JUNIOR RESEARCH PAPER
1. You will select and/or be assigned a topic connecting The Crucible/Salem Witch Trials to a real
life “witch hunt.”
2. Your will gather research on a specific event or background on The Crucible/ Salem Witch
Trials. You will then use this research to write the first part of your paper.
3. The second part of your researcher paper will consist of research of your chosen historical
application. You may use outside sources to help provide background information and finding
the similarities or differences to your chosen historical topic and The Crucible.
4. The third part of your paper will be to compare/contrast part one and part two.
5. PRIMARY SOURCE: This is The Crucible text you have read and MUST include direct
citations from the literary selection and supplemental reading to support your analysis.
6. SECONDARY SOURCES: These are the sources that you have used to gather your research
on your assigned topic. You can have book sources (including reference books from the
library), encyclopedia, newspapers, magazines, and library database sources. You must have
a minimum of three (3) secondary sources.
7. Your teacher may allow you to use a VIABLE, RELIABLE internet source. You must have
your teacher’s approval of the use of the internet and your teacher’s approval of each specific
site.
TOPICS
After studying Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, students should be aware of how an individual’s actions
can affect others. Keeping this idea in mind, you are now going to do additional research on the
actual facts surrounding the tragic events of Salem in 1692 and/or the historical aspects of The Red
Scare/McCarthyism in the 1950s. The options for research and writing are many.
Some examples are:

Compare/Contrast character(s) in the play to his/her actual counterpart(s) in the witch trials.

Compare/Contract event(s) in the play to actual historical event(s) occurring in Salem during the same
time period.

Compare/Contrast the social atrocities occurring in Salem in 1692 or in the play with those occurring in
the United States during the time of Senator Joseph McCarthy or a different time period.

Compare/Contrast the alleged causes of the accusations in the play to the actual historical accusations
in Salem.

Compare/Contrast The Crucible witch hunt (motivations) to other “witch hunts” in history—either actual
witch hunts or historical events that centered around finding a fall-guy for a societal wrong.

Compare/Contrast themes, such as greed, hysteria, manipulation, found in the play with historical
representations of theme.
GUIDELINES
The research paper will count for FOUR major grades and daily grades taken along the way. The
first grade is the contract grade, given as soon as the paper is turned in. The content, mechanics,
and form grade will be give after the paper has been graded.
CONTRACT GRADE:
The contract grade is determined using the final criteria:
Grade
Works
Cited
100
90
80
70
5 or more
4
3
2
Sources
6
5
4
3
Grid
Pages
5
4
3
2
Citations
8 or more
7
6
5
Typed Length
5 pages (1300-1500 words)
4 pages (1000-1200 words)
3 pages (850-1000 words)
2 pages (600-800 words)
You may not contract for anything lower than a 70 as this results in a failing grade. Thus you are
required to meet the minimum requirement. Each part of the above component will have separate
due dates.
The Crucible______________________________________________________________________
Historical Application:_______________________________________________________________
Theme (if applicable):_______________________________________________________________
Comparison or Contrast:_____________________________________________________________
DUE DATES:
Select topic and signature form: Tuesday, December 3
Research Grids (min. 3 pages): Monday, December 9
Preliminary Thesis statement and outline: Thursday, December 12
Handwritten Rough Draft (outline, core paper, with citations): Tuesday, December 17
Typed Rough Draft (complete with works cite, research, bradded folder): Friday, December 20
Final Product: Wednesday, January 15 for +15 points on lowest grade
Friday, January 17 at the beginning of class (no exceptions)
***Note- Computer problems, printer problems, absences, etc… are not acceptable excuses
for late papers. Penalty is -50 points the first day late and a 0 after the second day. A late
paper or paper not turned in guarantees a failure for the six weeks and maybe even the
semester. The library is open from 7:30 am-4:30 pm every day, so limited access to a
computer is an unacceptable excuse for late papers. Tutorials are available every day during
activity period and second lunch. Before/after school sessions are available by appointment.
GUIDELINES
The research paper will count for FOUR major grades and daily grades taken along the way. The
first grade is the contract grade, given as soon as the paper is turned in. The content, mechanics,
and form grade will be give after the paper has been graded.
CONTRACT GRADE:
Set a goal for yourself now and circle the row that you are choosing to accomplish.
Grade
Works
Cited
Sources
Grid
Pages
Citations
Typed Length
100
5 or more
6
5
8 or more
5 pages (1300-1500 words)
90
4
5
4
7
4 pages (1000-1200 words)
80
3
4
3
6
3 pages (850-1000 words)
70
2
3
2
5
2 pages (600-800 words)
You may not contract for anything lower than a 70 as this results in a failing grade. Thus you are
required to meet the minimum requirement. Each part of the above component will have separate
due dates.
DUE DATES:
Select topic and signature form: Tuesday, December 3
Research Grids (min. 3 pages): Monday, December 9
Preliminary Thesis statement and outline: Thursday, December 12
Handwritten Rough Draft (outline, core paper, with citations): Tuesday, December 17
Typed Rough Draft (complete with works cite, research, bradded folder): Friday, December 20
Final Product: Wednesday, January 15 for +15 points on lowest grade
Friday, January 17 at the beginning of class (no exceptions)
***Note- Computer problems, printer problems, absences, etc… are not acceptable excuses
for late papers. Penalty is -50 points the first day late and a 0 after the second day. A late
paper or paper not turned in guarantees a failure for the six weeks and maybe even the
semester. The library is open from 7:30 am-4:30 pm every day, so limited access to a
computer is an unacceptable excuse for late papers. Tutorials are available every day during
activity period and second lunch. Before/after school sessions are available by appointment.
Student Signature: ___________________________________________
Parent Signature: ____________________________________________
CONTENT RUBRIC
Introduction/thesis/proven thesis
Topic Sentence/paragraph development/
Organization
Coherence
Effective use of quotes/paraphrasing
Lead-in and follow-up
Framing (quotes can’t stand alone)
Word Choice
Slang/Trash Words
Contractions
1st/2nd person
(25)________________
(20)________________
(25)________________
(20)________________
(10)________________
TOTAL
(100)________________
Comments:
MECHANICS RUBRIC
#Errors_______ X 5= ________- 100= ______
Sentence Variety (up to 10)
+ ______
Effective use
of transitions
(up to 10)
+ ______
TOTAL
Guiding Ideas and Research Grid
Outline that follows paper
Rough Draft
Handwritten and typed
Evidence of revision
Parenthetical Citations
Summary, paraphrase,
Direct quote
Works Cited
Adheres to MLA Criteria
__________
FORM RUBRIC
(10)_______________
(10)_______________
(20)_______________
(20)_______________
(20)_______________
(20)_______________
TOTAL
Comments:
(100)______________