1. The Lizzie Borden Murder Trial

2. You will need:
1 Scribe to write your evidence list
1 person to present the evidence to the class
1 Scribe to write your witness’s testimony/closing argument
1 person to act out your character on the witness stand/present your closing argument
4 people total

3. Build your argument
-With the people in your group and using the chart that you have completed, compile a list of evidence for or against Lizzie Borden (You WILL be presenting to the class)
-Now look at the opposition...How will you refute or disprove their theory?
Choose 3 of the opposing team's strongest arguments
-Look at your own evidence. How much of it is a proven fact? How much is hearsay or gossip? Is some of your evidence circumstantial?
-Acknowledge the opposition, and then refute it
Here’s an example...

4. Circumstantial vs. Direct Evidence
Testimony can be direct evidence or it can be circumstantial.
Example:
-A witness saying that she saw a defendant stab a victim is providing direct evidence.
-By contrast, a witness who says that she saw the defendant enter a house, that she heard screaming, and that she saw the defendant leave with a bloody knife gives circumstantial evidence.
-It is the necessity for inference, and not the obviousness of a conclusion, that determines whether evidence is circumstantial.

5. Opposing team’s claim:
-Due to the hundreds of deaths of innocent children caused by Lion attacks, Lions should be systematically exterminated.
GOAL-Acknowledge the facts and refute:
-It is true that the deaths of hundreds of children are caused by Lion attacks each year, however….
(Other words to use: In spite of the fact that, Despite, That being said, Admittedly,
Certainly, Of course, One cannot deny that... At the same time...

6. ASK YOURSELF:
How can you still convince the jury in spite of the opposition?

7. Create your witness’s testimony
-You will develop a script for your assigned witness to read, using the information we have about them.
-Write a 1ish page testimony in which the witness explains how they are connected to the case and what they know. (use direct quotes when possible)
The Witness must be able to answer:
How do you know the defendant/how are you connected to the case? (Lizzie Borden)
Where were you when the murders occurred? How can you account for your whereabouts?
What other information can you give? Tell all you know.

8. Create the closing argument
-After reviewing your own evidence and the opposition, how can you really “WOW” the jury?
-What can you add here at the very end to convince them? (Use Ethos, Logos and Pathos for this one!)