|
English 8 Twelve Angry Men
|
January
|
Students will learn about the nation’s jury system and its importance to the rule of law in the United States. Students will experience the Sixth and Seventh Amendments at work as they engage in the main lesson activities, including one in which they will serve as jurors.
In the main activities and lesson extensions, students will explore both individual and group decision making as they learn about reaching a unanimous decision within a group. They will learn how the court system works and analyze the concepts of fairness, impartiality, and bias as they relate to a jury of peers. Students also will use and present evidence to determine an outcome. With gained understanding of individual and group perspectives, students will write an essay in which they compare the decision-making process individually and by group.
|
How does group decision making in a jury trial reflect our democratic ideals and our Constitution?
What effect does the method of a trial have on the resolution to a conflict?
How do the amendments to the Constitution support and guide the participation of jurors in trials?
What is the relationship between a fair and unbiased jury-selection process and upholding U.S. constitutional rights?
|
| (1) |
RI.8.10 |
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literary nonfiction at the high end of the grades 6-8 text complexity band independently and proficiently. |
| (1) |
RL.8.2 |
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text. |
| (1) |
RL.8.3 |
Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision. |
| (1) |
RL.8.4 |
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone, including analogies or allusions to other texts. |
| (1) |
RL.8.6 |
Analyze how differences in the points of view of the characters and the audience or reader (e.g., created through the use of dramatic irony) create such effects as suspense or humor. |
| (1) |
RL.8.7 |
Analyze the extent to which a filmed or live production of a story or drama stays faithful to or departs from the text or script, evaluating the choices made by the director or actors. |
|
- Identify key ideas and inferences along with text support
- Determine the central idea
- Provide a summary
- Determine the meaning of words
- Trace and evaluate arguments
- Analyze multiple perspectives
- Organize reasons and evidence in written arguments
- Write conclusions to support arguments
- Write to inform or explain
- Participate in group discussions
- Follow rules for discussions, set goals and deadlines, and define role
- Review ideas from more than one perspective
- Distinguish claims through reason and evidence
- Adapt speech to fit the context of a task
- Identify key ideas and inferences along with text support
- Determine the central idea
- Provide a summary
- Trace and evaluate arguments
- Write arguments with support
- Organize reasons and evidence in written arguments
- Write with clarity
- Write conclusions to support arguments
- Write to inform or explain
- Use appropriate and precise language
- Write responses based on research
- Use and correctly cite information from multiple sources
- Prepare for discussions
- Follow rules for discussions, set goals and deadlines, and define role
- Pose and respond to questions
|
Court Room Vocabulary
prosecutor
the lawyer in the courtroom who works for the victim.
convene
when the trial begins, court is said to
counsel
the legal term for both lawyers.
bench
the place where the judge sits.
defendant
the personin the trial accused of the crime.
examination
when a lawyer asks questions to his own client.
cross examination
when a lawyer asks questions to the other client.
reporter
the person in the court who writes down what everyone says.
testify
to speak in court under oath.
spectators
a group of people who watch something.
verdict
the decision madey by a jury.
contempt
being disrespectful in court is to be in.
|
Assessments from the Scholastic Website: Group Work, Individual Work, Web Quests.
Choose five of the following themes and answer the questions.
A. How do these lessons apply to 12 Angry Men?
B. How can we apply these themes to real-life situations?
- Prejudice gets in the way of the truth.
- Getting to the bottom of a complex issue takes time and effort.
- Check your intuitions -- neither dismiss them, nor trust them blindly.
- Details can be important, in context; think in terms of contingencies.
- There are many interpretations of "the facts."
- Test others' opinions, question their assumptions, and draw your own conclusions.
- Civility will encourage your opponents to keep listening to you.
- Tailor your tactics to your target.
- Coalitions can work for or against you -- and they can shift.
- Reason and assertiveness can both be powerful tactics, depending on the situation.
- Patient silence and loud persistence can both be powerful, at the right times.
- One determined and skilled individual can wield a lot of influence.
|
12 Angry Men
http://content.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/a/abota_unitplan_webpage.pdf
http://edsitement.neh.gov/lesson-plan/twelve-angry-men-trial-jury-right-and-political-institution
|
