Agenda for a Literary Mock Trial
Time limits will be monitored by the Clerks.
1. Prosecution: presentation of arguments and witnesses
• Approximately 10 minutes
2. Defense: presentation of arguments and witnesses
• Approximately 10 minutes
3. Prosecution: cross-examination of defense witnesses or return to prosecution witnesses for rebuttal
• Approximately 5 minutes
4. Defense: cross-examination of prosecution witnesses or return to defense witnesses for rebuttal
• Approximately 5 minutes
5. Prosecution: summary of arguments and closing statements
• Approximately 5 minutes
6. Defense: summary of arguments and closing statements
• Approximately 5 minutes
Do Now:
Copy down the charges that fit your group:
- Macbeth: Banquo’s murder
- Lady M: treason and conspiracy to murder
- witches: inciting of a riot (creating chaos and disorder)
Decide your roles within the groups:
- Prosecution/Defense Lawyers
- Prosecution/Defense Witnesses
- This needs to be a specific person, like Banquo’s ghost.
- Prosecution/Defense Clerk
To be created from other groups that day:
- Jury
- Judge
Division of Responsibility: Defense of Defendant
- Opening Statement Leader: ______
Opening Lines:
Include 1-2 catchy, witty lines about this case. Remember, you speak second.
Prelude:
Include relevant information to Macbeth/Lady M./witches’ innocence (or why X is to blame)
Defense’s Argument:
Include defendant’s innocence, other person’s guilt, and main reasons why defendant is innocent in 1-2 lines.
- Main Argument Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Prosecution has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and remind them of the defendant’s innocence.
Presentation of Primary Evidence
Present and explain the context behind quotations around a central reason for the defendant’s innocence. This can include calling a witness to the stand.
Analysis of Primary Evidence
Analyze the evidence’s relevance to Defendant’s innocence. Explain the connection between Defendant’ fate and the first point of your main argument.
Presentation of Secondary Evidence
Present and explain the context behind quotations around a central reason for Defendant’s innocence. This can include calling a witness to the stand.
Analysis of Secondary Evidence
Analyze the evidence’s relevance to Defendant’s innocence. Explain the connection between Defendant’ fate and the second point of your main argument.
- Rebuttal Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Prosecution has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and explain how the Prosecution has twisted the real events around.
Anticipation of Prosecution’s Main Argument #1
Briefly explain Prosecution’s best argument (that you can anticipate).
Rebuttal of Main Argument #1
Using evidence (quotations), refute the Prosecution’s claim that Defendant is acting of his own free will. This may include cross-examining a witness.
Anticipation of Prosecution’s Main Argument #2
Briefly explain the Prosecution’s second best argument.
Rebuttal of Main Argument #2
Using evidence (quotations), refute the Prosecution’s claim that Defendant is acting of his own free will. This may include cross-examining a witness.
- Concluding Statement Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Prosecution has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and explain how the Prosecution has twisted the real events around, and that Defendant is innocent.
Defense’s Argument
Reiterate your main points and arguments.
Defense’s Closing Words
In 1-2 sentences, explain to the jury the consequences of convicting Defendant as guilty.
Remember, you get the last word in the trial. Make sure it’s something good.
RULES FOR CALLING WITNESSES:
- You must have someone prepared to ‘be’ the witness that day.
- That person must use primarily text-supported quotes as speech. (Yes, this takes a lot of preparation, but it’s worth it).
- Between the two groups, you must agree upon one person to act as a character (for example, only on person can be Macbeth, not a prosecuting and defending Macbeth.)
- That person should try to act, think, and dress appropriately for that character.
- That person should be prepared to answer questions for both sides.
AP English Language and Composition 9-point Rubric
9 / Essays earning a score of 9 meet the criteria for 8 papers and, in addition, are especially full or apt in their analysis or demonstrate particularly impressive control of language.
8 / Essays earning a score of 8 effectively respond to the prompt. They refer to the passage explicitly or implicitly and explain the function of specific strategies. Their prose demonstrates an ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing but is not flawless.
7 / Essays earning a score of 7 fit the description of 6 essays but provide a more complete analysis or demonstrate a more mature prose style.
6 / Essays earning a score of 6 adequately respond to the prompt. They refer to the passage, explicitly or implicitly, but their discussion is more limited. The writing may contain lapses in diction or syntax, but generally the prose is clear.
5 / Essays earning a score of 5 analyze the strategies, but they may provide uneven or inconsistent analysis. They may treat the prompt in a superficial way or demonstrate a limited understanding of the prompt. While the writing may contain lapses in diction or syntax, it usually conveys ideas adequately.
4 / Essays earning a score of 4 respond to the prompt inadequately. They may misrepresent the author's position, analyze the strategies inaccurately, or offer little discussion of specific strategies. The prose generally conveys the writer's ideas but may suggest immature control of writing.
3 / Essays earning a score of 3 meet the criteria of the score of 4 but are less perceptive about the prompt or less consistent in controlling the elements of writing.
2 / Essays earning a score of 2 demonstrate little success in responding to the prompt. These essays may offer vague generalizations, substitute simpler tasks such as summarizing the passage, or simply list techniques. The prose often demonstrates consistent weaknesses in writing.
1 / Essays earning a score of 1 meet the criteria for the score of 2 but are undeveloped, especially simplistic in discussion, or weak in their control of language.
0 / Indicates an on-topic response that receives no credit such as one that merely repeats the prompt or one that is completely off topic.
Agenda for a Literary Mock Trial
Time limits will be monitored by the Clerks.
1. Prosecution: presentation of arguments and witnesses
• Approximately 10 minutes
2. Defense: presentation of arguments and witnesses
• Approximately 10 minutes
3. Prosecution: cross-examination of defense witnesses or return to prosecution witnesses for rebuttal
• Approximately 5 minutes
4. Defense: cross-examination of prosecution witnesses or return to defense witnesses for rebuttal
• Approximately 5 minutes
5. Prosecution: summary of arguments and closing statements
• Approximately 5 minutes
6. Defense: summary of arguments and closing statements
• Approximately 5 minutes
Do Now:
Copy down the charges that fit your group:
- Macbeth: Banquo’s murder
- Lady M: treason and conspiracy to murder
- witches: inciting of a riot (creating chaos and disorder)
Decide your roles within the groups:
- Prosecution/Defense Lawyers
- Prosecution/Defense Witnesses
- This needs to be a specific person, like Banquo’s ghost.
- Prosecution/Defense Clerk
To be created from other groups that day:
- Jury
- Judge
Division of Responsibility: Prosecution of Defendant
- Opening Statement Leader: ______
Opening Lines:
Include 1-2 catchy, witty lines about this case. Remember, you speak first out of everyone. Make it really catchy, but also easy to remember 20 minutes later.
Prelude:
Include relevant information to Defendant’s guilt and why he/she is to blame for his own actions.
Prosecution’s Argument:
Include Defendant’s guilt, free will, and main reasons why Defendant is guilty in 1-2 lines.
- Main Argument Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Defense has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and remind them of Defendant’ guilt.
Presentation of Primary Evidence
Present and explain the context behind quotations around a central reason for Defendant’s innocence. This can include calling a witness to the stand.
Analysis of Primary Evidence
Analyze the evidence’s relevance to Defendant’s guilt. Explain the connection between Defendant’ free will and the first point of your main argument.
Presentation of Secondary Evidence
Present and explain the context behind quotations around a central reason for Defendant’s guilt. This can also include calling a witness to the stand.
Analysis of Secondary Evidence
Analyze the evidence’s relevance to Defendant’s innocence. Explain the connection between Defendant’ free will and the second point of your main argument.
- Rebuttal Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Defense has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and explain how the Defense has twisted the real events around.
Anticipation of Defense’s Main Argument #1
Briefly explain Defense’s best argument (that you can anticipate).
Rebuttal of Main Argument #1
Using evidence (quotations), refute the Defense’s claim that Defendant is acting due to fate.
Anticipation of Defense’s Main Argument #2
Briefly explain Defense’s second best argument.
Rebuttal of Main Argument #2
Using evidence (quotations), refute the Defense’s second claim that Defendant is acting due to fate.
- Concluding Statement Leader: ______
Transitional Moment
The Defense has just spoken. Create 1-2 sentences to recapture your audience, and explain how the Defense has twisted the real events around, and that Defendant is guilty.
Prosecution’s Argument
Reiterate your main points and arguments.
Prosecution’s Closing Words
In 1-2 sentences, explain to the jury the consequences of letting Defendantget away as innocent.
Remember, Defense gets the last word. Make this memorable enough and thoughtful enough to overshadow whatever the Defense will say in a minute.
RULES FOR CALLING WITNESSES:
- You must have someone prepared to ‘be’ the witness that day.
- That person must use primarily text-supported quotes as speech. (Yes, this takes a lot of preparation, but it’s worth it).
- Between the two groups, you must agree upon one person to act as a character (for example, only on person can be Macbeth, not a prosecuting and defending Macbeth.)
- That person should try to act, think, and dress appropriately for that character.
- That person should be prepared to answer questions for both sides
AP English Language and Composition 9-point Rubric
9 / Essays earning a score of 9 meet the criteria for 8 papers and, in addition, are especially full or apt in their analysis or demonstrate particularly impressive control of language.
8 / Essays earning a score of 8 effectively respond to the prompt. They refer to the passage explicitly or implicitly and explain the function of specific strategies. Their prose demonstrates an ability to control a wide range of the elements of effective writing but is not flawless.
7 / Essays earning a score of 7 fit the description of 6 essays but provide a more complete analysis or demonstrate a more mature prose style.
6 / Essays earning a score of 6 adequately respond to the prompt. They refer to the passage, explicitly or implicitly, but their discussion is more limited. The writing may contain lapses in diction or syntax, but generally the prose is clear.
5 / Essays earning a score of 5 analyze the strategies, but they may provide uneven or inconsistent analysis. They may treat the prompt in a superficial way or demonstrate a limited understanding of the prompt. While the writing may contain lapses in diction or syntax, it usually conveys ideas adequately.
4 / Essays earning a score of 4 respond to the prompt inadequately. They may misrepresent the author's position, analyze the strategies inaccurately, or offer little discussion of specific strategies. The prose generally conveys the writer's ideas but may suggest immature control of writing.
3 / Essays earning a score of 3 meet the criteria of the score of 4 but are less perceptive about the prompt or less consistent in controlling the elements of writing.
2 / Essays earning a score of 2 demonstrate little success in responding to the prompt. These essays may offer vague generalizations, substitute simpler tasks such as summarizing the passage, or simply list techniques. The prose often demonstrates consistent weaknesses in writing.
1 / Essays earning a score of 1 meet the criteria for the score of 2 but are undeveloped, especially simplistic in discussion, or weak in their control of language.
0 / Indicates an on-topic response that receives no credit such as one that merely repeats the prompt or one that is completely off topic.