FAMOUS TRIALS                                                                 SPRING 2006

 

TOPICS FOR PAPER #2

 

You have a choice of topics for this paper.  You may choose to write an analytical paper comparing Salem and South Africa, or the scholarly strategies used in the books we have read on those subjects. Alternately you may address a more creative topic concerning community response to the presence of a witch.

 

Paper deadline: Wednesday March 1 at 9:00 A.M.  Papers must be typed in a 12-point font, double-spaced; saved as Word of text files; and submitted electronically like other assignments in the class.

 

 

Salem and South Africa

 

Three hundred years, thousands of miles and numerous other factors separate them, yet Salem Village in 1692 and Green Valley in the late 20th century have something in common: an upsurge in accusations of witchcraft.  Write a paper of 3-6 pages comparing these two situations, making use of the assigned reading in the class.  Or, if you prefer, compare the scholarly strategies of Boyer and Nissenbaum, on the one hand and Niehaus on the other. 

When I read your paper, I will be concerned with (a) your knowledge of the two books, (b) the quality of your analysis, and (c) the professionalism of your presentation.

 

 

Community Response to a Witch

 

            It is reported that a witch is at work in St. Buryan, a village three miles from my mother’s home in England. The witch even has her own website.  Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to discuss ways in which parents; educators; community leaders, specifically including Christian and other religious leaders; journalists; and law enforcement agencies might respond to this news.

            You might want to consider such issues as the nature of witchcraft; the relations (if any) between contemporary witchcraft and medieval witchcraft; the place of witchcraft in contemporary popular culture and religion; and ways in which community anxieties sometimes lead to grave injustices.  You should make use of a variety of course materials, such as Salem Possessed; Witchcraft Goes Mainstream; No Crueler Tyrannies; and Witchcraft, Power and Politics.  Your paper should be in the range of three to six pages.

When I read your paper, I will be concerned with  (a) your knowledge of key course materials, (b) the quality of your analysis, and (c) the professionalism of your presentation.