Informative Essay“The Crucible” vs McCarthyism

Assignment

•Write an informative essay comparing and contrasting The Crucible with McCarthyism.

•Use Articles from McCarthyism found on blog AND The Crucible to form 3-4 topic sentences, details and support.

•Need references, 1 MUST be The Crucible

•Need 1 article/reference for each topic.

McCarthyism Facts•McCarthyism is the practice of making

accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence.

• 1950’s• Senator Joseph McCarthy accused many people of

being a communist. It then snowballed.• Arthur Miller wrote The Crucible in response to

McCarthyism.• On a literal level, The Crucible is about he Salem

witch trials of 1692, but on an allegorical level, it is about McCarthyism.

• The word “crucible” means a test or trial.

McCarthyism Facts • During the McCarthy era, thousands of Americans were accused

of being communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists. Suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence, and the level of threat posed by a person's real or supposed leftist associations or beliefs was often greatly exaggerated. Many people suffered loss of employment and/or destruction of their careers; some even suffered imprisonment. Most of these punishments came about through trial verdicts later overturned, laws that were later declared unconstitutional, dismissals for reasons later declared illegal or actionable or extra-legal procedures that would come into general disrepute.

Rubric•Clear thesis/claim, main idea or purpose stated.•At least three topics developed and supported

with well chosen, relevant, authoritative, known sources, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.

•Essay is written from third person point of view. Writer does not use first person (I/We) or second person (You).

•Introductory paragraph includes hook, background and claim/thesis.

COMPARE AND CONTRAST

•Instigator: Abby / Joseph McCarthy•Climate of Fear•Mass Hysteria•Revenge for personal gain•Naming names / Accusing (“I can name fingers and point names!!”)

Movie quote from ??? First person to stand and say the name of the movie and character that said quote wins candy bar.

•Effects of being accused

REQUIREMENTS

•2-3 pages•MLA format•12 point font, Times New Roman•Double spaced•Paragraphs indented•One inch margins•Works Cited page done correctly