Alexander the Great Trial

Each student will need to select a role for the upcoming trial. The points possible for each role are 50. I will offer up to 15 extra credit points for dressing in character. Sign in on this blog to select a role, first come first served. Following the each role is a brief description of the responsibilities.



The roles:
Judge
You will Oversee the proceedings and direct the behavior of the courtroom. (Mr. Parker will help.) You will rules on items of procedure and instruct the jury. You will make legal interpretations of legal concepts when needed.

Prosecuting Attorneys (3)
Your team will research the alleged crimes of the accused. Prosecute the case against Alexander. Obtain testimony from the witnesses and build a case to convict. (note- with so many charges and such limited time, it will be a good idea to prioritize the crimes of the accused.)

Defense Attorneys Same as prosecuting attorneys but your team will present a defense for the Accused. The Defense will cross-examine and call witnesses that will speak to Alexander's innocence.

Press
Although you won't have a great deal of research to do. You will prepare a report based on court room observation and post testimony interviews. You will publish your report on this blog.

Witnesses
Each of the witnesses selected will need to reseach that person and impersonate him or her. All questions should be answered as historically accurately as possible.

The potential witnesses are:
Darius III, King of Persia
Demosthenes
Arrian
Plutarch
Diodorus
Curtius
Antipater
Parmenio
Philotas
Ptolomy
Aristobulos
Nearchus
Cleitarchus
Callisthenes
Aristotle
Alexander's Mother
Roxana
Stateira

Jury
One person will serve as the jury. Just as with the Press, this person will not have researching responsibility but will be responsible for taking notes on the trial and rendering a written verdict.

You have until the class meeting before the trial to make a selection at which time I will assign one. All reserving of roles is to be done on the blog.

The charges against Alexander are as follows:
Crimes against Humanity (War Crimes)
Murder of Clitus
Public Intoxication
Disorderly Conduct
Theft
Burning of Persepolis
Massacre at Branchidae
Poor leadership with regard to the disaster at Gedrosia

Welcome!

I have included some comments.  In parenthesis are the # of times the comment was repeated.  Read through them and leave a comment to prove you we here.  By the way- check out the lectures, songs and links while you're here.

Here are the comments of students from this year:

• Focus!(6) Don't get distracted by self-doubt.  Have confidence.(3)  You can learn to pass this test if you listen to Mr. Parker.(12)
• Take good notes! (9) Color code your red lines!  Remember trash in, trash out! (2) Try your best and always do one hour of homework.(21)
• The class is great.  (6) Take practice tests and buy the AP book.
• Answer the Prompt.  Prepare early.(3)
• Get ready to work you get what you put in.(8)
• Don't be lazy, don't procrastinate.(13) Don't loose your notes.
• Don't be too hard or too easy on yourself.
• Discuss the red lines in your groups.(2)
• Ask questions (7) and look up information on your own time.
• Learn the songs! (4)
• Don't give up.  (3) This a hard class but it's fun.(2)
• When you have a project due, don't wait until the last minute to start it.
• Make sure you speak up!  Participate.
• If you do your work you will pass.  Be organized
• It is really fun, don't get on Mr. Parker's bad side, and don't worry.
• You need to be on top of this class from day 1.

and my favorite:

• Listen!  Mr Parker always seems to be right.  (He is an AP Genius.)  Summaries and Red Lines are the most important!  Study and brief for the AP Test all year.  Just studying a week or two in advance will not help.  

I am looking forward to hearing from all of you!  Enjoy Summer!

Peace,

Mr. Parker

Thesis game part two

In case you missed it... support the following thesis with an original bit of historical evidence (10 points).  You can also get 5 points for an intelligent comment about another student's post (5 extra credit points each up to 15 points).  Have fun.]

Here's the Thesis:


The policies of the Tokugawa lead to isolation which affected the political, social and cultural development of Japan in the years btween 1600 and 1800.