1. Read “Life in 1962 Salem,” which will give you background information
about Puritan Life and Religion.
2. Skim through all the documents on the RESOURCE page to get a sense of
what their about.
3. Select a theory to defend
A. The teenage girls of Salem are jealous of the older women in the
town.
B. The teenage girls of Salem are on drugs and they are not aware of
their actions.
C. The teenage girls of Salem are bored and cause hysteria for
entertainment.
D. The teenage girls of Salem have a secret vendetta against the town's
residence based on their economic status.
4. Examine each document thoroughly using the Documenting Evidence
Worksheet to record the stated and implied main ideas, the supporting
details, and whether or not you can use this document to support your
group’s argument.
5. In your groups, begin discussing and organizing the documents you will
use in your paper and in your debate.
A. Discuss the stated and implied main ideas, and the
supporting details in each document.
B. Choose at least three documents you will use in your paper and in
your debate.
6. Write a 1-2 page explanation of what caused the Salem Witch Trial
hysteria of 1692. Refer to the documents to support your theory.
7. Be ready to debate with other investigators about your theories.
