WE FINISHED READING MILLER’S play last week. After the snow day, and reading the fourth act of The Crucible, we spent three days reading, discussing, analyzing the writing of Anne Bradstreet, including “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” and “Verses Upon the Burning of Our House.” What do we make of Bradstreet’s world view? What do her poems reveal about the role of women in 17th century Puritan society? We will finish our unit on The Crucible with a paper. What does the play say about free expression? What freedom(s) must an individual relinquish in order to survive in society? Why do the people of Salem turn on one another?

MONDAY

Follow up to last week’s analysis of the Bradstreet poem. Then, discussion of act four. Why does Proctor confess to a sin he does not commit? And then, why does he refuse to sign a written confession? Why does Danforth demand such a confession, when Proctor freely admits to dealing with the Devil?
HW: Revisit your annotations in the play.

TUESDAY

Starting a documentary, “Colonial House.” 17 modern American and European laypersons take on the role of 16th century colonists for a four month period to experience the life of founding European settlers.
HW: Review your reading of the Sarah Vowell selection. Furthermore, begin writing your claim for the Puritan paper: “After reading The Crucible and selected readings, the MOST important idea about the Puritans is ________. Knowing this, one comes to realize about America that __________. Have a first draft of your claim for class tomorrow, typed and printed.

WEDNESDAY

We will start in small groups, reporting out claims and reading them aloud. I will collect your annotations. We will then finish yesterday’s part one of the documentary, and begin the third (and final part we will watch) on religion in pre-colonial America.
HW: Revise your claim and begin drafting reasons that support your claim. Remember, if your claim is too broad and not debatable, you’ll have problems developing reasons in support. You should be able to ask and answer the question, “So what?” to check your claim.

THURSDAY

We will return to the writing circles established yesterday, and report out on the revisions to the claims for your Puritan papers. We will then finish the documentary, Colonial House. Then, students will select one well written sentence from Vowell’s The Wordy Shipmates here.
HW: Finish a working outline for your paper. Have a hard copy with you in class tomorrow.

FRIDAY

Meeting in 377-N to work on Puritan papers.
HW: 1st draft of papers are due on Monday.