So, an "MGS" is a Multi-Genre Synthesis. This means that we're looking at texts from many genres. In this case, we're looking at:
- Document A: An article that gives us some further history behind the idea of bible and church-based witch hunts.
- Document B: This is an excerpt from Samuel Parris' sermon notebook, written in 1692, which is right in the middle of all the witch-hunting business in Salem. Parris was Salem's Puritan preacher, so you know he was right in the middle of everything. He didn't start the witch hunts, but he certainly preached about witches and the devil, and how they could negatively influence Salem and its Puritans, much like they did to the Jewish people (according to Parris). This is the most difficult article to read, and it is also the oldest. The language is a bit archaic, as you can see. You may need to rely on a dictionary (and Google!).
- Document C: A poem by Emily Dickinson, an American poet. As you see in the source notes, this was written around 200 years after the witch hunts, and you can see that it does not mention Salem, witches or the devil at all. Therefore, look for how it is thematically related to the other articles. It's all about darkness and getting used to the darkness in the absence of light. How does Dickinson's idea of "the darkness" relate to the other articles? What could "the light" be?
- Document D: A visual text of a courtroom scene from the witch trials. The woman writhing around on the ground is the accuser. She is rolling around in pain, saying that someone's specter is harming her (spectral evidence). You can see the men dressed in black are clearly in charge; people in the background of the piece are straining to see what is going on.
So here's the assignment:
1. Read and annotate the pieces in order from A to D. The pieces build on one another, as to the corresponding questions. When I say annotation, I simply mean that you have marked up the text in your efforts to understand it. For example:
- Need to look up a word? Mark it and write a definition.
- Think you found the main idea? Mark it and write "main idea."
- Confused about something? Mark it and draw a question mark.
- Found an interesting detail? Mark it and label it.
- Found a connection to something discussed in class? Mark it and write "discussed in class."
- Found a similarity or connection between two documents? Mark it and label it.
- Basically, annotations are a way of recording your thinking as you read. Annotating isn't for stupid people who can't read well; annotating is a tool that will help you understand a challenging text. Indeed, I chose challenging texts for this MGS. I know they're not easy, but I know you can do it.
2. Answer the questions in complete sentences.
3. Answer the Essential Question. I placed the question at the top of every page; it's the same on every page. Reread the essential question a few times. Think about it: How did the evil start? How did the evil spread? Who influenced these Puritans? What were the Puritans motivated by - what were they afraid of? So, answer the essential question using evidence from at least two documents in the MGS. To cite your sources, use quotations and parenthesis ( ) at the end of the sentences that contain quotations. Cite the document letter inside the parenthesis. Citing document D is a little different - because it's a visual! If you'd like to cite document D, put whatever detail you want to use into your own words and put "D" in parenthesis at the end of the sentence.
For example: The spectators watched the accuser writhing in pain on the floor of the court room (D).
I know this is a lot, but it also took a whole block day to finish in groups with my help. I just wrote out all the stuff people asked questions about the most. If you have any questions, please email me Emily.Wise@humbleisd.net.
