The Crucible Essay
Objective: Students will examine and write about the differences between historical events and
fictionalized account of those same events.
Paper expectations: 1000-1500 word product. Use The Crucible and external sources. Final product
must be in MLA format. Must include quotes from source material. It must be a well-developed and
organized essay. Papers should be student’s original work. A works cited page and in text citations
should be used. Students will use correct punctuation in essay.
Common Core Standards: W.11.2 (a-f), W.11.4,5,7,8,9,10, RL.11.1,9, L.11.1,2,6
Possible Topics: (as an instructor, choose one or offer the choice to students)
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How does Puritan life in The Crucible differ from historically accurate Puritan life?
What are the differences between the historical events of the Salem Witchcraft trials and the
fictionalized account as presented in The Crucible?
How does the character Hale differ from the same historical figure?
How does The Crucible convey an Allegory for the McCarthy trials? (advanced students?)
Step 1: Before starting the play, teacher passes out articles to the students about Puritan Life, Salem
Witchcraft Trials, and/or a chosen historical figure. Students read and use thinking notes to mark the
key ideas in the text.
Step 2: As students read the play, they should use the provided handout to track details pertaining to
the articles they read and to record quotes (with page citations) relevant to those topics.
Step 3: Go to computer lab and have students use library databases and the internet to find additional
sources to use in comparing the history to the fiction. Have students use thinking notes to find key ideas
in the articles.
Step 4: Teach plagiarism, works cited (MLA style), and how to cite in text.
Step 5: Have students complete (brief) outline to organize ideas for essay.
Step 6: Students write paper, bring paper in to class (or turn in online) and complete a peer editing
assignment with their peers.
Step 7: Students edit and re-write papers and turn in final draft to teachers (optional re-write up to
teacher discretion).
Reading Record
In the left column, write down a historical fact about the way of life, event, or person you will be analyzing. In the right column,
write down quotes from the novel that address that fact (make sure to write your page citation!).
(Aurelia Kamp) Plagiarism Assignment
MLA Formatting Sheet
Outline
Peer Editing idea sheet