The Puritan Legacy Lives Today
A WebQuest for 11th Grade (American
Literature)
Designed by
Takeisha Babb
Introduction
You are a student reading The Crucible in your English class. Curious
about the people and the laws of the Puritans, you have time traveled into the
past to the year 1692. You are now
living in a strict religious, yet superstitious society where dancing and
secular literature is not allowed for fear that the devil will enter the
town. Some of the girls in the town are
caught dancing in the forest. Terrified
of their punishment, two of the girls have become victim to an unexplainable
illness. Hysteria has spread through
the entire town. The townspeople are
crying witchcraft and the workings of Satan.
Accusations of witchery are brought to the court against prominent
members of the community. Many people
are arrested and beaten for actions they did not do. People were pronounced guilty before proven innocent. The laws of this time infringed upon the
rights of the people. The people were
fearful and wondered who would be next.
Could the events of the Salem Witch Trials occur in America today?
Task
As
a result of this WebQuest students will research the events of the Salem Witch
Trials and the Korematsu case via Internet.
Students will also understand how FEAR can bring out the worst in people
and harm the innocent.
Process
1. Student will be divided into groups of five.
A. Each student in the group will choose one of the
following roles:
1) Plaintiff
2) Defendant
3) Judge
4) Lawyer for the plaintiff
5) Lawyer for the defendant
2. Once specific roles have been chosen, students will
use the Internet to research the events that surrounded the Salem Witch Trials
and the Korematsu case.
3.
Students will answer the following questions about the Salem Witch Trials in their groups:
a) What started the accusations of the Salem Witch
Trials?
Causes and events
of the Salem Witch Trials
b) What type of evidence did the plaintiffs present in
court?
c) How did the defendants try to prove their innocence?
d) What was the outcome of the trials?
e) Did you agree with the outcome of the case? Why?
Transcripts of the
Salem trials
4.
Students will research the Korematsu case using CompuLEGAL. Korematsu vs.
United States.
5.
Students will compare the Salem Witch Trials and the Korematsu case and discuss
how fear was a significant factor in both cases.
Resources
Causes and events
of the Salem Witch Trials
Transcripts of the
Salem trials
Evaluation
1. Students will produce a play depicting the events in
the courtroom of the Salem Witch Trials or the Korematsu case.
A. Salem Play
1) Choose one of the following characters as the
defendant
a. Giles Corey
b. Martha Corey
c. Sarah Good
d. Rebecca Nurse
e. John Proctor
2) Choose one of the afflicted girls as the plaintiff
3) The judge
4) The lawyers must argue why their client should win the
case.
5) The juror will pronounce the verdict
B. Korematsu vs. United States
1) Defendant – United States
2) Plaintiff – Korematsu
3) Judge – Supreme Court Judge
4) The lawyers must use argue why their client should win
the case.
5) Juror – will announce the verdict
·
Students will use
Microsoft word to type the answers to the questions and their plays. A copy of all work must be submitted to your
teacher.
·
Each group will perform
the court scenes they have written. All
performances will be video taped.
English Language Arts Standards Addressed in Webquest
Standard 1: Language for
Information and Understanding
Standard 2: Language for
Literary Response and Expression
Standard 3: Language for
Critical Analysis and Evaluation
Standard 4: Language for
Social Interaction
RUBRIC
1 2 3
|
CONTENT |
Vaguely
displays knowledge of historic events and characters |
Displays
some understanding of historic events and characters |
Exhibits
clear knowledge of the historic events and characters |
|
PRESENTATION |
Disorganized, Poor speech |
Slightly
organized, Muffled
speech |
Very
organized, coherent speech |
|
CREATIVITY |
Presentation
lacked originality |
Presentation
showed some original ideas |
Presentation
highly original |
Conclusion
Found on www.webshots.com
site
FEAR
Found on www.webshots.com
site
On
September 11th, fear took over most Americans as we watched the
horrid events, which occurred at the World Trade Center. How did our fellow Americans respond to
their fears? What was your first
response as to what America should do with the Arab communities living in the
United States? Should we start accusing
innocent, law abiding Arab- Americans of terrorism and put them in jail, or
should we round-up all the Arab Americans and imprison them on an isolated
camp? Let us not let the past repeat
itself.
THINK ABOUT IT!
