on a special mission.  They are to send you on a special mission.  They are transporting you (all expenses paid) to a new transporting you (all expenses paid) to a new time period - more than three hundred years time period - more than three hundred years ago. Your group lands in the middle of 1692 ago. Your group lands in the middle of 1692 Salem, Oregon.  You see neighbor accusing Salem, Oregon.  You see neighbor accusing neighbor of the strangest crimes: demon neighbor of the strangest crimes: demon possession, broom flying, even book reading.  possession, broom flying, even book reading.  Your mission is to research this situation and Your mission is to research this situation and create a piece of historical fiction that will bring create a piece of historical fiction that will bring the Salem Witch Trials alive for a 21st century the Salem Witch Trials alive for a 21st century audience.  What will your group discover?  How audience.  What will your group discover?  How will they bring it back to the present time period?will they bring it back to the present time period?

Understanding Your TaskUnderstanding Your Task

Your group must work together Your group must work together to fulfill its mission.  First, the to fulfill its mission.  First, the publishers require that your publishers require that your group does adequate group does adequate research.  In the research research.  In the research portion of your project, your portion of your project, your group must create a time-line group must create a time-line that covers at least fifteen that covers at least fifteen important events in the Salem important events in the Salem Witch Trials, a chart that lists Witch Trials, a chart that lists the accusers, accused, the accusers, accused, "afflicted girls", jurors, judges, "afflicted girls", jurors, judges, and Puritan clergy involved in and Puritan clergy involved in the trials; an in-depth the trials; an in-depth summary of the trials (your summary of the trials (your own words please) at least one own words please) at least one page in length, and a one and page in length, and a one and half page essay that describes half page essay that describes Puritan life during the trials. Puritan life during the trials. 

Understanding Your Task Understanding Your Task (cont.)(cont.)

Next, your group must create a Next, your group must create a compilation of four short works that compilation of four short works that reflect the most interesting aspects reflect the most interesting aspects of the trials.  Your book publisher has of the trials.  Your book publisher has given you some leeway here.  Your given you some leeway here.  Your works must contain historical facts, works must contain historical facts, but you can use your imagination, but you can use your imagination, and make some things up.  Also, and make some things up.  Also, your works can be written from the your works can be written from the point of view of someone (or a group point of view of someone (or a group of people) directly involved in the of people) directly involved in the trials or from the point of view of a trials or from the point of view of a bystander who was not directly bystander who was not directly involved.  You can choose a genre involved.  You can choose a genre that works best for your writing:  that works best for your writing:  pretend journals from one Puritan to pretend journals from one Puritan to another, poems that give the reader another, poems that give the reader a glimpse of the situation, or a short a glimpse of the situation, or a short story that depicts a particular story that depicts a particular moment during the trials. moment during the trials. 

Understanding Your Task Understanding Your Task (cont.)(cont.)

Whatever you choose, the Whatever you choose, the supervisors demand that supervisors demand that you must work as a you must work as a group.  group.  That means that That means that your final product should your final product should reflect a sincere effort on reflect a sincere effort on everyone's part and the everyone's part and the works in your compilation works in your compilation should fit together. should fit together.

Procedures – Form Your Procedures – Form Your GroupGroup

1.Form your group.  Your group should have four members.  1.Form your group.  Your group should have four members.  Once you have decided who your group members are, submit Once you have decided who your group members are, submit the names to your teacher for approval. the names to your teacher for approval. 

2.Next, decide as a group what role each person should play.  2.Next, decide as a group what role each person should play.  First, you will need an First, you will need an editoreditor. This person should be in charge . This person should be in charge of leading the group.  They make final decisions, and they of leading the group.  They make final decisions, and they make sure everyone in the group completes their make sure everyone in the group completes their assignments and everything fits together. Next, you will need assignments and everything fits together. Next, you will need an an illustratorillustrator.  This person is in charge of making everything .  This person is in charge of making everything look nice.  They organize the research, do some drawing, and look nice.  They organize the research, do some drawing, and make sure that the presentation of the final document is make sure that the presentation of the final document is flawless. Next, you will need a flawless. Next, you will need a technical advisortechnical advisor.  This .  This person is in charge of helping the group on the computers and person is in charge of helping the group on the computers and also checking grammar in the final drafts.  Finally, you will also checking grammar in the final drafts.  Finally, you will need a need a creative engineercreative engineer.  This person is in charge of .  This person is in charge of making sure that your documents contain accurate historical making sure that your documents contain accurate historical data.  They are also responsible for making sure your writing data.  They are also responsible for making sure your writing both entertains and educates your audience.both entertains and educates your audience.

Procedures – Task One: Procedures – Task One: ResearchResearch

Now, use the Internet to research the Salem Now, use the Internet to research the Salem Witch Trials.  Each group member should be in Witch Trials.  Each group member should be in charge of a different part of the research.  charge of a different part of the research.  While you can modify this format to meet your While you can modify this format to meet your needs, this is probably the best case scenario: needs, this is probably the best case scenario:

Editor - Editor - Summary of Salem Witch Trials  Summary of Salem Witch Trials  Illustrator - Illustrator - Time-Line    Time-Line    Technical AdvisorTechnical Advisor- - Chart of Accusers/Defenders/"Afflicted Chart of Accusers/Defenders/"Afflicted Girls"/Accused/Puritan Clergy/Judges/Jurors  Girls"/Accused/Puritan Clergy/Judges/Jurors  Creative Engineer Creative Engineer - Description of Puritan - Description of Puritan Life during the Salem Witch TrialsLife during the Salem Witch Trials

You will have an hour and a half to complete You will have an hour and a half to complete this part.this part.

Resources for Task OneResources for Task One

Charts for Accusers, Defenders, Charts for Accusers, Defenders, Accused, etc.Accused, etc.

http://http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraftetext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft//http://http://

etext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/texetext.lib.virginia.edu/salem/witchcraft/textsts//

Time-Line of EventsTime-Line of Eventshttp://http://

www.salemweb.com/memorial/default.htwww.salemweb.com/memorial/default.htmm

Summary of EventsSummary of Eventshttp://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrhttp://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTMials/salem/SAL_ACCT.HTMhttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/featureshttp://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/salem//97/salem/

Resources for Task One Resources for Task One (cont.)(cont.)

Life During the Time of the Salem Witch Life During the Time of the Salem Witch TrialsTrials

http://www.school.discovery.com/schooladvehttp://www.school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/life/index.htmlntures/salemwitchtrials/life/index.html

http://www.school.discovery.com/schooladvehttp://www.school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/life/religion.htmlntures/salemwitchtrials/life/religion.html

http://www.school.discovery.com/schooladvehttp://www.school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/life/divisions.htmlntures/salemwitchtrials/life/divisions.html

http://www.school.discovery.com/http://www.school.discovery.com/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/life/schooladventures/salemwitchtrials/life/children.htmlchildren.html

Procedures- Task Two: Procedures- Task Two: Historical Fiction Historical Fiction

1. After you have had your time to 1. After you have had your time to complete your research in the lab, complete your research in the lab, each group will come together to each group will come together to have a "group think".  This is a time have a "group think".  This is a time to come together to share to come together to share information, come up with ideas, and information, come up with ideas, and do pre-writing.  Your "group think" do pre-writing.  Your "group think" must be thorough.  You will have one must be thorough.  You will have one hour to do it. hour to do it.

Procedures – Task Two: Procedures – Task Two: HistoricalHistorical

Fiction cont.Fiction cont.2. After your group is done with the "group think".  You 2. After your group is done with the "group think".  You

will have forty five minutes of drafting time.  This will have forty five minutes of drafting time.  This should be done in complete silence unless your should be done in complete silence unless your group has been given permission to confer quietly.group has been given permission to confer quietly.

3. Next, you will have group conference time.  During 3. Next, you will have group conference time.  During this time you will share drafts, give feedback, and this time you will share drafts, give feedback, and make revisions.  This will take about forty five make revisions.  This will take about forty five minutes.minutes.

  4. Finally, you will have an hour and a half to work in 4. Finally, you will have an hour and a half to work in the computer lab.  During this time, you will make the computer lab.  During this time, you will make word documents of your drafts, group conference word documents of your drafts, group conference again, do final editing, and print your last copy.  If again, do final editing, and print your last copy.  If you have time, your group should create an you have time, your group should create an illustrated cover page and possibly a table of illustrated cover page and possibly a table of contents for your work. contents for your work. 

Additional Resources Additional Resources

Consider consulting these other piece ofConsider consulting these other piece of

historical fiction and/or poetry for ideas:historical fiction and/or poetry for ideas:

1.1. Teacher Model - “A Witch in Time” by Ayn NysTeacher Model - “A Witch in Time” by Ayn Nys

2.2. The Witch of Blackbird Pond The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George by Elizabeth George SpeareSpeare

3.3. *Witness *Witness by Karen Hesseby Karen Hesse

4.4. *Spoon River Anthology*Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters by Edgar Lee Masters

5.5. Beyond the Burning TimeBeyond the Burning Time by Katheryn Laskey by Katheryn Laskey

6.6. A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials Trials by Ann Rinaldiby Ann Rinaldi

*Use these books to give you ideas for format and style but *Use these books to give you ideas for format and style but not content.not content.

EvaluationEvaluation..

1. Using a Round Robin format, each 1. Using a Round Robin format, each group will have five minutes to share group will have five minutes to share with each of the other groups.  You will with each of the other groups.  You will be required to do peer feedback with be required to do peer feedback with each group. This will take about an each group. This will take about an hour.hour.

2. In the final part of the mission, you will 2. In the final part of the mission, you will fill out a debriefing sheet and fill out a debriefing sheet and participate in a class discussion. This participate in a class discussion. This part will take about thirty minutes.part will take about thirty minutes.

Evaluation - ContinuedEvaluation - Continued

3. Your works be evaluated based on their 3. Your works be evaluated based on their thoroughness, creativity, depiction of thoroughness, creativity, depiction of actual events, and accuracy in following actual events, and accuracy in following directions. Your classmates’ comments directions. Your classmates’ comments will figure into your overall grade. You will figure into your overall grade. You will receive the following grades:will receive the following grades:

Major Grade - Historical Fiction PiecesMajor Grade - Historical Fiction Pieces

Minor Grade - ResearchMinor Grade - Research

Other Grade – ParticipationOther Grade – Participation

Other Grade – Peer FeedbackOther Grade – Peer Feedback

ConclusionConclusion

At the end of all this, you should be able toAt the end of all this, you should be able to

answer the following questions with insight andanswer the following questions with insight and

adequate elaboration:adequate elaboration:

1.1. Why were the Salem Witch Trials a significantWhy were the Salem Witch Trials a significant

part of American history?part of American history?

2.2. What do the Salem Witch trials show us aboutWhat do the Salem Witch trials show us about

human nature and peer pressure?human nature and peer pressure?

3.3. What aspects of the Salem Witch Trials canWhat aspects of the Salem Witch Trials can

we relate to in present American society?we relate to in present American society?