Now, just as centuries ago, we sometimes hear people claim, “This is a witch hunt!” Hopefully you now have a
bit more context for that claim than you did before beginning this course. Sometimes people make this claim to
try to stop unwanted investigations or news coverage, and sometimes these claims are warranted. It is
important to understand the history of witch hunts and how fear has led to persecution and discrimination
against a particular group of people. It is always the hope that understanding history will help us avoid making
similar mistakes in the future.
Genocide in Rwanda
Japanese internment camps
HIV scare in the 1980s and 1990s
Hate crimes and racial profiling after 9-11
Turkish suspicion of the Armenian people, which led to the Armenian genocide
Lynchings in the United States after the Civil War
In all of these cases (and in many others you may choose to research), fear or suspicion (or fear of losing the
society they knew) led people to persecute, discriminate against, or even kill other people. That word “other” is
key in each of these events. In each event, the “others”—the different, the unknown, the “not like us”—were the
target of suspicions, distrust, and persecution.
Your assignment is to write a 7-page essay about the historical event you choose. Remember (as we
discussed with your first research essay) that the more critical thinking you use in a research paper, the more
focused and targeted the topic of your essay will be. In other words, I do not want to receive a paper about an
entire historical event. For example, if I receive an essay about “the Armenian Genocide” or “World War II” or
“9-11,” you will receive little to no credit for your submission.
Instead, I am looking for essays that are focused specifically on the persecution or discrimination against a
specific group or specific individuals. Answer the following questions as you research:
Who was the target of the persecution? Are you identifying a specific group or examining specific individuals?
Who targeted these individuals?
What was the source of the fear or suspicion? (What caused it?)
What happened to those who were targeted? (Be specific.)
How does this event compare to the events in The Crucible?
Were there individuals who, like Proctor, refused to sacrifice their honor? (This would include either those who
were persecuted or those who attempted to defend or save the persecuted.)
Were there individuals who, like Abigail, used deceit to persecute and target?
Are there quotes from The Crucible that are relevant to a discussion of this time period? (You must include
three quotes from the play in your essay).
What lessons can you learn from your research of this event and your reading of The Crucible?
Begin your essay with an introduction of the event you researched, making a specific claim about that event
and how it compares to the events and characters described in The Crucible.
Once again, the body of your essay should describe the “witch hunt” or the persecution, individuals or groups
involved, and specific details about what happened. You must also compare and contrast this event with the
witch hunt described in The Crucible. Finally, include your thoughts about what you have learned from these
“witch hunts.” How has learning about these events affected you? How will you look at the world and those
around you differently?
After completing your rough draft, it must be revised by you or by someone else. For you to receive credit for
this draft, your instructor must be able to see that you have completed the revision process. This means that
highlighting a few words here and there does not suffice. Revise it carefully.
While writing your paper, follow these formatting guidelines