Literary Characters on Trial: Combining Persuasion and Literary Analysis

Materials and Technology

Student Interactives

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• The Tempest or another text
  
  
• Chart paper/White Board, and necessary writing materials

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STUDENT INTERACTIVES

Grades   3 – 12  |  Student Interactive  |  Organizing & Summarizing

Persuasion Map

The Persuasion Map is an interactive graphic organizer that enables students to map out their arguments for a persuasive essay or debate.

 

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PRINTOUTS

• Roles of the Members of a Trial
  
  
• Your Duties to Your Client as a Prosecution Attorney...
  
  
• Your Duties to Your Client as a Defense Attorney...
  
  
• Suggestions for a Mock Trial
  
  
• Trial Paper Rubric
  
  
• Trial Presentation Rubric
  
  
• Cast Outline
  
  
• And the Verdict Is...
  
  
• Agenda for a Literary Mock Trial
  
  
• Presentation Self-Evaluation Form

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WEBSITES

• Exploring the Judicial System Through a Literary Mock Trial

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PREPARATION

• Students should have read and discussed the text, The Tempest or another text, chosen for the mock trial before beginning this project.
  
  
• The instructor should be comfortable with all of the components of a mock trial. The instructor could use the Guide to Conducting Mock Trials for further information.
  
  
• Make copies of the Roles of the Members of a Trial, Duties of the Prosecution Attorney, Duties of the Defense Attorney, suggestions for the lawyers, Writing Rubric, Trial Rubric, Model Defense handout, Jury Verdict Form, Agenda for a Mock Trial, and Self-Evaluation Form.
  
  
• As students will be using their persuasion skills, provide background information in methods and forms of persuasion. Review ReadWriteThink lessons about persuasion.
  
  
• If desired, share a movie or TV show that portrays a trial scene and decide what strategies could be useful with instruction.
  
  
• Test the Persuasion Map on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that you have the Flash plug-in installed. You can download the plug-in from the technical support page.
  
  
• Test the Exploring the Judicial System Through a Literary Mock Trial travelogue on your computers to familiarize yourself with the tools and ensure that the sites are not blocked by any filtering software.

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