In preparation for the upcoming unscripted mock trial, my students had the opportunity to ease into the mindset needed in order to successfully interact in a mock trial setting.
First, we explored a couple of debate scenarios:
- Scenario #1:
- Should middle schoolers be able to watch R-rated movies in school that go along with books they read?
- Scenario #2:
- Dave hacks into the systems of the Enormous Telecommunications Company (ETC) and copies a file that describes certain details of ETC’s delicate switching equipment. When Dave is nabbed by the Feds, they charge him with theft. Is this correct?
- What if the document is provided essentially for free by ETC to anyone for the price of postage?
- Dave hacks into the systems of the Enormous Telecommunications Company (ETC) and copies a file that describes certain details of ETC’s delicate switching equipment. When Dave is nabbed by the Feds, they charge him with theft. Is this correct?
This, naturally, generated quite a spirited discussion as we moved on to watching a video from 2008 of high school students competing in a mock trial competition where Overbrook High School in Pennsylvania won. This video served to illustrate how a successful mock trial should look and function.
If time allowed, we first discussed the important points in a trial. We then got started on a scripted mock trial. Regardless, we will perform this scripted mock trial tomorrow.
Homework:
- Read for 30 minutes and record it in your reading log:
- TKAM: Chapter 20
- ROTHMC: Finish Chapter 9
PowerPoint: