The Crucible Note Taking Log: Act I

(30 points)

As juniors in high school, it’s important that you develop some skill in taking notes. Note taking will be your key to academic success in college or technical school. As we begin our study of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, you will keep a note taking log for EACH ACT.

Directions: You will need at least two sheets of paper. Staple these sheets of paper together. Put the following categories on the sheet of paper indicated below.

Setting the Stage: page 1 (5 points)

Turn to page 166 in your literature book. Read the stage directions in italics and answer the following questions.

1. What are the purposes of stage directions?

2. Sketch the set described in the stage directions.

3. When, where, what time of year does this play begin?

4. Make a prediction: Look at the third paragraph of the stage directions. What is Reverend Parris doing and why do you think he is doing this?

List of Plot Events: page 2 (10 points)

Create a chronological list of the plot events from this act. You should have a minimum of 20 events on your list, and the events must cover the entire act. This means if you get to 20 you, but have not covered the entire act, you need to add more events. Points will be deducted if the events are not in chronological order, if the events are not numbered and/or if you forget a major event from this act.

Character Analysis: page 3 (15 points)

Select threemain characters from this actand provide a description of their personality traits based on quotes from the play. Create a chart on your paper like the one below.You must use at least two different character traits, and you must use at least two quotes in this chart to support those character traits. This should be easy because you are analyzing a main character. Since you are to analyze three different characters, this means you will have three separate charts to complete to receive full points. Be sure to record the page number on which the quotation appears in the text. See the back of this assignment for an example chart. You may not use that character for this assignment!

****Note: If you do not want to set up this portion of the assignment in chart format, you may use another format that works for you, but be sure you include ALL the elements listed in the chart!

Character Name
Character Trait / Quote to Support Character Trait with Page Number / Explanation
1.
2.

Grading:

Each act’s notes are worth between 30 and 36 points a piece, for a total of around 130 points by the end of the unit. Note taking is very much an individual activity: copying from each other will not be accepted and will result in zeros for all participants. Remember that if you fail to turn this assignment in on the due date, it will only be taken for half credit. If you are absent the day before this assignment is due, you are still responsible for turning it in on the date it is assigned.

Tituba
Character Trait / Quote to Support Character Trait with Page Number / Explanation
1. Submissive / “No, no, don’t hang Tituba! I tell him I don’t desire to work for him, sir” (188).
“Oh, yes sir, I don’t desire to hurt little children” (188). / These two quotes demonstrate Tituba’s submissive character trait because the audience sees that in a stressful situation Tituba default’s to compliance. Instead of standing up for herself, Tituba tells Reverend Hale what he wants to hear. She responds to his questions by repeating what he just said. Also, the use of the word sir suggests she is deferring to him. She sees him as a superior figure.
2. Caring / “My Betty be hearty soon?” (169)
“My Betty not goin’ die…” (169) / These two quotes demonstrate that Tituba has a caring nature. Clearly she is concerned about the fact that Betty is not waking up. She approaches Rev. Parris even though she is hesitant, and still asks about Betty despite the fact that Parris is angrily pushing her out the door. This act shows that she genuinely cares about Betty’s health.

Example Character Chart: