Witchcraft: The Conflict That Cursed Salem

Ava Rowland and Sarah Crowley

Junior Division

Group Website

Student Composed Words: 1,167

Process Paper Word Count: 424

 Mesmerized by the Salem witch trials for years, we knew that the two of us would work

well together because of our joint infatuation. Using court records and a self-conducted

interview, we were able to contribute primary and secondary research on the tremendous

conflict. While the topic was easy to choose, we debated on whether to create a website or an

exhibit board. Eventually we came to the agreement of a website because of our fascination with

technology. Ultimately, our website showcases how the Salem witch trials brought conflict

among citizens that resulted in unreasonable executions, but didn’t reach a compromise until

centuries later when final victims were exonerated.

When we discovered that the theme for this year was conflict and compromise, we

immediately knew that this was the topic for us. The trials have always been on the backburner

of our potential National History Day topics, and because of the harsh conditions and the

“solution” that came centuries later, it fit perfectly for our project.

Some of the most valuable research we received was in our interview we conducted with

the Salem Witch Museum. Realizing that we needed an outsider’s perspective, we called the

museum and asked if we were able to speak with an expert ​on our subject. We were then sent to

Stacy Tilney and Rachel Christ, who answered our remaining questions. One other valuable

source was the Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription Project which

provided court documents, paintings, and quotes. Overall, our most beneficial sources displayed

the events of the trials with a real-life consciousness

After much debate, we chose to do a website. We ultimately decided that this was the

best route for our project because it was a personal preference, seeing that we both love

technology and how it affects the world. One of us was unsure about creating a website because
she had no past experience. With a website, we were able to work on it together from different

locations making it easier to cooperate.

The Salem witch trials created a conflict by taking previous delusions of witchcraft and

investing them into the lives the citizens. These disputes caused immoral trials that often resulted

in executions, eventually shaping America’s court system and general beliefs of the populous. It

was difficult to find a compromise because the trials were not brought to surface again until

years later when the previously guilty victims were exonerated. Because of the harsh realities of

the trials and the lengthy compromise, Salem witch trials fit with the National History Day

theme.

Rubric rating submitted on: 2/14/2018, 5:15:30 PM by cjeschke@bettendorf.k12.ia.us

6 5 4 3 2

Focus  Insightfully  Insightfully  Superficially  Partially Minimally

Your score: 6 addresses all addresses all addresses all addresses all addresses some
aspects of the aspects of the aspects of the aspects of the aspect of the
prompts prompts prompt prompt prompt
 Introduces  Introduces  Introduces  Introduces  Fails to
topic is topic is clear topic in a thesis topic in a weak introduce topic
sophisicated thesis statement statement thesis statement and/or lacks a
thesis statement Connection to There is some Little thesis statement
Connection to the theme is connection to connection to
the theme is clear, with some the theme. the theme
clear, with reasons stated.
reasons stated.

Organization Creates a Creates a Organizes the  Organizes an  Little

Your score: 4 smooth smooth information in a event sequence organization
sequence of sequence of way that may but may not be  Uses some
related topics related topics not be logical logical transitional
 Provides a  Provides a  Uses a  Uses some words, phrases
conclusion that conclusion that variety of transitional  Provides a
clearly follows clearly follows transitional words, phrases, weak conclusion
the thesis and the thesis and words, phrases, and clauses
skillful use of skillful use of and clauses (may be
transitional transitional  Provides a repetitive)
phrases or phrases or conclusion that  Provides a
words words connects to weak conclusion
 thesis

Techniques  Skillfully  Develops the  Develops the  Limited Little

Your score: 5 develops the topic using well topic using development of development of
topic using well chosen facts, facts, the topic using topic and/or
chosen facts, definitions, definitions, superficial facts, little
definitions, details details that are definitions, understanding of
details Show sufficient details the topic
Show insightful understanding of Show Show limited
understanding of topic understanding of understanding of
topic topic topic

Language Uses purposeful Uses correct and Uses mostly Uses limited Lacks sentence
Your score: 6 and varied varied sentence correct and and/or repetitive mastery (e.g.,
sentence structure some varied sentence fragments/
structure  Contains sentence structure run-ons) 
 Contains few, minor structure  Contains Contains serious
minimal to no errors in  Contains numerous errors and pervasive
errors in conventions some errors in in conventions errors in
conventions  Utilizes conventions which cause conventions
(grammar, strong and which may confusion  Utilizes
punctuation, grade-level cause confusion  Utilizes incorrect and/or
spelling, appropriate  Usually vague or basic simplistic word
capitalization) word choice utilizes word choice choice
 Utilizes grade-level
precise and appropriate
sophisticated word choice
word choice

Comments:
Powerful ending! Let's look at the beginning for editing. Why are you infatuated? You might
want to make that more clear. The second paragraph is a repeat of the first paragraph, so that
could be more about sources or the conflicts.