Week+14 +12.1-12.5

__Friday, 12.5__
Great progress was achieved in both classes today as we had very productive prosecution and defense meetings. Opening and Closing statements are coming along, each side discussed the merits of their cases, decided on a witness order and read preliminary question to direct examination witnesses. We focused on the scope and sequence of questions, discussed gaps, and tried to anticipate the line of inquiry of our opponents. One week until go time!

__Thursday, 12.4__
After checking your parent generated reasons list, I solicited lists from various class members and we brainstormed organizational strategies for your body paragraphs. We selected the three arguments that could be most effectively argued against and then outlined the letter, saving the most convincing example for last.

After this, we broke into prosecution and defense teams in preparation for the trial.

__Wednesday, 12.3__
Today we worked individually and as groups on the opening statements for the case. We also discussed the legal vocabulary of the trial focusing on key words that will aid both the prosecution and defense. The list we will use can be found [|here]

__Tuesday, 12.2__
Today we spent a good deal of time journaling. We got into our character's head and wrote down their sworn affidavit in the case of George Milton. We then spent time annotating our books with post-it notes and continued working on questions and testimony.

__Monday, 12.1__
Today we introduced our next writing assignment, a persuasive letter in which you attempt to convince your parents to do something that you want them to do. Preliminary ideas included, the purchase of a puppy, laptop, a later curfew, and the