1. “The Crucible” vs McCarthyism
Informative Essay
“The Crucible” vs McCarthyism

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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

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