S+Toto,+Kaitlin

**Office: 326** **Office Phone: (207) 778-xxxx** **Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday** ** E-mail: kaitlin.toto@maine.edu **
 * Teacher: Ms. Toto**

=Summary of Unit= This unit was created to help you, the student, be better informed about the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, Arthur Miller's play //The Crucible// and the themes, symbols and characters therein, and the 1950's Red Scare. We will be uncovering the material in the unit be creating a blog and posting entries to it regularly, designing a virtual tour of Salem, Massachusetts using Google Earth, creating a poster using Glogster, recording a podcast on GarageBand explaining the relation between John Proctor and Abigail Williams through role playing, taking your own digital photography conveying symbols from Miller's play and uploading them to your Wikispace, and by creating a ComicLife illustrating the themes from the play. Throughout this unit, I want you to keep in mind how culture can have an effect on the arts and how guilt, intolerance and reputation are all themes present in //The Crucible// and our lives today. At the conclusion of the unit, you will be asked to film a video using iMovie which is explained further in the Performance Task Overview section of your syllabus.

=Establish Goals= English Language Arts - A) Reading A2) Literary Arts Grade 9 to diploma //The Crucible// Students read text within a grade appropriate span of text complexity, and presents analyses of drama, using excerpts from the text to defend their assertions. = = =Students will understand that= = = =Essential Questions= How do we identify themes? How does setting effect characters and plot development in the play? Where are specific symbols used in the play? = = =Students will know=
 * there is more than one theme in //The Crucible//.
 * conflict can be found among the characters and setting in the play.
 * there is one symbol presented in //The Crucible.//
 * Vocabulary**: symbol, theme, point of view (P.O.V.) protagonist, antagonist, climax, plot (rising/falling actions, resolution)
 * Important events/ people**: Abigail Williams, John Proctor, Thomas Putnam, Judge Thomas Danforth, the Red Scare, Senator Joseph McCartney
 * Key factual information**: consumption tainted wheat crops, Puritans, time line of witch trials, McCarthyism

= = =Students will be able to...= • express major themes from the text. • illustrate the symbols present within the text. • design blogs which will focus entirely on one character from the play. • analyze the symbol of McCarthyism presented in the text. • relate themes to actual life. • be aware of historical locations in Salem, Massachusetts that are relevant to the witch trials.

**Performance Task Overview** The producers of “Survivor”, a reality television show on the CBS network, are searching for contestants to compete on their newly announced high school edition. The producers have announced that the upcoming season will be depicting Arthur Miller’s famous 1953 play, //The Crucible//. High school students across the United States are being asked to film mock competitions in place of traditional audition videos. You, the students, are to be the directors, the actors, the producers, and the writers of your videos. It is your job to have an accurate representation of Miller’s characters in your videos and to clearly portray themes and symbols that are found within the text. The members of the two winning teams will be given the opportunity to compete on the hit television show for one million dollars and the chance to receive the title of the “soul survivor.”

=Expectations=

On our class Wikispace, there is a location that will be chalk full of our class notes, discussions, etc. Please take advantage of this resource! On the days that you miss class, please read the notes and keep up-to-date on our progress if at all possible. In many instances you will be able to find handouts and other forms on our Wikispace.
 * Absent Policy**: I'm your teacher; it's my job to be to class on time and ready to educate. You're the student; it's your job to be to class on time and ready to learn. However, sick days and absences are part of any job. If you're going to miss school, due to illness, family emergency, etc., //please// communicate with me (my email is located at the top of this page). It's both of our responsibilities to make sure you're on track and your homework and assignments are being completed in a timely fashion. As far as our actual classes go, please note that I have a Skype account. If you are contagious, but feeling well enough to be engaged in our class discussions, feel free to Skype into our classroom. Like I said before, just email me that you'd like to Skype with the class and we'll make it happen! If you're preparing for a planned absents (family vacations, conventions, etc.), communication is key! The sooner you let me know, the sooner you and I will be able to create a plan of attack in order that you may complete homework, assignments, readings, and be able to catch up on any missed in-class work. As soon as you are well and back into your regular routine, please come to see me so we can make sure we're both on the same page!


 * Late Policy**: Again, communication is a necessity! If you're unsure that you'll be able to complete an assignment on time, please come speak to me. To sooner I know the better, and the more likely you and I will have to create a solution. Late work will be dealt with case by case, depending on the situation, assignment, your needs, and whether or not late work is a regular issue for you. Most importantly, I need to see effort. If you're struggling, don't wait until the class that the assignment is due to ask for help; that route is not responsible. Also, please don't wait until class to tell me you were not able to complete an assignment. Remember, it's the 21st century and I have email!


 * Assignment Expectations**: One word: EFFORT! Please put your best foot forward. You're entering an English course; grammar, spelling, formatting and all that good stuff counts! Don't depend souly on your spellchecker. You know what a dictionary is, and it's not a paperweight! Assignments need to be completed in a timely manner. Please do your utmost to complete your work and hand it in on time. I do //not// assign homework to keep you busy; all homework has a purpose. If you are unsure of why I'm asking you to complete a certain task or assignment, please don't hesitate to ask.


 * Class expectations:** Three words: understanding, respect and fun. We are in a community of learners who all learn differently. We are in this classroom together to help and support each other. And remember, if you're not having fun, it's not worth doing! I'll do my best to keep you all engaged, having fun, and most importantly, learning! There are no formal rules in this classroom. No, I will not be creating a poster of listed rules for you to follow. And no, I will not baby you. You are all young, mature adults and I expect you to act as such.


 * Plagiarism Policy**: You've heard it time and time again. If you choose to plagiarize, you leave me no other option than to report the incident. The ramifications of plagiarism are extensive. You will most likely receive a failing mark for the assignment, be reprimanded by order of our school district's policy, and put on academic probation. You're in school to receive an education; stealing work doesn't count as learning. You will be doing yourself a major disservice if you choose to cheat and/or plagiarize. Don't forget, not citing a source is still plagiarism. Please come see me if you need help citing in the requested format.

=Benchmarks - 425 points= • **Blog**: Students will asked to create a blog using Blogger (user-name, password). Your assignment for your blog to follow one character from //The Crucible// and watch his or her development. Your first entry will be regarding someone in your life who resembles a character from Arthur Miller's play. Each entry should be at least twenty sentences in length. This particular assignment will start at the beginning of the unit and end at the conclusion of the play. //**50 points**//
 * Comic Life**: Using ComicLife, you will create a visual representation of the themes presented in Miller's play. You may choose to only convey one theme, or you may pick multiple themes. You will work individually for this project. Your comic must be at least 5 pages in length; there is no maximum length. //**50 points**//
 * Podcast**: Students will create podcast interviews of Abigail Williams and John Proctor. Students will work in groups of three: one student to be Abigail, one to be John and the final student to be the interviewer, radio show host, or whoever you prefer the third character of your podcast to be. The podcast should cover such topics as the characters relationship, their role in the hysteria, and other topics of that nature. The podcast, when completed, should be no more than six minutes in length. //**50 points**//
 * Google Earth**: You will use this tool to create a virtual tour of Salem, Massachusetts. Your tour should include any and all relevant historical locations from the 1692 witch trials. You will be asked to visit such websites as [|Salem's official website]. Students will work in groups of two and will present their final product to the class. Peer and teacher feedback will offered and students will have an opportunity to revise their tour. //**50 points**//
 * Wikispace**: Individually, you will upload your own original digital photography to Wikispace. Each photograph will be representative of a symbol, theme, imagery, or character present within the text. You will then add a brief explanation as to why you chose the photographs you did and how the photographs accurately depict a symbol, theme, image, or character from the play. Each explanation should at least be one paragraph (five to seven) sentences in length. **//50 points//**
 * Glogster**: Using the online resource, Glogster, you will create a virtual poster depicting the Red Scare and McCarthyism. The overall goal of this assignment is to create a visual for something, in this case themes, that usually isn't depicted visually. Students will work in pairs. //**50 points**//


 * Final Project**: See Performance Task Overview for the description of the final project. //**100 points**//


 * Participation**: Your participation grade will be derived from your activeness in class discussions and activities, your preparedness, the completion of assignments and handing your assignments in on time. //**10 points**//


 * Creativity**: BE CREATIVE! Think outside of the box and take a step or two (or eight) out of your comfort zone! Most importantly, remember that our classroom is a place for you to express yourself as a learner.//**15 points**//

=Grading Scale= **A** (93 -100), **A-** (90 - 92), **B+** (87 - 89), **B** (83 - 86), **B-** (80 - 82), **C+**(77 - 79), **C** (73-76), **C-** (70 - 72), **D+**(67 - 69), **D** (63 - 66), **D-** (60 - 62), **F** (0 - 59).