Goals

To introduce the mock trial project, set expectations, and have students begin work on their mock trial projects.

 

Details

Duration: 105 minutes

Assessments: Student discussions, Student writing, Performance/presentation (i.e. speech, play)

 

Description

We kicked off this activity by explaining to students that the last step for the Banned in America unit was to simulate a mock trial based on the issues surrounding banned books and censorship.

1. We introduced the mock trial as the second culminating assessment for this unit and gave students the handout, "Mock Trial Project Description". Since this was such a heavy handout, we first made sure to cover the "scenarios" section and "roles and tasks" section. We then told students how to navigate the handout and just informed them of what each section was describing. The sections were broken down as follows:

-Profiles
-Arguments
-Resources You Can Use
-Requirements
-Due Dates
-Agenda for Mock Trial
-Opening Statements
-Witnesses
-Direct Examination of Witnesses
-Cross Examination of Witnesses
-Closing Statements

2. After the explanation of the handout, we placed students into groups and assigned a specific scenario to each group. Once the groups were situated and understood their scenarios, we let the groups decide amongst each on their roles.

3. Once the handout explanation was completed, we had students begin work on their "Profiles" and "Arguments" as explained in the handout.

4. While students were working on their "profiles" and "arguments", we met separately with the students who chose to be attorneys to clarify their roles as the tone setters for the mock trials. We emphasized that their arguments had to be relevant to the given scenario and had to cite evidence from what they learned about banned books through the course of this unit, reading their own banned book, and writing their banned books essays.

5. At the end of the class period, we had students stop their work and gave them the handout, "Mock Trial Rubric" to look over. We read through it as a class and made sure they understood the elements they would be graded on for this task.

Handout - Mock Trial Project Description
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Handout - Mock Trial Rubric
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Author Reflections

Introducing the mock trial as a the final assignment for this unit got students very excited about what we studied through the course of this unit. This was the first time we came up with a mock trial on our own, so the handout came out a little heavy and the rubric wasn't linked to Envision Schools Graduation Portfolio. Despite this, the mock trials got the students really engaged and excited about their final assignment for this unit.