Argumentative Paragraph: Miller’s Use of Historical Parallels in “Why I Wrote The Crucible”

Using only the text “Why I Wrote The Crucible” by Arthur Miller, your prior annotations, the discussion questions we explored, and the background videos on Communism, McCarthyism, and The Salem Witch Trials, you will write a well-developed argumentative paragraph responding to the following prompt.

Support your argument with clear reasoning and specific evidence from the text and the related historical context.

In your response, you need to:

• State your claim about how Miller uses history to make a point about fear, society, or power.
• Explain how he draws parallels between the Salem Witch Trials and events like McCarthyism or Communism.
• Use textual evidence from “Why I Wrote The Crucible” to support your thinking.
• You may refer to key ideas from the videos or class discussions, but your paragraph must be based in the assigned text.

Use the following excerpt as one piece of evidence in your paragraph. You must also use at least one additional quote from any part of the full essay (see attached images for reference).

Write an argumentative paragraph (8-12 sentences) that explains how Arthur Miller uses historical parallels in "Why I Wrote The Crucible" to warn readers about the dangers of fear-driven injustice in society. Your paragraph must:

• Clearly state your claim about Miller’s use of historical parallels.
• Include at least two pieces of textual evidence (one from the excerpt above and one from elsewhere in the essay).
• Analyze how Miller’s comparison of the Salem witch trials and McCarthyism reveals the dangers of fear-driven injustice.
• Explain how these parallels strengthen his critique of society.
• Use formal academic language and transitions.

Be sure to cite the evidence you use.