For Wednesday, October 22

Trial Preparation.

Side Note:  Consider staying for additional trial preparation on Friday, October 24.  This is a scheduled half day; however, I cannot move your trial dates (Oct. 28 and 30), so you may want to take advantage of this opportunity.  You judge whether your team is prepared for trial or not.  We will have a scheduled (party/off) class period after our trial comes to completion.

Take your preparation seriously.  Seek out the evidence that will most help your team.  Make sure your evidence is fail proof.  Help your attorney develope questions that will most effectively guide your testimony.

Your trial grade will count twice in the major category.  This is a big deal; we spend a lot of time with this "challenge" because of the important skills developed in the process.

What are we graded on?

Airtight Evidence-Do I know and understand my character?  Is my evidence appropriate, concrete, and relevant?  How well do I think on my feet during cross examination?  In other words, I know who I am and what I intend to prove.

For Monday, October 20

Prepare the outline for a 500 word essay in which you clearly argue your case in the trial brought by the prosecution:

Because of its racially descriminatory nature, Mark Twain's novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should not be required reading in public American high schools.

Your argument should be written from your unique perspective as counsel or witness.  Your introduction should clearly point out your stake in the argument (what makes you a credible witness in the trial-ethos).  Your thesis should be clearly interpretive-argues for one side or the other based on ___________________.  Your body paragraphs should use examples and explanations as with every other well-argued essay.

1. You will bring in your outline on Monday.  
2. I will set the time at 40 minutes.  
3. You will write your essay.  
4. You will turn in both your outline and your essay.  
5. The two documents will equal one major grade.

The remainder of next week's class time will be spent in trial preparation.  I will expect you to use your times wisely.  I appreciate the enthusiasm I saw today.

Trial Dates:  October 28 and 30 from 8:30 - 9:30.

Happy Trial Preparation!

For Thursday, October 16

Finish the novel Huckleberry Finn.

On Thursday, we will have a short quiz.
We will have classroom discussion
The remainder of the day will be spent in your trial teams:  assigning roles, selecting witnesses, preparing for a future essay and trial.

Come to class with your novel and any documents I have given you that might figure into this trial.

For Tuesday, October 14

Complete your rhetorical analysis of "I Rise to Protest."

After I remembered you have this extensive paper to perfect this weekend, I decided to let you off of reading the rest of Huck Finn.  We can finish the novel in class on Tuesday before we set things in motion for trial preparation.

Have a wonderful weekend.

For Friday, October 10

Read Huckleberry Finn through Chapter 36.

Norman Rockwell's Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

For Wednesday, October 8

One and the Same by Melinda Proudhomme

Read Huckleberry Finn through Chapter 32.

If I discussed your rough draft with you today, continue working on your rhetorical analysis.  It's best to get started, so you remember what we talked about.

The final draft of the "I rise to protest" rhetorical analysis is due BOP Tuesday, October 14.