Finishing the Quarter (and Extra Credit Opportunity)

Required Task: Mock Trial Self-Evaluation.

Optional Tasks: Catch up with current events and your blogs. Consider reading and learning more about the bombing in Brussels, President Obama in Cuba, the presidential primaries, etc.

Extra Credit Opportunity:  Since this semester has already been quite full with (hopefully) interesting, provocative, and somewhat difficult issues, I've decided that rather than requiring an outside reading book this semester, it will be an optional, extra credit opportunity.
Here are the requirements:
The book that you'll read is called Mizzoula by Jon Krakauer. You'll first need to purchase the book and then make time to read it. You then have a number of options to consider in order to receive credit.  Choose one of the following:
1) Find a partner and read it together. Then complete your blog posts as you did the outside reading for first semester (three posts, comments on each of your partner's posts, responses to each comment).
2) Write a more traditional book report/review. See the link for the guidelines. Book Report Instructions
3) Participate in a book discussion group. It will be hosted by me and take place at a time convenient to all. You will be responsible for running the discussion.  Group Discussion Sign Up
4) Form a small group 4-6 people and do a videotaped or podcasted group discussion on the book. Post the discussion to your blog.


After a I judge that there has been a thorough and satisfactory completion of any of these tasks (there must be a clear indication that the book was read in its entirety), you will receive the extra credit discussed in class.

Finishing the Trials

As we start to finish up our trials, those groups that finish can begin working on your self/group assessments which you can find here: Self-Assessment.

Mock Trial Prep Contd.

All week you've been continuing with your preparations for your mock trials. By the end of your last class period of the week, you should be finished with your direct examination and cross examination questions. Everything needs to be finished by class time on Monday so that you can use class time on that day to prepare, practice and rehearse.
I am going to make a shared folder for your group. Please make sure that all of your prepared materials are in that folder as soon as you are finished.

TRIAL TIP: If you have a witness who forgets what they are supposed to say during direct OR if you have a witness who contradicts their witness statement on either direct or cross, use this format to refresh their recollection or point out their inconsistencies: Refreshing Recollection

Mock Trial Preparation

Today we'll begin the preparation of our mock trials. You'll meet your team and select your roles and tasks.  Here is the list of cases and which side you'll be on.  Mock Trial Groups 2016
When you have your team roles decided, please fill in the appropriate form below:
Team Roles Per. 1
Team Roles Per. 6

The rest of the resources to use in the preparation for your mock trials are linked in the tab above.

Sexual Assault Contd.

After our discussions about the articles you've read over the last few days, today we will start the film, The Hunting Ground (the film is available to rent at the link).

For your last portfolio entry, please respond to the topic of sexual assault. Use specifics from the articles and films to support your response. Consider any or all of the following questions in your response (you are not limited to these questions-if there are other issues you've been considering about this topic, feel free to address those): What is your review or assessment of The Hunting Ground? What, if anything, does the film prompt you to do? The film received a 93% positive rating at rottentomatoes.com. Here are a few of those positive reviews and one critique of the film. What are your reactions after reading them? Tribune Review, NY Times Review, Slate Review. What information that you learned over the last few days is most surprising and why? Does a "rape culture" exist? If so, what is its impact?  What kind of responsibility do colleges have to address the issue of sexual assault on their campuses? Why don't they seem to take it more seriously? What should sexual assault awareness programs address? Why? What is the role of bystanders? What other issues that were raised in the articles that you read are most important to you?  Why?

Your entire portfolio must be submitted to turnitin.com by class time on Monday, Feb. 29. Here is the link to the checklist of entries that should be included as well as the rubric that I'll be using to assess your work: Portfolio Rubric.

Don't forget, you need to read and annotate your mock trial packet by Monday as well so organize your time accordingly.

Sexual Assault

Your assignment for Tuesday is to read and annotate your assigned article plus one more from the Breaking the Silence Blog. You should print your articles and come prepared to discuss and share them tomorrow. As you read you should be sure to click on at least some of the hyperlinks embedded within your article.

1. Notre Dame, Manti Te'o and Institutional Rape Tolerance
2. 5 Ways Sexual Assault is Really About Entitlement
3. Why Naked Pictures Aren't Harmless
4. 25 Everyday Examples of Rape Culture
5. Rethinking Gender and Sexual Assault
6. a) Affirmative Consent:Are Students Really Asking?

       6. b)Adults Hate Yes Means Yes Laws. The College Students I Meet Love Them

Browse the Breaking the Silence Blog and find one article that interests you to discuss.
Breaking the Silence

Sexual Harassment Contd.

We started class by going back to the scenarios that we started to look at in class yesterday. After a discussion about the most difficult of those scenarios we watched the videos below and considered some of the questions that they raised.
For homework, students are to read and annotate the articles linked here:
Steubenville Case Articles