Name:Jemma Humanities
7th Grade Comparative Essay
Outline for Crucible/McCarthy Comparative Essay
Theme: Scapegoating .
Paragraph #1: Introductory Paragraph (GIT)
Grabber Statement (G):
Imagine being put on the stand for a superstitious crime that you did not commit with your life on the line. Do you confess for your life and ruin your reputation or stay pure and be executed? There have been many instances in America’s history where many innocent people have been denied freedom and have been dehumanized by certain individuals’ selfish plans for more power. This is scapegoating.
Introduction of Theme (I):
Innocent people all throughout our country’s history have been unfairly scapegoated. It started when Abby and the afflicted girls accused many random and innocent people in the town of Salem, Massachusetts. Then it happened again when Joseph McCarthy scapegoated hundreds of people of being communists, and in present day Donald Trump is scapegoating Muslims of being terrorists by banning them from entering the country. These individuals used scapegoating to gain more power and attention. History really does repeat itself.
Thesis Statement (T):
All throughout history innocent people have been scapegoated and marginalized unjustly in certain people’s effort for more power.
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Paragraph #2: Crucible Thematic Connection
Topic Sentence (T):
Abby and the afflicted girls scapegoat many people in the town of Salem for selfish gain, which usually costs innocent people their lives.
Explanatory Sentence (E):
Abby scapegoats Tituba as the first of many in the play. She does this in an effort for power and to take blame off herself. The following quote shows Abby telling everyone that Tituba is in league with the devil.
Evidence (E):
“HALE, grasping Abigail : Abigail, it may be your cousin is dying. Did you call the Devil last night?
ABIGAIL: I never called him! Tituba, Tituba …
PARRIS, blanched: She called the Devil?
HALE: I should like to speak with Tituba
PARRIS: Goody Ann, will you bring her up? Mrs. Putnam exits.
HALE: How did she call him?
ABIGAIL: I know not—she spoke Barbados.”(Miller, The Crucible pg.62)
Analysis (A):
This quote shows how when Abby was blamed of doing a bad deed she immediately says that Tituba is guilty of the action not her. Tituba is a black disempowered woman. Abigail is blaming someone with no power and influence so there is no way she can be blamed. It is wrong of her and the afflicted girls to blame disempowered people for selfish games. It is the exact definition of scapegoating. “Scapegoat: a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency.” (google dictionary) Abigail scapegoats Tituba to gain power but in the process abuses the privilege and becomes selfish. Abigail dehumanizes and marginalizes many women in the process of her selfish games. She makes many women suffer and treats it as a sport. It is entirely made up and it’s all fantasy. Abby and the afflicted girls scapegoated many people and not only ruined their lives they ruined their families lives. They scapegoated lots of people and treated as a harmless game.
Concluding/ Transition (C):
Abby scapegoated many people for no reason for greed, power and attention. As they say history repeats itself because nearly two hundred years later Joseph McCarthy did the exact same thing.
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Paragraph #3: McCarthy/Red Scare Thematic Connection
Topic Sentence (T):
Joseph McCarthy scapegoated many innocent people during the second Red Scare in an effort for more power.
Explanatory Sentence (E):
Joseph McCarthy blamed many people by ruining or ending their lives in a selfish effort for more power. He held no suspicions of certain people who he believed were communists and told the world that he did for more power and attention. The following quote explains that he had no list and was falsely accusing people.
Evidence (E):
“McCarthy’s charge that hundreds of Communists held jobs in the U.S government shocked the nation. But almost immediately after the speech he changed his claim that 205 communists worked for the state department. In Denver, Colorado the second stop on his speaking tour, he told reporters he had a list of 207 people considered to be “bad risks” when reporters asked to see the list, McCarthy said he left it in his other suit which was still on the plane. In fact, McCarthy did not have any list. He was Basing his claims on a letter the had been written more than three years earlier.” (Fitzgerald, McCarthyism, pg.42)
Analysis (A):
McCarthy had no list of communists. He had a phony list he never had with him. His changing of claims was just evidence enough. He had no set number because there was barely any communist and even he didn’t know that. He was scapegoating innocent people and marginalizing them for no reason. There was rare case like the Rosenberg’s where Julius was a real russian spy. But we didn’t even learn that till a few years ago. He was a scapegoat and blamed people falsely for no reason all of the time. He falsely accused people consecutively for nine years. Joseph McCarthy was a scapegoating greedy, powerful, cruel senator. He scapegoated so many people for no reason. A little bit for him to get attention, but mostly for no reason. Joe was a man who would stand at nothing in his way for him to get attention and to succeed.
Concluding/ Transition (C):
Joseph McCarthy blamed many people in an effort for more power and attention just like Donald does today by scapegoating Muslims.
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Paragraph #4: Modern Day Witch Hunt Thematic Connection
Topic Sentence (T):
Donald Trump scapegoats many innocent muslims in our country in an effort for more power.
Explanatory Sentence (E):
Donald Trump banned many muslim people from entering the country to prevent muslim terrorism. Though in the past many years there has been no terrorist activity in those countries. And in the country’s there has been terrorist activity Mr. Trump has business in. So he doesn’t ban those countries to keep business with them.
Evidence (E):
“I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry,” the order signed by Trump reads.
The total number of refugees admitted into the United States would also be capped during the 2017 fiscal year at 50,000, down more than half from the current level of 110,000.
“I am establishing new vetting measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of the United States of America,” Trump said during the signing at the Pentagon after the swearing-in of Defense Secretary James Mattis. “We don’t want them here.” (As said by Donald Trump on CNN)
Analysis (A):
Donald Trump is scapegoating Muslim people especially from certain countries such as Syria, Somalia, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, and Sudan. Though he says banning these countries in an effort to end islamic terrorism there has not been any terrorism whereas countries such as Saudi-Arabia where there has been a frequent amount of terrorism he is not banning. Also Trump has had lots of business in Turkey, Saudi, Azerbaijan, and Egypt. Also he claims he doesn’t want those Muslims here but what is the difference between those Muslims and the ones in Turkey? Oh I know, you have business with the ones in Turkey, Mr. Trump. He is being a hypocrite he says Muslims don’t belong and that they are terrible though he still stays allies with his Muslim business partners. He is scapegoating many Muslims because of their religion. What does he have against them. What does he hate about them. I don’t know why you would discriminate against a large group of people because of their beliefs. He is scapegoating them for no reason it is false accusations.
Concluding/ Transition (C):
Donald Trump scapegoats many people for no reason and in an effort for more power. Just like Abby did in the 1700’s and like Joe McCarthy did in the 50’s. History really does repeat itself.
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Paragraph #5: Concluding Paragraph (ROC)
Reflection on Thesis (R):
All throughout America’s history people have done horrible wrongdoings by scapegoating. People with authority misuse their power for their own gain. But in the process they hurt lots of others.
Overview of Main Points (O):
All throughout history people have scapegoated people for their own gain. In the different unfortunate instances where innocent people have been scapegoated, people have been falsely accused and have stereotyped lots of innocent people.
Concluding Idea (C):
If people can begin to realize that they are ruining people’s lives maybe they would stop scapegoating and realize what they were doing was wrong. Because even if it was for their own gain maybe they will realize that their actions are a scandal. If they are to be found out they will go down in history as a terrible person. Just like Joseph McCarthy, Abigail Williams and Donald Trump. They have done horrible deeds by scapegoating so hopefully you learned something. Don’t let people scapegoating innocent people control you. Be the generation that ends irrational scapegoating, it comes with a cost.
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