Before Reading
Prepare to Make a Mind Movie
Preview the entire selection, including the Prereading information on page 44, the introductory paragraph and cast of characters on page 45, and the activities on pages 50–51. Write down what you think the selection will be about. With your teacher's guidance, create a short mind movie of a courtroom scene, including the characters described on page 45.
During Reading
Make a Mind Movie
1. In groups of eight, assign each person a role. One person should read the stage directions aloud. As you listen to the other people in your group read aloud and as you read yourself, try to picture what the courtroom and the people look like, what they should like, and how they move. Imagine you are a court artist and sketch Danforth being questioned.
2. Read the rest of the selection silently, continuing to make a mind movie. Then rejoin your group and read the last two pages of the selection aloud, using dramatic tones and gestures.
Fix-Up Idea: Quickwrite
After you read the first page of the selection, stop and do a quickwrite about the situation. Describe the situation. What would you do if you were Danforth? Proctor? Mary Warren? Continue reading. When you get to the end of the second page, stop and do another quickwrite. How has the situation changed? How would you react now? Read the last page and do a final quickwrite.
After Reading
Discuss Mind Movies
With your group, discuss the following questions: How do other people's actions and tones match the mind movie you made? Talk about your different interpretations.