Teachers:
Wesley Davidson, Samantha Fountain
Summary:
Students studied evidence-based argumentation using debate and mock trial structures. The initial debate section of this project used the podcast Serial as a core text. Through an analysis of inconsistencies in witness statements and synthesis of other available evidence documents from the actual trial, students worked up to a debate discussing whether or not the evidence in the case corroborated the key witness's version of events in the trial. To make sure students could then apply this same approach to evidence-based arguments without the benefit of the bias that they noticed in the Serial podcast, they took on a new case to prepare for a final mock trial. In this mock trial, all students had a key role - whether as lawyers, legal team members, witnesses, or justices - that required them to collaborate and synthesize information from the case in depth.
The culmination of this project was a final mock trial carried out in front of actual litigators in a downtown law office who provided both an authentic space in which the trial could take place and the expertise to comment on the rhetorical tactics, public speaking techniques, and use of evidence from the students who were chosen as representatives of their particular classes for this event.
Essential questions:
How can evidence lead us to a certain truth? What is true, and what is simply a good argument? How can the structure of an argument change hearts and minds?
Wesley Davidson, Samantha Fountain
Summary:
Students studied evidence-based argumentation using debate and mock trial structures. The initial debate section of this project used the podcast Serial as a core text. Through an analysis of inconsistencies in witness statements and synthesis of other available evidence documents from the actual trial, students worked up to a debate discussing whether or not the evidence in the case corroborated the key witness's version of events in the trial. To make sure students could then apply this same approach to evidence-based arguments without the benefit of the bias that they noticed in the Serial podcast, they took on a new case to prepare for a final mock trial. In this mock trial, all students had a key role - whether as lawyers, legal team members, witnesses, or justices - that required them to collaborate and synthesize information from the case in depth.
The culmination of this project was a final mock trial carried out in front of actual litigators in a downtown law office who provided both an authentic space in which the trial could take place and the expertise to comment on the rhetorical tactics, public speaking techniques, and use of evidence from the students who were chosen as representatives of their particular classes for this event.
Essential questions:
How can evidence lead us to a certain truth? What is true, and what is simply a good argument? How can the structure of an argument change hearts and minds?