Overview

Lesson Procedure

60-75 minutes of class time across 5 phases.

1. Warm-Up5-10 minutes
2. Direct Instruction20 minutes
3. Guided Practice15 minutes
4. Independent Practice15-20 minutes
5. Closure5-10 minutes

1. Warm-Up5-10 minutes

   Project the prompt and give students four minutes to write.

   Warm-Up Prompt

   "After a fire alarm, three students describe the evacuation. One says the alarm rang at 10:05 and everyone left calmly. One says it rang at 10:15 and the stairwell was jammed. The principal's email says the building was cleared in four minutes. Write two sentences that tell what happened as accurately as you can, using all three accounts. Which point would you state firmly, and which would you hedge?"

   Share two or three versions. Strong ones state what the sources agree on (there was an alarm and an evacuation), attribute what only one source says ("according to the principal"), and flag the conflict over the time instead of picking a side without a reason. Name the skill: to integrate sources is to build one coherent account from all of them, and to note discrepancies is to say where they disagree, or where one is silent, and what that means for the account.

2. Direct Instruction20 minutes

   Part 1: The integration ledger. An integrated account is not a list of summaries. It is one story whose every sentence rests on the sources, with the strength of each claim made clear. Students keep a ledger with one row per claim.

   Integration ledger: one row per claim

   Column	What to record	Why it matters
   Claim	One statement about the event, in your words	The account is built from these rows
   Support	Every source that states it, with its type (primary or secondary), date and whether the author saw it	Two independent sources, especially from opposite sides, make a claim strong
   Discrepancy	Any source that states something different, or that is silent where you would expect it to speak	A conflict, a gap and a difference of judgment are three different things
   Status	Corroborated, single-source, or disputed	Decides how the claim is worded: stated, attributed ("according to Calef") or flagged

   Part 2: Two primary sources from opposite sides. Background in three sentences: in 1692 a special court at Salem, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, tried people accused of witchcraft, and nineteen were hanged. George Burroughs, a former minister of Salem Village, was tried on August 5 and hanged on August 19. Cotton Mather, a Boston minister who supported the court, wrote the account in T1 for the colony's government; Robert Calef, a Boston merchant who opposed the trials, published T2 in 1700. Much of the evidence in T1 is spectral evidence: testimony by the "afflicted" that the accused person's spirit, or specter, attacked them. Read T1 and T2 and start a ledger. Diagram 1 shows when each source was written.

   1I. This G. B. Was Indicted for Witch-craft, and in the prosecution of the Charge against him, he was Accused by five or six of the Bewitched, as the Author of their Miseries; he was Accused by Eight of the Confessing Witches, as being an head Actor at some of their Hellish Randezvouzes, and one who had the promise of being a King in Satan's Kingdom, now going to be Erected: He was accused by Nine Persons for extraordinary Lifting, and such feats of Strength, as could not be done without a Diabolical Assistance. And for other such things he was Accused, until about thirty Testimonies were brought in against him; nor were these judg'd the half of what might have been considered for his Conviction: However they were enough to fix the Character of a Witch upon him according to the Rules of Reasoning, by the Judicious Gaule, in that Case directed.

   [...]

   2It cost the Court a wonderful deal of Trouble, to hear the Testimonies of the Sufferers; for when they were going to give in their Depositions, they would for a long time be taken with Fits, that made them uncapable of saying any thing. The Chief Judg asked the Prisoner, who he thought hindred these Witnesses from giving their Testimonies? And he answered, He supposed it was the Devil. That Honourable Person replied, How comes the Devil then to be so loath to have any Testimony born against you? Which cast him into very great Confusion.

   [...]

   3VIII. Faltring, faulty, unconstant, and contrary Answers upon judicial and deliberate Examination, are counted some unlucky Symptoms of Guilt, in all Crimes, especially in Witchcrafts. Now there never was a Prisoner more eminent for them, than G. B. both at his Examination and on his Trial. His Tergiversations, Contradictions, and Falshoods, were very sensible: he had little to say, but that he had heard some things that he could not prove, Reflecting upon the Reputation of some of the Witnesses. Only he gave in a Paper to the Jury; wherein, altho' he had many times before, granted, not only that there are Witches, but also, that the present Sufferings of the Country are the effects of horrible Witchcrafts, yet he now goes to evince it, That there neither are, nor ever were Witches, that having made a Compact with the Devil, can send a Devil to Torment other people at a distance. This Paper was Transcribed out of Ady; which the Court presently knew, as soon as they heard it. But he said, he had taken none of it out of any Book; for which, his Evasion afterwards, was, That a Gentleman gave him the Discourse in a Manuscript, from whence he Transcribed it.

   4IX. The Jury brought him in Guilty: But when he came to Die, he utterly deni'd the Fact, whereof he had been thus convicted.

   1August 5. The Court again sitting, six more were tried on the same Account, viz. Mr. George Burroughs, sometime minister of Wells, John Procter, and Elizabeth Procter his Wife, with John Willard of Salem-Village, George Jacobs Senior, of Salem, and Martha Carryer of Andover; these were all brought in Guilty and Condemned; and were all Executed Aug. 19, except Procter's Wife, who pleaded Pregnancy.

   2Mr. Burroughs was carried in a Cart with the others, through the streets of Salem to Execution; when he was upon the Ladder, he made a Speech for the clearing of his Innocency, with such Solemn and Serious Expressions, as were to the Admiration of all present; his Prayer (which he concluded by repeating the Lord's Prayer,) was so well worded, and uttered with such composedness, and such (at least seeming) fervency of Spirit, as was very affecting, and drew Tears from many (so that it seemed to some, that the Spectators would hinder the Execution). The accusers said the black Man stood and dictated to him; as soon as he was turned off, Mr. Cotton Mather, being mounted upon a Horse, addressed himself to the People, partly to declare, that he was no ordained Minister, and partly to possess the People of his guilt; saying, That the Devil has often been transformed into an Angel of Light; and this did somewhat appease the People, and the Executions went on; when he was cut down, he was dragged by the Halter to a Hole, or Grave, between the Rocks, about two foot deep, his Shirt and Breeches being pulled off, and an old pair of Trousers of one Executed, put on his lower parts, he was so put in, together with Willard and Carryer, one of his Hands and his Chin, and a Foot of one [of] them being left uncovered.

   • A claim corroborated by opponents (T1 paragraph 4, T2 paragraph 2)

     Mather, who defends the verdict, writes that "when he came to Die, he utterly deni'd the Fact, whereof he had been thus convicted." Calef, who condemns the trials, writes that on the ladder Burroughs "made a Speech for the clearing of his Innocency."

     Result: Ledger row: Burroughs declared his innocence at his execution. Status: corroborated. The strength comes less from the number of sources than from their independence: an author who thought Burroughs guilty had every reason to leave this out and still reports it. The account can state it plainly.

   • Silence is not contradiction (T1 paragraph 4, T2 paragraph 2)

     Calef describes the ladder speech, the prayer, the tears of the spectators, Mather on horseback and the burial. Mather's account of the trial ends with one sentence about the death and mentions none of these.

     Result: Ledger row: Mather addressed the crowd after the hanging. Status: single-source so far (Calef). Mather's silence does not disprove it, because his account was written about the trial, for the government that ran it; it is a gap, not a conflict. The account should attribute the scene: "According to Calef, Mather ..." until another source is found.

3. Guided Practice15 minutes

   T3 is from the diary of Samuel Sewall, one of the judges, and T4 is from a letter by Thomas Brattle, a Boston merchant and scientist who criticized the court, written seven weeks after the hangings. Read both, then work through the examples and add rows to the ledger.

   1Augt. 19th 1692. This day the Lieut. Governour, Major Phillips, Mr. Russel, Capt. Lynde and my self went to Watertown. Advis'd the Inhabitants at their Town-Meeting to settle a Minister; and if could not otherwise agree, should first have a Town-Meeting to decide where the Meetinghouse should be set. Many say Whitney's Hill would be a convenient place.

   2This day [in the margin, Dolefull Witchcraft!] George Burrough, John Willard, Jno Procter, Martha Carrier and George Jacobs were executed at Salem, a very great number of Spectators being present. Mr. Cotton Mather was there, Mr. Sims, Hale, Noyes, Chiever, &c. All of them said they were iñocent, Carrier and all. Mr. Mather says they all died by a Righteous Sentence. Mr. Burrough by his Speech, Prayer, protestation of his Innocence, did much move unthinking persons, which occasions their speaking hardly concerning his being executed.

   [...]

   3Copy of the Bill I put up on the Fast day; giving it to Mr. Willard as he pass'd by, and standing up at the reading of it, and bowing when finished; in the Afternoon.

   4Samuel Sewall, sensible of the reiterated strokes of God upon himself and family; and being sensible, that as to the Guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Comission of Oyer and Terminer at Salem (to which the order for this Day relates) he is, upon many accounts, more concerned than any that he knows of, Desires to take the Blame and shame of it, Asking pardon of men, And especially desiring prayers that God, who has an Unlimited Authority, would pardon that sin and all other his sins; personal and Relative: And according to his infinite Benignity, and Sovereignty, Not Visit the sin of him, or of any other, upon himself or any of his, nor upon the Land: But that He would powerfully defend him against all Temptations to Sin, for the future; and vouchsafe him the efficacious, saving Conduct of his Word and Spirit.

   1As to the late executions, I shall only tell you, that in the opinion of many unprejudiced, considerate and considerable spectatours, some of the condemned went out of the world not only with as great protestations, but also with as good shews of innocency, as men could do.

   2They protested their innocency as in the presence of the great God, whom forthwith they were to appear before: they wished, and declared their wish, that their blood might be the last innocent blood shed upon that account. With great affection they intreated Mr. C. M. to pray with them: they prayed that God would discover what witchcrafts were among us; they forgave their accusers; they spake without reflection on Jury and Judges, for bringing them in guilty, and condemning them: they prayed earnestly for pardon for all other sins, and for an interest in the pretious blood of our dear Redeemer; and seemed to be very sincere, upright, and sensible of their circumstances on all accounts; especially Proctor and Willard, whose whole management of themselves, from the Goal to the Gallows, and whilst at the Gallows, was very affecting and melting to the hearts of some considerable Spectatours, whom I could mention to you:—but they are executed, and so I leave them.

   3Many things I cannot but admire and wonder at, an account of which I shall here send you. [...]

   • Three reports of what Mather said and did (T2 paragraph 2, T3 paragraph 2, T4 paragraph 2)

     Calef: Mather, "mounted upon a Horse," told the people that Burroughs "was no ordained Minister" and "That the Devil has often been transformed into an Angel of Light." Sewall: "Mr. Cotton Mather was there" and "Mr. Mather says they all died by a Righteous Sentence." Brattle: the condemned "intreated Mr. C. M. to pray with them."

     Result: The three do not conflict; each adds a piece. Integrated: Mather was present, the condemned asked him to pray with them, and he defended the verdict in public. The exact words about ordination and the Angel of Light rest on Calef alone and should be attributed to him. Sewall's "says" reports Mather's judgment without saying where or when Mather gave it, so a careful account keeps it separate from Calef's scene at the gallows.

   • The same effect, different judgments (T2 paragraph 2, T3 paragraph 2, T4 paragraph 2)

     Calef: the prayer "drew Tears from many," and "it seemed to some, that the Spectators would hinder the Execution." Sewall: Burroughs "did much move unthinking persons, which occasions their speaking hardly concerning his being executed." Brattle: the condemned were "very affecting and melting to the hearts of some considerable Spectatours," "especially Proctor and Willard."

     Result: Corroborated: the hangings deeply moved many in the crowd. Discrepancy in judgment, not in fact: Calef treats the reaction as a sign of innocence, Sewall in 1692 calls the moved spectators "unthinking," and Brattle calls them "considerable" people. An integrated account states the reaction and reports the judgments as each author's.

4. Independent Practice15-20 minutes

   Students read two secondary sources: T5, the unsigned introduction to an 1862 London reprint of Mather's book, and T6, from Charles W. Upham's Salem Witchcraft (1867), a history based on the surviving court papers. They test each claim against the primary sources already in the ledger, marking what the secondary sources confirm, what they add and where they disagree with the primary sources or with each other, before they take the quiz.

   1The execution of the washerwoman, Bridget Bishop, had greatly increased the excitement; and people in a more respectable position began to be accused. On the 19th of July five more persons were executed, and five more experienced the same fate on the 19th of August. Among the latter was Mr. George Borroughs, a minister of the gospel, whose principal crime appears to have been a disbelief in witchcraft itself. His fate excited considerable sympathy, which, however, was checked by Cotton Mather, who was present at the place of execution on horseback, and addressed the crowd, assuring them that Borroughs was an impostor. Many people, however, had now become alarmed at the proceedings of the prosecutors, and among those executed with Borroughs was a man named John Willard, who had been employed to arrest the persons charged by the accusers, and who had been accused himself, because, from conscientious motives, he refused to arrest any more. He attempted to save himself by flight; but he was pursued and overtaken. Eight more of the unfortunate victims of this delusion were hanged on the 22nd of September, making in all nineteen who had thus suffered, besides one who, in accordance with the old criminal law practice, had been pressed to death for refusing to plead. The excitement had indeed risen to such a pitch that two dogs accused of witchcraft were put to death.

   [...]

   2Whatever we may think of the credulity of these two ecclesiastics, there can be no ground for charging them with acting otherwise than conscientiously, and they had claims on the gratitude of their countrymen sufficient to overbalance their error of judgment on this occasion. [...]

   1Cotton Mather, not satisfied with this display of animosity, at a moment when every human heart, however imbittered by prejudice, is hushed for the time in solemn silence, attempts, in an account afterwards given of Mr. Burroughs's trial, to blacken his character by an elaborate dressing-up of the absurd stories told by the accusers, and a perverse misrepresentation of the demeanor of the accused. He relates with apparent glee what was regarded as a wonderful achievement of adroitness on the part of Chief-justice Stoughton in trapping Mr. Burroughs, and putting the laugh upon him in Court.

   2"It cost the Court a wonderful deal of trouble to hear the testimonies of the sufferers; for, when they were going to give in their depositions, they would for a long while be taken with fits, that made them quite uncapable of saying any thing. The chief judge asked the prisoner, who he thought hindered these witnesses from giving their testimonies; and he answered, he supposed it was the Devil. The honorable person then replied, 'How comes the Devil so loath to have any testimony borne against you?' Which cast him into very great confusion."

   3From what fell from him, at the preliminary examination, it is evident that it did not occur to him as a possibility that human nature could be capable of the guilt of such a wilful fabrication and imposture on the part of the "afflicted children." He beheld their sufferings, and he knew his own innocence. He felt, whatever his theological creed might have been, that a Devil was required to explain the mystery. The apparent sufferings of the accusing witnesses convinced Court, jury, and all, of the guilt of the accused. The logic of the chief-justice was perfectly absurd. For, if the Devil caused the sufferings, he was an adverse party to the prisoner. This, however, overthrows the whole theory of the prosecution, which was that the prisoner and the Devil were in league with each other. But the judge, jury, and people, all equally blinded and stupefied by the delusion, did not see it; and they chuckled over the alleged confusion of the prisoner. All thoughtful persons will concur in Mr. Burroughs's opinion, that, if ever a diabolical power had possession of human beings, it was in the case of the wretched creatures who enacted the part of the accusing girls in the witchcraft proceedings. In his account of the trial, Mather makes statements which show that he was privy to the fact, that testimony, subsequently taken, was lodged with the evidence belonging to the case. The documents prove that it was done to an extent beyond what he acknowledges.

   4[...] A review of what can be gleaned in reference to Mr. Burroughs at Casco Bay and Salem Village, and a considerate survey and scrutiny of all that has reached us from the day of his arrest to the moment of his death, have left a decided impression, that he was an able, intelligent, true-minded man; ingenuous, sincere, humble in his spirit; faithful and devoted as a minister; and active, generous, and disinterested as a citizen. [...]

5. Closure5-10 minutes

   Exit ticket: On an index card, write the two sentences you are most confident of about August 19, 1692, and one sentence you would hedge, naming the source it depends on. Collect the cards and read three hedged sentences aloud to open the next lesson.

   Teacher note on the texts and their language: The passages keep their original spelling and capitals. "The black Man" in T2 is the accusers' name for the Devil, as Mather explains elsewhere in his book, not a description of a person. At the marked [...] in T7, two sentences are left out because they link the Devil with Native Americans in the language of 1692; the excerpt still shows the evidence about Burroughs's strength. Upham (T6) calls the accusers "wretched creatures"; this is his judgment in the style of 1867, and students should treat it as part of his point of view. The 1862 introduction (T5) calls Bridget Bishop "the washerwoman"; its own earlier paragraph uses that word for Ann Glover, hanged in Boston in 1688, and no source on this page supports it for Bishop. In 1711 the colony passed an act reversing the attainders of many of those condemned, among them George Burroughs, which cleared their names and restored their legal rights, and it granted payments to their families; Sewall's public apology of 1697 (T3) came first.

   Homework passages. Mather's account of the evidence about Burroughs's strength (T7) and Upham's discovery about the depositions on the same point (T8), used for the homework problems.

   1V. A famous Divine recites this among the Convictions of a Witch; The Testimony of the party Bewitched, whether Pining or Dying; together with the joint Oaths of sufficient Persons that have seen certain Prodigious Pranks or Feats wrought by the Party Accused. Now, God had been pleased so to leave this G. B. that he had ensnared himself by several Instances, which he had formerly given of a Preternatural Strength, and which were now produced against him. He was a very Puny Man, yet he had often done things beyond the strength of a Giant. A Gun of about seven foot Barrel, and so heavy that strong Men could not steadily hold it out with both hands; there were several Testimonies, given in by Persons of Credit and Honor, that he made nothing of taking up such a Gun behind the Lock, with but one hand, and holding it out like a Pistol, at Arms-end. [...] There was Evidence likewise brought in, that he made nothing of taking up whole Barrels fill'd with Malasses or Cider, in very disadvantageous Postures, and Carrying of them through the difficultest Places out of a Canoo to the Shore.

   2Yea, there were two Testimonies, that G. B. with only putting the Fore Finger of his Right hand into the Muzzle of an heavy Gun, a Fowling-piece of about six or seven foot Barrel, did lift up the Gun, and hold it out at Arms-end; a Gun which the Deponents thought strong Men could not with both hands lift up, and hold out at the But-end, as is usual. Indeed, one of these Witnesses was over-perswaded by some Persons, to be out of the way upon G. B's Tryal; but he came afterwards with Sorrow for his withdraw, and gave in his Testimony: Nor were either of these Witnesses made use of as Evidences in the Trial.

   1Hutchinson had the benefit of consulting all the papers belonging to this and other trials; but neither he nor Calef seems to have noticed one remarkable fact: many of the depositions, how many we cannot tell, were procured after the trials were over, and surreptitiously foisted in among the papers to bolster up the proceedings. We find, for instance, the following deposition:—

   2"Thomas Greenslitt, aged about forty years, being deposed, testifieth that, about the first breaking-out of this last Indian war, being at the house of Captain Joshua Scotto at Black Point, he saw Mr. George Burrows, who was lately executed at Salem, lift a gun of six-foot barrel or thereabouts, putting the forefinger of his right hand into the muzzle of said gun, and that he held it out at arms' end, only with that finger: and further this deponent testifieth, that, at the same time, he saw the said Burrows take up a full barrel of molasses with but two of the fingers of one of his hands in the bung, and carry it from the stage head to the door at the end of the stage, without letting it down; and that Lieutenant Richard Hunniwell and John Greenslitt were then present, and some others that are dead. Sept. 15, '92."

   3Not only the date to this deposition, but its express language, proves that it could not have been used at the trial. There is another, to the same effect and of the same date, that is, nearly a month after Burroughs was thrown into his grave. There are others of the same kind. This stamps the management of the prosecutions, and of those concerned in the charge of the papers, with an irregularity of the grossest kind, which partakes strongly of the character of fraud and falsehood.

   [...]

   4It is further observable, in reference to the foregoing deposition from Greenslitt, that it was given six days after the condemnation of his mother, Ann Pudeator, and a week before her execution. Cotton Mather says that he "was overpersuaded by others to be out of the way upon George Burroughs's trial," six weeks before. He did not fail, however, to come to Salem to be with his mother at her trial and until her death, and being here was compelled to give his deposition. His mother's life was at the mercy of the prosecutors; and he was tempted, in the vain hope of conciliating that mercy, to gratify them by making the statement about Burroughs a month after his execution, and whom it could not then harm. What he said was probably no more than the truth. It has been found that the power of the human muscles can be cultivated to a surprising extent; and the feats ascribed to Burroughs, without making much allowance for a natural degree of exaggeration, have been fully equalled in our day.

Differentiation Strategies

Assessment Guidance

1. Question 1 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   The 1862 introduction says Burroughs's "principal crime appears to have been a disbelief in witchcraft itself" (T5 paragraph 1). Which source on the page most directly complicates this claim?

   AT1, which lists the evidence and says the paper came only at the trial BT3, which says all five condemned people protested their innocence CT6, which says Burroughs was faithful and devoted as a minister DT4, which says the condemned forgave their accusers and the judges

2. Question 2 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   T5 says Mather addressed the crowd "assuring them that Borroughs was an impostor." How does this compare with Calef's report in T2 paragraph 2?

   AIt repeats Calef's words exactly, with only the spelling changed BIt contradicts Calef, who says Mather stayed silent CIt condenses Calef's report into a stronger single word DIt comes from Sewall's diary rather than from Calef

3. Question 3 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   How many people were hanged at Salem on August 19, 1692, according to the sources on this page?

   ASix: T2 says six were tried and condemned BFive: T3 names five, and T2 and T5 agree CEight: T5 gives that number for the hangings of that month DNineteen: T5 gives that total for the day

4. Question 4 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   The 1862 editor says the Mathers acted "conscientiously" (T5 paragraph 2). Upham writes of Cotton Mather's "display of animosity" and "apparent glee" (T6 paragraph 1). What kind of discrepancy is this?

   AA difference of judgment about Mather's motives BA conflict about whether Mather was at the hanging CA gap: T5 does not mention Mather at all DA quotation change in Mather's own words

5. Question 5 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Compare Upham's quotation of the chief judge's question (T6 paragraph 2) with Mather's own text (T1 paragraph 2). What does the comparison show?

   AUpham invented the exchange, which Mather does not report BUpham reverses the meaning of the judge's question CMather's version is the modernized one DUpham keeps the meaning but changes words and spelling

6. Question 6 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Upham calls the chief justice's reasoning "perfectly absurd" (T6 paragraph 3). What does Upham's treatment add to Mather's account of the same exchange?

   ANew testimony from a witness at the trial BAn argument that the judge's question was illogical CA report that Burroughs laughed at the judge DProof that the judge later apologized for the question

7. Question 7 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Sewall reports that "Mr. Cotton Mather was there" and what "Mr. Mather says" (T3 paragraph 2). Which detail in T3 means this part of his entry should be weighed as a report he received, not as what he saw?

   AHe wrote the entry four and a half years later BHe names Mather only by his first initial CHe says that he went to Watertown that day DHe writes that the margin note was added later

8. Question 8 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Which statement about Burroughs's execution rests on Calef alone among the sources on this page?

   ABurroughs protested his innocence BHe was carried to the gallows in a cart CCotton Mather was present at the hanging DThe spectators were deeply moved

9. Question 9 of 20 · Multiple Choice

   Mather describes Burroughs's "Tergiversations, Contradictions, and Falshoods" (T1 paragraph 3); Upham calls him "an able, intelligent, true-minded man" (T6 paragraph 4). How should an integrated account handle these portraits?

   AChoose Mather's, because he wrote in 1692 BChoose Upham's, because historians are always right CLeave both out, because neither portrait can be tested DAttribute each and name each author's evidence

10. Question 10 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    T5 says that "two dogs accused of witchcraft were put to death." What is the status of this claim on this page?

    ASingle-source: attribute it to the 1862 editor BCorroborated by Calef's account of the burial in T2 CDisputed by Mather, who denies it in T1 DCorroborated by Sewall's list of those hanged in T3

11. Question 11 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    T5 says Burroughs's fate "excited considerable sympathy, which, however, was checked by Cotton Mather." Which primary source makes the same point in its own words?

    AT1: "he utterly deni'd the Fact" BT4: "they forgave their accusers" CT2: "this did somewhat appease the People" DT3: "All of them said they were iñocent"

12. Question 12 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Upham writes that Burroughs "felt ... that a Devil was required to explain the mystery" (T6 paragraph 3). Which detail in a primary source is Upham building on?

    ABurroughs's answer to the judge: "He supposed it was the Devil" (T1 paragraph 2) BCalef's report that "the black Man stood and dictated to him" (T2) CSewall's note "Dolefull Witchcraft!" (T3) DBrattle's statement that the condemned prayed "that God would discover what witchcrafts were among us" (T4)

13. Question 13 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    T5 calls Burroughs "a minister of the gospel," while Calef reports Mather telling the crowd that Burroughs "was no ordained Minister" (T2 paragraph 2). How can an integrated account handle this?

    ATreat it as proof that T5 invented Burroughs's career BNote that T2 calls him a former minister, so both can be true CDrop the ordination point, since Mather's own account never mentions it DAccept Mather's claim as settled, since he knew Burroughs

14. Question 14 of 20 · Multiple Choice

    Brattle's letter (T4) never names Burroughs. How should an integrated account of August 19 use it?

    ANot at all, because it may describe another day BAs proof of Burroughs's exact words on the ladder CAs evidence about the group hanged that day DAs a secondary source written long after the events

15. Question 15 of 20 · Short Answer

    Make a ledger entry for the claim "John Willard, hanged with Burroughs, had refused to go on arresting the accused and then tried to flee." List what T2, T3, T4 and T5 each contribute, and give each part of the claim a status.

    Show model answer

16. Question 16 of 20 · Short Answer

    Explain the discrepancy between T5's claim that Burroughs's "principal crime" was "a disbelief in witchcraft itself" and Mather's account in T1. Suggest one reason the 1862 editor might have written it, and show how an account should word the point.

    Show model answer

17. Question 17 of 20 · Short Answer

    The 1862 editor (T5) and Upham (T6) disagree about Cotton Mather. Write two sentences an integrated account could use about Mather's role, one stating what the sources establish and one reporting the disagreement.

    Show model answer

18. Question 18 of 20 · Short Answer

    Only Calef reports that Burroughs ended his prayer with the Lord's Prayer. Explain how much weight an integrated account can give this detail, what makes Calef useful or doubtful on it, and what further evidence would help.

    Show model answer

19. Question 19 of 20 · Short Answer

    Read Sewall's 1692 entry and his 1697 bill together (T3). How does integrating the two change what the diary can tell a historian about the trials?

    Show model answer

20. Question 20 of 20 · Short Answer

    Write a paragraph of 150-200 words giving a coherent account of August 19, 1692, at Salem. Use at least four sources from T1-T6, and note at least two discrepancies.

    Show model answer

These standards connect to RH.11-12.9: prerequisites to review first, parallel standards at the same level, and next steps that build on it.

Standard text: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy. © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved.