HISTORY 3020
Topics in American History:
The Salem Witch Trials
Fall 2010
HISTORY 3020Topics in American History:The Salem Witch TrialsFall 2010 |
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Dr. Jim Williams
Todd Hall 128
Office hours: As director of the Albert Gore Research Center, my hours vary. I am on campus most
days and can arrange to meet with you at times convenient to both of us. Please phone or email to
arrange an appointment.
Office phone with voicemail: 898-2633
E-mail: jhwillia AT mtsu DOT edu
Web page: www.mtsu.edu/~jhwillia
The goal of this course is to promote the intellectual and personal development of all the participants. We do this by exploring the witchcraft trials that occurred in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, in the larger context of Atlantic history in which the trials occurred. We are intentionally multidisciplinary in our study of the trials. We demonstrate our progress toward the course goal orally in class and in numerous writing assignments.
The biggest question for us to consider is this: Why did the Salem witch trials occur in Salem in 1692? In an effort to answer this question, we will explore the primary documents from the trials, contemporary commentary, background from Europe and other parts of colonial America, and more recent interpretations of the witch trials by historians, legal scholars, scientists, novelists, and film makers.
More specifically, these are the learning outcomes for this course. Students will increase their ability to:
These will be discussed on the first day of class and agreed upon by all members of the class.
Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in any form in this course. Whether you intend to break the rules is irrelevant. The most likely way that you can behave dishonestly is to commit plagiarism. There are several types of plagiarism, and you are responsible for understanding all of them. Be particularly careful in this class not to copy word-for-word from one of the books (or any other source) without putting those quoted words in quotation marks. Also, we will notice if two or more people cheat by turning in identical work. If you are found to have committed plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty, you will receive a zero on that assignment, and your penalty may increase to failure in the course, depending on the circumstances. Dr. Williams will also notify the dean of judicial affairs, who may apply additional sanctions (probation, expulsion, etc.) according to university policy. If you have questions about academic dishonesty and university policy, please consult your student handbook, the student affairs web site, or Dr. Williams.
Paul Boyer and Stephen Nissenbaum, eds., Salem-Village Witchcraft: A Documentary Record of Local
Conflict in Colonial New England (ISBN 9781555531652).
Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of
1692 (ISBN 9780375706905).
Richard Godbeer, Escaping Salem: The Other Witch Hunt of 1692 (ISBN 9780195161304).
Eve LaPlante, Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall (ISBN 9780060859602).
There are many web sites devoted to the Salem witch trials. These are a few that I have test driven and that look reputable.
The National Geographic Society's Interactive Salem Witchcraft Hysteria page
17th Century New England Links: Primary Sources
Salemweb.com Witches Page, including photos of the memorial in Salem
Witchcraft in Salem Village: Danvers Archival Center with University of Virginia
The Salem Witchcraft GIS: A Visual Re-Creation of Salem in 1692
You may find the following handouts useful and are welcome to copy them:
Students are encouraged to use the University Writing Center to improve their written work in this course. The center is located in the Walker University Library. The center staff may be reached by phone at 904-8237 or by E-mail at uwcenter@mtsu.edu. Their web site is www.mtsu.edu/uwc. The staff of faculty and graduate assistants will work with students at any stage of the writing process on issues such as organization, unity, coherence, opening and closing paragraphs, diction, and grammar, but they will not proofread or edit student writing.
If you have a disability that may require assistance or accommodation, or you have questions related to any accommodations for testing, note takers, readers, etc., please speak with Dr. Williams as soon as possible. Students may also contact the Office of Disabled Student Services (898-2783) with questions about such services.
Your course grade will be determined by how well you convince the instructor that you have developed intellectually and personally through your understanding of the big question that this course considers and your mastery of the learning outcomes stated above. The plus/minus grading system will be used, as follows, from the possible point total of 1000: A (910-1000), B+ (876-909), B (825-875), B- (800-824), C+ (776-799), C (725-775), C- (700-724), D+ (676-699), D (625-675), D- (600-624), F (below 600). Everyone who earns an A will receive an A; there are no limits.
There are no examinations in this course.
These are the six categories in which you may earn credit in this course:
I. Attendance and class participation (200 points): You will sign an attendance sheet during class each day.
For each class, the instructor will assign each student either one, two, or three participation points, as
follows: one point for silent attendance; two points for some participation; three points for outstanding
participation. At the end of the course, the instructor will add each student's points and translate those
points into a numerical grade using the top students as a guide. Please note: The top student(s) may or may
not fall into the A range. This determination is left to the judgment of the instructor. A great deal of
this class revolves around discussion and group work in class. Your attendance each day is essential.
Special note: A prize will be given to a student with
perfect attendance. In the event that more than one student achieves perfect
attendance, a winner will be selected at random. For the sake of this
prize, "perfect" means being present every time an attendance sheet is
distributed and remaining for the majority of each class. Contesting your absences will automatically
disqualify you for the prize.
II. Article analysis (50 points): Every student will select a scholarly article from an extensive list compiled by Dr. Williams. These articles (usually 15-25 pages in length) are divided into several categories that we will be using to organize our analysis of the Salem witch trials. It is hoped that each student will select an essay from the category that most interests her or him. Each student will read the article they have chosen (Dr. Williams will provide copies). Then, no later than Thursday, October 7, she or he will present in an email to the class listserv the article's argument, how that argument fits into the broader interpretations of the Salem witch trials, the evidence the author(s) uses, and an assessment of the article's interpretation. All students will read the article reviews and present questions to classmates in class on Tuesday, October 12. A grade of A, B, C, D, or F will be assigned to each analysis and how well the student responds to class questions.
III. Primary document analyses (200 points maximum; 40 points each): Students may complete as many as five analyses of primary sources from the course readings using the TAMPER method. Instructions will be distributed. Click here for TAMPER worksheet. Click here for list of TAMPER assignments.
IV. Essay on feature films (200 points): This shorter essay (four to five pages) is your critical historical evaluation of "Three Sovereigns for Sarah" and the two versions of "The Crucible" that we will watch in class. Questions to consider include: Are the films historically accurate? What dramatic license do the film makers take? Are their interpretations convincing? Do the films help or hinder the viewer's understanding of the Salem witch trials?
V. Essay on Salem Witch Judge (100 points): This shorter essay (four to five pages) asks you to consider the aftermath and long-term consequences of the Salem witch trials, using Eve LaPlante's book and other information distributed in class and other readings assigned. More details when the time comes.
VI. Final course essay (250 points): In lieu of examinations, you will write an essay that offers your explanation of the events in Salem in 1692, the context in which they occurred, and the validity (strengths and weaknesses) of the many interpretations that we will explore. This essay is due near the end of the course and is, in a sense, the final exam. Students should keep this essay in mind from the start of the course and begin building the parts of the essay as we consider various primary sources and secondary interpretations of the trials. Anything from the course is fair game to include in your analysis and interpretation!
Instructions for all essays (IV-VI):
All written work must be typed, double spaced, in twelve-point font, with
no smaller than one-inch margins all around. Number all pages. Do
not use cover sheets or covers of any kind. Staple the pages together. Click
here to see the guidelines I use to determine the
differences between A, B, C, D, and F papers. Important: Your name
should appear only on the back of your essays; I grade anonymously.
Tuesday, August 31: Introduction; varieties of magic and witchcraft
Thursday, September 2: Magic and the occult
-->READ "A Shadowy Side of Early American History" and "Magic and the
Occult" articles [handouts]
Tuesday, September 7: An overview of witchcraft in North America
-->READ Alison Games essay sent via email
Thursday, September 9: The basics of the Salem trials [Sept. 10 is deadline to drop courses without a
grade]
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum to end of p. 35
Tuesday, September 14: The basics of the Salem trials, continued
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum, chaps. 3-6
Thursday, September 16: Contemporary accounts, reactions, sermons, and outsider comment
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum, chaps. 7-9
Tuesday, September 21: Getting to know the accused
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum, part two
Thursday, September 23: Getting to know the accusers
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum, part three
Tuesday, September 28: Getting to know the community
-->READ Boyer and Nissenbaum, part four
Thursday, September 30: The Boyer and Nissenbaum interpretation on film, pt. 1
Tuesday, October 5: The Boyer and Nissenbaum interpretation on film, pt. 2
Thursday, October 7: The Boyer and Nissenbaum interpretation on film, pt. 3
Tuesday, October 12: Other interpretations (article presentations--question time)
Thursday, October 14: Hollywood's Salem--"The Crucible" [Oct. 15 is the deadline to drop courses with a grade of "W"]
Tuesday, October 19: Fall Break--no classes
Thursday, October 21: From Hollywood to France--another "Crucible"
Tuesday, October 26: Finishing the French "Crucible"
Thursday, October 28: A recent interpretation
-->READ Norton to p. 81
Tuesday, November 2: A recent interpretation (continued) Don't forget to vote!
-->READ Norton, chaps. 3-4
Thursday, November 4: A recent interpretation (continued)
-->READ Norton, chaps. 5-6
Tuesday, November 9: A recent interpretation (continued)
-->READ Norton to the end
Essays on three feature films due in class
Thursday, November 11: The other witch hunt in 1692
-->READ Godbeer to end of chap. 4
Tuesday, November 16: The other witch hunt in 1692 concludes
-->READ Godbeer to the end
Thursday, November 18: Samuel Sewall before the trials
--READ LaPlante to end of chap. 8
Tuesday, November 23: No class
Thursday, November 25: Thanksgiving holiday--no class
Tuesday, November 30: Judge Sewall at Salem
-->READ LaPlante to end of chap. 13
Thursday, December 2: Your interpretations completed [Dec. 3 is deadline to withdraw completely from the
university]
FINAL INTERPRETIVE ESSAYS DUE IN CLASS
Tuesday, December 7: Last day of class--Judge Sewall repents
-->READ LaPlante to the end
Thursday, December 16: Essays on LaPlante book due no later than 5 p.m. Click HERE for the assignment. Drop off at the Albert Gore Research Center anytime before the deadline. No emailed papers accepted.