1. Involuntary Manslaughter/Murder “Trials”

2. Trial Each person will sign up for a role depending on what they would like to argue. For each Trial there will be a Prosecuting attorney, a “witness” for the prosecution, a defense attorney and a “witness” for the defense. Each side will prepare evidence from the play to support their side. On Tuesday, each partnership will work together to create an opening statement, questions, responses, and possible cross- examination questions/responses. The charges being brought against all of the defendants is involuntary manslaughter: often the charge if the person had no intent to kill or commit a crime but his criminal negligence or extreme recklessness resulted in a death. The prosecution gets to decide just how many counts of involuntary manslaughter will be brought against the “character” based on what deaths you feel they caused.

4. Before trial Each person needs to find evidence from the play to support their side: Quotes, situations, actions, etc. Each person needs to find evidence to use against a counterargument. The prosecution side needs to provide the defense a statement of charges (how many counts), and a list of the “witnesses that will be called.” The defense needs to provide the prosecution with list of “witnesses” as well. This will be given to the other side on Tuesday (beginning of class), so you must prepare evidence ahead of time.

5. During Trial Each side will have a specific amount of time to present their opening argument. In that time The prosecution will then call their witness to the stand. During this time, the prosecution will ask questions that the “witness” will respond to using specific quotes/situations from the play. The witness may only refer to things specifically said/shown/done in the play. Once the prosecution has finished, the defense attorney may ask 1-2 cross examination questions the witness must respond to. Once the prosecution “rests” the defense will call their witness to the stand and do the same thing the prosecution did: asks/answers questions, and then is cross-examined by prosecuting attorney. Each side will then have 1 minute to give their closing argument. A jury, randomly selected that day, will have time to deliberate and reach a verdict.