(Letter of Persuasion/Tribute to the Accused
d)
Introduction
You already took a virtual tour of 17th century Salem and learnt about the events that led up to the witch trials of 1692. You toured Salem Village, where you visited the homes of the accused witches and the graves in which they were eventually buried. Toward the end of your tour you read about the events that led up to the trials.
The Task
Take your notes on the information you found and use it to write a letter or create another original piece of work about Salem and the witch trials.
The Process: Exploring the Web, Creating a Product
You may want to go back to Salem and as you visit, record your responses to the following questions:
· How would you describe the area of Salem, Massachusetts in the 17th century?
· Who were the accused--their genders, their occupations, their ages, their status in the community?
· Of what were they accused?
· In the trial, what evidence was presented?
Be sure you have enough responses to the questions above to complete one of the following assignments:
Letter to the governor of Salem
Imagine you are a citizen of Salem, 1692. Write a letter to the governor demanding that the witch trials end. Use evidence from the web tour and your reading of The Crucible to support your demand. Be sure to argue against others who would like to see the trials continue. Of course, you may wish to plea for a continuance of the trials. If so, be persuasive.
Imagine you are a citizen of Salem, 1692. Write a letter to the governor demanding that the witch trials end. Use evidence from the web tour and your reading of The Crucible to support your demand. Be sure to argue against others who would like to see the trials continue. Of course, you may wish to plea for a continuance of the trials. If so, be persuasive.
A graphic tribute to the accused witches
Using your knowledge about the characters in the play and what you have learned from your tour, create a tribute to the accused. The Witch Trials Memorial is an example. Create your own tribute. You may wish to create a poster, a presentation or a web site.
Using your knowledge about the characters in the play and what you have learned from your tour, create a tribute to the accused. The Witch Trials Memorial is an example. Create your own tribute. You may wish to create a poster, a presentation or a web site.
A work of your design that reflects your knowledge of Salem and the witch trials
Using your knowledge about the play and what you have learned from your tour, create a work that responds to the question: "What contributed to the events of 1692?"
Using your knowledge about the play and what you have learned from your tour, create a work that responds to the question: "What contributed to the events of 1692?"
Performance Standards
The persuasive letter to the governor must:
· structure ideas and arguments in a sustained and logical fashion
· use specific rhetorical devices to support assertions
· clarify and defend positions with precise and relevant evidence
· address readers' concerns, counterclaims, biases, and/or expectations
The tribute to the witches or the work of your own design must:
· Show your position regarding the accused or the topic chosen.
· Refer to specific events and characters.
· Appeal to the eye.
· Appeal to the emotions.
Due date for this project Monday, February 21st
LETTER
ReplyDeleteMr. Governor
As you know there have been some problems in town about accusations of witch hunt; I believe is confusing to know the truth, but you should consider some points of view. I honestly think that witch hunt most be stopped because accusing people without proofs isn't right.
People in town started blaming without evidence, and you decided to condemn them to death some of them. If you think a second time you would see that it was wrong because they didn't have evidence of what was happening. And if you tell that they’re going to be killed if they don't tell, of course they are going to tell even if it isn't true.
You should think too that the group of girls that blamed doesn’t want to be punished so they could have decided to lie to protect themselves.
I'm writing this letter to try to stop witch hunt, I'm sure I gave you good arguments why witch hunt should end and examples that are happening in town, and is affecting in a terrible way, because is causing deaths, big trouble in personal and public ways. I hope you consider it and look for the right thing for the town.
Sincerely,
Daniela De la Hoz
October 1692
ReplyDeleteMr. Governor Phips
As a citizen of Salem, with respect I urge the government to reconsider the witch hunt. It should be stopped; blaming people without evidence is unfair. It is not literary the same, but in this case it is.
Accusing someone with evidence to support what you are demanding, is different than if you don’t. We recommend the government to always use this line of practice in order to be fair with the accused.
When there are adverse situations, the people who made the bad could be out flying in liberty putting a high risk the rest of the town, while you could have a good man sitting on trial. The entity in charge once again should always verify the truth before making wrong or what they think... right decisions.
To make a point, I want to present a case here in our town that was not correctly resolved considering the points of view written in this letter; a group of girls accused a big group of people of witchcraft with no evidence at all, just their words against the others. No evidence was shown in trial; nevertheless the accused group was punished hardly.
From a citizen that cares;
Sarah Good
Governor Phips,
ReplyDeleteI write you this letter in the name of those who are not willing or might not be able to speak up for their rights because of the circumstances in which Salem is right now. Until this huge mess took place, Salem was a peaceful place similar to any other town. People in Salem have known in each other for a long time and that’s why a scandal like the one taking place right now is something that doesn’t relate to what Salem has always been. Don’t you think it’s strange how everyone in Salem have lived so remarkably well until some girls were found dancing in a forest? And how about the fact that the people being blamed are everyone that has made Salem what it is today? Governor, you know everyone in Salem better that many; you should trust them more than anyone. It’s the word of a couple of girls against an entire town; don’t you think that’s odd? You can’t expect people to declare themselves guilty of dealing with the devil because it goes against what we Christians believe in; “we should not lie”. Maybe you should start listening to both sides of the story instead of just the girls’ side, maybe that way Salem might become what it used to be, or at least it will heal from all the pain it is going through.
Sincerely,
Anonymous
Augusto
ReplyDeleteMr. Phips
Taking in consideration the actual situation, that involves the society (and my own), from the believe of witches presence on Salem lands, I have to refer this judgment. With due respect, I have some concerns and thoughts that now run through my mind and points to this. And it is that I can´t stop and see that poor people in front of the court, sufferers and nervous from fees and charges that aren´t recognized neither belonged as for them. What does truth represents for you Mr. Governor? If you were an accused, what does it now? It is a heavy package we, God´s partisans, have to carry with. So if truth (in form of affirmation) is from both sides, accusers and accused, where do it is if one contradicts the other? Is in this case concrete evidence from the girls? As I have studied all the tortures and accusations come from the unknown (except form the eyes of the girls), and each are represented and dramatized with the holy truth of their word. Does the accused have been on troubles of this size? Have they tortured someone else than the accusers? Knowing the lives of these neighbors and all what they had passed through in Salem, I can say what their condition is and side on the battle. If you make a rigorous interrogation and a long time study to take conclusions from the sorcery and remarks of the accusers, I think the things would be revealed. Justice can´t suppose, can´t be partial for anyone, can´t be reformed. And the truth (the real one from the heart) can´t be injustice, always give the answer as it is, it shows the results as they are to be; a simple modification of this truth by convenience or whim can daze or confuse, but the real truth always has the patience to show the reality. Be wise, a cure is for the sorcery? Apply it. The bad can be attached by the good, and vice versa. If cures are not for both the accuser and the accused, call me crazy. Impossibility is impossible.
Conscience
To Governor Phips.
ReplyDeleteMr. Governor Phips, I sit here today, writing you this emotion-filled letter, to express my concern and opinion about the events that have been taking place the past few months in our town.
Really heavy accusations have been made, accusations of witchcraft and possession, both death worthy accusations and both of them made without any evidence whatsoever.
It really bothers and worries me, that a group of children have created this chaos, this atrocity of accusing people falsely and apparently only to cover their own mischievous acts. And to see the whole town acting hysterically, and without thinking straight, condemning a lot of innocent and good-doing people to death, just makes me sick, and even worried for my own life.
So I hereby urge you to stop this madness Mr. governor, and see that the truth has been hiding under your nose all along, if you just start thinking straight and be careful about who you do and don’t condemn, innocent people can stop dying unfairly.
Thank you, a very worried citizen.
Salem Massachusetts
ReplyDeleteOctober 1692
Salem, Massachusetts
Governor Phips
I proceed to write this letter, because of my concern towards some situations currently going on in our town. As you have seen, and all of us citizens have noticed many of our own are being judged and condemned in what we presume to call witch hunts and trials. As a witness of these situations I’ve noticed the lack of information given about these judgments when they’re made and the procedures taken into account after the disasters of the trials. In your personal opinion, do you believe that all of these people, who have been nothing but good to us are capable of committing these sins? Do you think even the most innocents should have their life taken because of their incapability of demanding the truth? Do you not realize the only real thing were achieving is destroying and summarizing our own town? After many years of seeing all the suffering from natural deaths, everyone appears to agree to the circumstances taken because of their fear of the devil, as if they didn’t know death if innocents is just a pleasing to it. I urge you, in personal defense of the town to stop these hunts, instead of stopping so many people to live a normal life by having them served with things out of their boundaries. You don’t even get the chance to have them prove the lack of evidence taken into account at the time of the trials. You are shortening the size of our populations and if you don’t stop you’ll simply destroy all of the members of town. So please, governor Phips, take your time to read this words carefully and think of all the suffering people who live from others actions.
Sincerely,
Anne Putnam