Name:
Block:
Discuss the effects of mass hysteria and superstition in Arthur Miller's play The Crucible.
After reading The Crucible, an essay entitled "Why I Wrote the Crucible" by Arthur Miller, and
other historical resources on the Salem Witch Trials, write an essay that examines the causes of
mass hysteria in the community and explains the effect(s) of superstition. What conclusions or
implications can you draw? Support your discussion with evidence from the text(s).
Essential Questions:
What does mass hysteria mean?
What does superstition mean?
Helpful Hints:
Cause = Superstition
Effect = Hysteria
Extended Effect = People were falsely accused of witchcraft
Brainstorm!!!
What caused the Salem Witch Trials?
List causes from the story of The Crucible.
List possible causes according to history and research.
Cause and Effect Essay Outline
Paragraph 1
Introduction
1. Background Information/Introduce The Crucible and The Salem Witch Trials
2. Thesis Statement (Ex. “ There are many possible causes of …” or “There are several
causes that contributed to…”)
Paragraph 2
Body Paragraph (Possible Cause 1)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic Sentence
Explanation of Cause
How did this cause produce hysteria in the community?
Evidence from the Text
Wrap Up Sentence
Paragraph 3
Body Paragraph (Possible Cause 2)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic Sentence
Explanation of Cause
How did this cause produce hysteria in the community?
Evidence from the Text
Wrap Up Sentence
Paragraph 4
Body Paragraph (Possible Cause 3)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Topic Sentence
Explanation of Cause
How did this cause produce hysteria in the community?
Evidence from the Text
Wrap Up Sentence
Paragraph 5
Conclusion
1. Review all three causes.
2. Explain the overarching effect. (People were falsely accused of witchcraft because they
were superstitious.)
3. Why is this topic important today?
(You can use the text and the two articles you read to compose your essay.)
Directions: Use this outline to help you compose your rough draft. You only need to write where
there is a line, so the first thing you will be writing is your thesis statement. You only have to
write the entire segment for one body paragraph. You will only write topic sentences for the
others.
I.
Introduction
A. Background Information
B. Background Information
C. Background Information
D. Thesis:
_____________________________________________________________________
II.
Body Paragraph One
A. Topic Sentence
__________________________________________________________________
B. Explanation of Cause:
__________________________________________________________________
C. How did it produce hysteria?:
__________________________________________________________________
D. Evidence from the text:
__________________________________________________________________
E. Wrap Up Sentence:
__________________________________________________________________
III.
Body Paragraph Two
A. Topic Sentence
__________________________________________________________________
IV.
Body Paragraph Three
A. Topic Sentence
__________________________________________________________________
V. Conclusion