Entry 1: Argument Interpretation

Read “Why I Wrote The Crucible” by Miller pg. 1213.

Compose a paragraph response and explain Miller’s argument of why he wrote The Crucible. You must include textual evidence with appropriate citations to support your claim.

Pay attention to word choice, grammar, and punctuation.

Entry 2: Compare/Contrast

“You write in order to change the world, knowing perfectly well that you probably can’t, but also knowing that literature is indispensable to the world… The world changes according to the way people see it, and if you alter, even by a millimeter, the way…people look at reality, then you can change it.”

--James Baldwin

In a paragraph response, paraphrase Baldwin’s statement and compare/contrast Baldwin’s idea with your interpretation of Miller’s purpose for writing The Crucible from Entry 1.

With your 2 o’clock partner, discuss the following:

When Abigail insists she “knows” John, what is she hoping to achieve with this assertion? Does she really know Proctor?

Why is Abigail so angry when John Proctor calls her a “child”?

What does Abigail’s speech about Salem society (pg. 1225) tell you about her view of society?

RRJ: Entry 3--Prediction

Make a prediction about the fate of each of the main characters: John Proctor, Abigail, Rev. Parris, the Putnams. Your response may be in bullet form, but you will need to explain your predictions.

Read and annotate Rader article

Any words and references that you do not understand, you need to list in RRJ Entry 4 (Radar’s References)

When you are finished reading the article, answer the following questions:› What is Rader’s argument?› What do Rader and Miller have in

common?› How does “Beat Poets Not Beat Poets”

relate to The Crucible?

Homework:

Investigate information on words and references you did not understand. Record the info in Entry 4.

Write a paragraph explaining the relevance of the additional understanding to the article as a whole and the importance of looking up unfamiliar references to truly comprehend author’s purpose.

RRJ 5—Danforth’s Truth

Consider Danforth’s line: “We burn a hot fire here; it melts down all concealment.”

Compose RRJ Entry 5 (Danforth’s

Truth). How does this line reinforce the play’s theme as suggested in the title?