Lessons of Salem By:Laura Shapiro Group members: Lizzet Magana, Amanda Cipriano, Julia Bellantoni And Roman Gutierrez

Summary... The author, Laura Shapiro, writes about stories of witchcraft and the effect that it had on society and the reasons behind it.

Central claim... Never trust people because they can always turn the truth around.

Textual evidence From Lessons of Salem " Nor was there much doubt about Dorcas Good, and soon after her mother, Sarah, was jailed. The afflicted girls cried out that Dorcas was biting and pinching them, and although the attacks were invisible to everyone else, the girls had the bite marks to prove it." (Shapiro, 24) "Several came to the defense of some of the accused citizens, and others testified that they had heard an afflicted girl saying she had made at least one accusation "for sport"."(Shapiro, 24)

connection to the crucible The group of girls continuously turn the truth around to protect themselves.

Textual evidence From The crucible Abigail:"Oh,Mary, this is a black art to change your share.No,I cannot stop my mouth; its's God's work I do." (Miller,116) Giles: "The proof is there! I have it from an honest man who heard Putnam say it! The day his daughter cried out on Jacobs, he said she'd given him a fair gift of land." (Miller,96)

Thesis statement Although in "The Lessons of Salem" it was easy for people to trust each other, it actually led people to take advantage of the trust and sought revenge on those who were accused of witchcraft, making it impossible to believe in anyone.