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Unit two: puritanism: Then and now

What are some of the earliest American attitudes toward independence and freedom? | What is Puritanism? | What impact has Puritanism made on our culture throughout history?

How did the Salem Witch Trials come to be? | How does Arthur Miller use The Crucible to critique the practice we now know as McCarthyism? | What is cancel culture?

CYCLE 4, CLASS 1 SEPTEMBER 17, 20

(1) We’ll begin with a quiz on vocabulary from the remainder of The Crucible.

(2) Today is our first SENTENCE BOOT CAMP. We’re going to review the differences between and how to punctuate simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

TO DO:

(1) All of what we did during class today should inform your approach to your sentences in your body paragraph. I would like to see more variety in your sentence-level writing. Make an effort as you are writing and revising your body paragraph to include compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. If there’s a sentence you worked hard on, put it in bold, letting me know of your extra effort. Remember that body paragraph is due next Wednesday, September 22.

(2) Finish reading Act 2 of The Crucible for our next class.

CYCLE 4, CLASS 2 SEPTEMBER 20, 21

(1) Let’s take a few minutes at the beginning of class today to remember how your body paragraph document should be formatted.

(2) Then we will discuss the remainder of Act 2 together and watch the final few minutes of the scene in our production.

(3) If we have time, we will finish by reading the first few pages of Act 3 together; otherwise, you’ll read them as part of your homework.

TO DO:

(1) Your essay is due during our next class. Have a printed copy of the document ready for me to collect in class. Please do not forget to post to turnitin.com by 3:30 PM.

(2) Read from where we left off in class to the end of page 110, stopping after John Proctor’s spectacular confession to Judge Danforth in open court.

CYCLE 4, CLASS 3 SEPTEMBER 22, 23

(1) Today we’ll discuss and watch the section of Act 3 that I asked you to prepare for today.

TO DO:

(1) Finish reading Act 3 of The Crucible.

(2) Prepare for a quote quiz on Acts 2 and 3.

CYCLE 4, CLASS 4 SEPTEMBER 23, 24

(1) Today we will begin with a quiz on Acts 2 and 3.

(2) We’ll discuss the remainder of Act 3.

TO DO:

(1) Before we begin Act 4, I want to take an interlude to have a discussion about what you may or may not see as a modern day witch hunt. The unit is called Puritanism: Then and Now; I want to see if you think what Miller saw in the Salem witch trials could be going on today. To that end, please make sure you have prepared all of the material under What’s Due? above. Know that there are strong opinions on these subjects. That’s a good thing and not something we want to shy away from. Bring you supportable opinions and your thoughts to class, so we can have a productive conversation about what has notoriously become known as “cancel culture.”

CYCLE 4, CLASS 5 SEPTEMBER 27, 28

(1) Cancel Culture

TO DO:

(1) Finish the play!

CYCLE 5, CLASS 1 SEPTEMBER 29, 30

Final Discussion of The Crucible

TO DO:

(1) Study for Act 4 Quiz

CYCLE 5, CLASS 2 SEPTEMBER 30, october 1

(1) Act 4 Quiz

(2) I will set your full-length, thematic essay on The Crucible.

TO DO:

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CYCLE 3, CLASS 1 SEPTEMBER 7, 8

(1) Today we’ll continue our study of Miller’s text and the Old Vic’s production of The Crucible.

(2) Toward the end of class, I’ll set your next essay assignment of the year.

TO DO: Read the the end of Act 1, page 48.

CYCLE 3, CLASS 2 SEPTEMBER 8, 9

(1) Let’s step back and look at the whole of Act 1 thematically.

(2) I’d also like to work through a sample passage from the text to demonstrate the kind of close reading required for this upcoming assignment. I’ll also pass out a copy of my body paragraph primer for sophomores.

TO DO: Study for the first quiz on what we’ve read and watched of The Crucible so far.

CYCLE 3, CLASS 3 SEPTEMBER 10, 13

(1) Act 1 reading quiz on The Crucible.

(2) Today we’ll begin Act 2.

TO DO: Begin or continue work on your first essay on The Crucible.

CYCLE 3, CLASS 4 SEPTEMBER 13, 14

No Classes for Tropical Storm Nicholas

CYCLE 3, CLASS 5 SEPTEMBER 15, 16

Section 2:

We’ll use the day today to work on your body paragraph. BP Primer.

Sections 5 and 6:

Our goal today is to finish Act 2 of The Crucible.

TO DO: Study for the vocabulary quiz.

CYCLE 4, CLASS 1 SEPTEMBER 17, 20

(1) We’ll begin with a quiz on vocabulary from the remainder of The Crucible.

(2) Today is our first SENTENCE BOOT CAMP. We’re going to review the differences between and how to punctuate simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences.

TO DO:

(2) Finish reading Act 2 of The Crucible for our next class.