Dramatizing History in Arthur Miller's "The Crucible"

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 9

• Goal 5: The learner will demonstrate understanding of various literary genres, concepts, elements, and terms.
  • Objective 5.01: Read and analyze various literary works by:
    • using effective reading strategies for preparation, engagement, reflection.
    • recognizing and analyzing the characteristics of literary genres, including fiction (e.g., myths, legends, short stories, novels), non-fiction (e.g., essays, biographies, autobiographies, historical documents), poetry (e.g., epics, sonnets, lyric poetry, ballads) and drama (e.g., tragedy, comedy).
    • interpreting literary devices such as allusion, symbolism, figurative language, flashback, dramatic irony, dialogue, diction, and imagery.
    • understanding the importance of tone, mood, diction, and style.
    • explaining and interpreting archetypal characters, themes, settings.
    • explaining how point of view is developed and its effect on literary texts.
    • determining a character's traits from his/her actions, speech, appearance, or what others say about him or her.
    • explaining how the writer creates character, setting, motif, theme, and other elements.
    • making thematic connections among literary texts and media and contemporary issues.
    • understanding the importance of cultural and historical impact on literary texts.
    • producing creative responses that follow the conventions of a specific genre and using appropriate literary devices for that genre.

Grade 10

• Goal 4: The learner will critically interpret and evaluate experiences, literature, language, and ideas.
  • Objective 4.01: Interpret a real-world event in a way that:
    • makes generalizations about the event supported by specific references.
    • reflects on observation and shows how the event affected the current viewpoint.
    • distinguishes fact from fiction and recognizes personal bias.
  • Objective 4.03: Analyze the ideas of others by identifying the ways in which writers:
    • introduce and develop a main idea.
    • choose and incorporate significant, supporting, relevant details.
    • relate the structure/organization to the ideas.
    • use effective word choice as a basis for coherence.
    • achieve a sense of completeness and closure.
  • Objective 4.04: Evaluate the information, explanations, or ideas of others by:
    • identifying clear, reasonable criteria for evaluation.
    • applying those criteria using reasoning and substantiation.

Grade 11

• Goal 3: The learner will demonstrate increasing sophistication in defining issues and using argument effectively.
  • Objective 3.02: Select an issue or theme and take a stance on that issue by:
    - reflecting the viewpoint(s) of Americans of different times and places.
    - showing sensitivity or empathy for the culture represented.
    - supporting the argument with specific reasons.
  • Objective 3.03: Use argumentation for:
    - interpreting researched information effectively.
    - establishing and defending a point of view.
    - addressing concerns of the opposition.
    - using logical strategies (e.g., deductive and inductive reasoning, syllogisms, analogies) and sophisticated techniques (e.g., rhetorical devices, parallelism, irony, concrete images).
    -developing a sense of completion.
• Goal 5: The learner will interpret and evaluate representative texts to deepen understanding of literature of the United States.
  • Objective 5.01: Interpret the significance of literary movements as they have evolved through the literature of the United States by:
    - analyzing the characteristics of literary genres, including fiction, non-fiction, drama, and poetry, and how the selection of genre shapes meaning.
    - relating ideas, styles, and themes within literary movements of the United States.
    - understanding influences that progress through the literary movements of the United States.
    -evaluating the literary merit and/or historical significance of a work from Colonial Literature, the Romantic Era, Realism, the Modern Era, and Contemporary Literature.

Grade 12

• Goal 4: The learner will analyze and critique texts from various perspectives and approaches.
  • Objective 4.01: Develop critiques that enable an audience to judge claims and arguments by:
    -establishing and applying clear, credible criteria for evaluation.
    - substantiating assessments with reasons and evidence.

Social Studies (2003)

Grade 9

• Goal 8: Patterns of History - The learner will assess the influence of ideals, values, beliefs, and traditions on current global events and issues.
  • Objective 8.01: Trace developments in literary, artistic, and religious traditions over time as legacies of past societies or as cultural innovations.
  • Objective 8.06: Analyze the meanings of "civilization" in different times and places and demonstrate how such meanings reflect the societies of which they are a part.