Mock Trial Rubric - Mr. H's Website!



To Kill A Mocking Bird Trial!

Mock Trial Rules:

Each team shall be allowed a total of 30 (thirty) minutes for their case. Time in each category may be divided among team attorneys as they choose, but overall time limits must be observed. Violating time limits will reduce a team's total score by 1 point for each minute over the limit (for each occurrence). Timing will halt during objections and judges’ responses to objections. The presiding judge may, in his/her sole discretion, grant time extensions in the interest of fairness (without penalty), however this will be a rare occurrence, and shall not be expected or requested.

Please bear in mind that a concise examination will probably be graded higher than a poorly organized and drawn-out presentation.

The following trial sequence and time categories are recommended as a guideline, overtime penalties will be assessed ONLY for each minute a team exceeds its individual allotment:

▪ Plaintiff’s Opening Statement: 5 minutes

▪ Defense’s Opening Statement: 5 minutes

▪ Plaintiff’s Direct Examination: 5 per witness

▪ Defense’s Cross-examination: 4 per witness

▪ Plaintiff’s Redirect Examination- (only ask ?’s based on what took place during cross) (optional): 2 minutes per witness

▪ Defense’s Re-cross (only ask ?’s based on what took place during

re-direct) (optional): 2 minutes per witness

▪ Defense's Direct Examination: 5 minutes per witness

▪ Plaintiff’s Cross-examination: 4 minutes per witness

▪ Defense's Redirect (optional): 2 minutes per witness

▪ Plaintiff’s Re-cross (optional): 2 minutes per witness

▪ Plaintiff’s Closing Argument: 5 minutes

▪ Defense's Closing Argument: 5 minutes

▪ Plaintiff’s Rebuttal (optional): 1 minute

MOCK TRIAL ROLES:

Prosecution:

This group is responsible for articulating the charges against the defendant. You must define the arguments that form the basis of the (legal/moral/criminal?) charge and introduce witnesses to provide evidence in support of these arguments. You will also need to predict the counter-arguments of the defense in order to prepare witnesses to testify against the defendant, and to prepare questions for the witnesses of the defense. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, you will choose people from your group for the following roles:

Lawyers-- the lawyers will address the jury, presenting the arguments and questioning witnesses in order to convince the jury of the defendant's guilt.

Witnesses-- Prosecution witnesses will be questioned by the lawyers for the prosecution and for the defense, so you will have to develop an interpretive presentation of the character that is consistent with the arguments of the prosecution AND based on the text.

KNOW YOUR MATERIAL!

.

Defense:

This group is responsible for articulating arguments for the innocence of the defendant. You must define arguments in opposition to the initial charge against the defendant, and introduce witnesses who can give evidence in support of these arguments. You will also need to predict arguments the prosecution might use against the defendant and other witnesses in order to prepare them to testify, and in order to prepare questions for the witnesses of the prosecution. In order to fulfill these responsibilities, you will choose people from your group for the following roles:

Lawyers-- the lawyers will address the jury, presenting the arguments and questioning witnesses in order to convince the jury of the defendant's innocence.

Witnesses--Witnesses will be questioned by the lawyers for the prosecution and for the defense, so you will have to develop an interpretive presentation of the character that is consistent with the arguments of the defense AND based on the text. KNOW YOUR MATERIAL!

Lawyer Rubric

Lawyer Group Members:____________________________________________

Mock Trial Rubric Grade:_____/50

|Evidence of |10 |8 |7 |6 |

|Persuasion |Speaker maintains a clear |Speaker maintains a clear |Speaker moves from one side |Speaker does not establish a |

| |position throughout the |position throughout the entire |to the other, never |clear position. |

| |entire presentation. |presentation. Opposing view not|maintaining a solid position.| |

| |Opposing view mentioned and |mentioned or mentioned but not | | |

| |then refuted, making case |well refuted. | | |

| |stronger. | | | |

|Quality of |Examples and references are |References support the main |References are not connected |Information is not based on |

|Information |well chosen to best |point. Research is used to |to research or the reading. |research or book or is |

| |exemplify main points in |support defense or prosecution |Arguments are random and |unrelated to the main points. |

| |defense or prosecution of |of the character. Main points |unconvincing. | |

| |the character. All points |are adequately convincing. | | |

| |are well supported. | | | |

|Group Cooperation |Group works together to |Time allotted to each member is|Time allotted to each speaker|No evidence of group planning |

| |share speaking time and |somewhat uneven. Information |is imbalanced. Information |or cooperation. |

| |information equally. |connects to that of other group|conflicts with or repeats | |

| |Information refers to and |members. Transitions are |that of other group members. | |

| |complements that of other |present. |No noticeable transitions | |

| |group members. Transitions | |from one speaker to the next.| |

| |from one speaker to the next| | | |

| |are smooth and well | | | |

| |prepared. | | | |

|Understanding of the |Presentation uses quotations|Presentation uses quotations |Presentation includes few |Presentation includes no |

|Issue |and examples (with page |and examples that connect to |references to the text. |references to the text. Group |

| |references so the jury can |the main point. The information|Attempts to connect actions |speaks in generalizations |

| |follow along). Examples are |shows how actions in the |of the character to the |about issues disconnected from|

| |applied to the main points. |reading contribute to the |issues or the trial are |the reading. |

| |Actions of character are |character’s guilt or innocence.|awkward or unconvincing. | |

| |evaluated against issues | | | |

| |raised in the trial. | | | |

|Delivery, Time Usage |Speaker makes frequent eye |Speaker uses notes but |Speaker uses note cards to |Speaker never looks up, cannot|

|and Presentation |contact with the jury. |maintains adequate eye contact |avoid making eye contact. |be heard, moves nervously, or |

| |Volume and pace reflect |with the jury. Volume and pace |Volume and pace are difficult|stands rooted to one spot. |

| |intensity of main points. |are consistent with main |to follow. Movements are not |Went over time limit. |

| |Movement and gestures add |points. Gestures and movement |related to speech and reflect| |

| |emphasis to main points. |are used hesitantly. Didn’t use|nervousness. Didn’t use time | |

| |Stays within time limit, |time sufficiently. |sufficiently. | |

High School Mock Trial Rubric - Witnesses

Name: _____________________________

|1 poor |2 below average |3 good/average | 4 strong/effective | 5 excellent |

1. Students are familiar with all mock trial rules. _______________

2. Students understand the burden of proof. _______________

3. Students are familiar with their witness statement and any additional information provided in the mock trial packet that is relevant to the case at hand. ___________

4. Student understands that they must respond accurately, within the information in their witness statement, to questions asked by mock trial attorneys. ____________

5. Appropriate time limits are followed. _______________

6. Student speaks clearly and loudly enough to be heard throughout the room. ________

7. Student directs comments to the appropriate audience; including judge, jury or witness, with good eye contact. _____________

8. Student exhibits appropriate courtroom decorum and respect for all parties in the trial, including opposing counsel and witnesses. _______________

9. Student portrays the witness in a convincing manner, within the rules (i.e., no costumes, props, dialects or accents). _______________

10. Student can perform the role of witness without use of notes. ___________

Total _________________/50

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