The Mock Trial
Overview, Rubrics, and Schedules
The People of Ithaca vs. Odysseus will
occur on the week of November 7 th .
The people of Ithaca have filed civil
charges against their king, Odysseus,
and his claims of being a hero, a title reserved for mortals proving godly worth.
Several character and expert witnesses may be subpoenaed to trial including, but
not limited to Penelope, Eurylochus, Calypso and Zeus. A full list of potential
witnesses and experts are revealed further in this docket. The people of Ithaca are
suing for a monetary settlement.
Students will participate in a mock trial of Odysseus, a memorable Ancient Greek
hero. Dependent upon responsibility, students will assume the role and/or persona
of their given position in the mock trial.
Roles:
Attorneys – There will be four (4) attorneys for each side of representation
(prosecution and defense). Counsel will be responsible for opening and
closing statements; as well as preparation and examination of witnesses.
Witnesses – Counsel is allowed two (2) witnesses to directly exam. Each witness
must rely on the facts of the text to derive at a persona or character.
Jurors – There will be twelve (12) jurors on each trial. Jurors will have the
responsibility of listening to the trial in its entirety, deliberate and return with
a verdict.
*Please note that due to the number of trials, some students will participate in
both trial cases.
During the trial, it is encouraged that students wear the attire representative of their
role.
My role is
.
My trial is
.
Mock Trial Rubric (Attorney – Prosecution & Defense)
Opening Statement
Highlight aspects of your clients
Use of body language is productive and effective
Does not refer to notecards or written script
Presents definitive theory (*thesis statement)
Direct Examination
Ask witness for an introduction
Ask witness to supply evidence
Use of body language to direct attention
Loops testimony with questioning
Cross Examination
Does not abuse leading questions
Highlights facts of direct testimony
Uses witness’ own words in questioning
Asks about one fact per question
Closing Statement
Humanize your client
Recaps key facts of the case
Does not refer to notecards or written script
Use of body language is productive and effective
State your conclusion in regards to verdict
Thank the jury for listening
Lawyer #1
Lawyer #2
Lawyer #3
Lawyer #4
Mock Trial Rubric (Witness)
Direct & Cross Examination
Introduces character using appropriate reference to text
Identifies major points with facts and details
Provides information written and shared in the testimony was
historically accurate
Uses appropriate gestures, eye contact, tone of voice, and a level
of enthusiasm in a way that kept the attention of the audience
during the testimony
Witness
Mock Trial Rubric (Juror)
Trial
Stays alert and attentive during the trial
Takes adequate and copious notes regarding the test
Responds appropriately to post trial questions
Collaborates with other jurors
Juror
List of Witnesses
The prosecution and defense may choose any two witnesses each. Witness selection must be made
in class by October 28th (Friday). Opposing counsels may not choose the same witness. During class,
each counsel will be given alternating turns to choose a witness until all witnesses are chosen.
Odysseus - Odysseus is a husband, father and
king. He is a favorite of the goddess Athena.
Telemachus - Odysseus’s son. Telemachus is
about twenty at the beginning of the story. He is a
natural obstacle to the suitors desperately courting
his mother.
Penelope - Wife of Odysseus and mother of
Telemachus. Penelope spends her days in the palace
pining for the husband who left for Troy twenty years
earlier and never returned.
Athena - Daughter of Zeus and goddess of
Amphinomus - Among the dozens of suitors,
the only decent man seeking Penelope’s hand in
marriage.
Calypso - The beautiful nymph who falls in love
with Odysseus when he lands on her island-home of
Ogygia.
Polyphemus - One of the Cyclopes whose
island Odysseus comes to soon after leaving Troy.
King Alcinous - King of the Phaeacians, who
offers Odysseus hospitality in his island kingdom of
wisdom. Athena assists Odysseus and Telemachus
Scheria. Alcinous hears the story of Odysseus’s
with divine powers throughout the epic, and she
wanderings and provides him with safe passage back
speaks up for them in the councils of the gods on
to Ithaca.
Mount Olympus.
Poseidon - God of the sea. As the suitors are
Odysseus’s mortal antagonists, Poseidon is his divine
antagonist. He despises Odysseus for blinding his
Circe - The beautiful witch-goddess who
transforms Odysseus’s crew into swine when he
lands on her island.
Tiresias - A Theban prophet who inhabits the
son, Polyphemus, and constantly hampers his journey
underworld. Tiresias meets Odysseus when Odysseus
home.
journeys to the Underworld.
Zeus - King of gods and men, who mediates the
disputes of the gods on Mount Olympus. Zeus is
occasionally depicted as weighing men’s fates in his
scales.
Antinous - The most arrogant of Penelope’s
suitors. Antinous leads the campaign to have
Telemachus killed.
Eurymachus - A manipulative, deceitful suitor.
Eurymachus’ charisma and duplicity allow him to
exert some influence over the other suitors.
Laertes - Odysseus’s aging father, who resides
on a farm in Ithaca.
Agamemnon - Former king of Mycenae, brother
of Menelaus, and commander of the Achaean forces
at Troy. Odysseus encounters Agamemnon’s spirit in
Hades.
Eurylochus – solider/comrade on Odysseus’
ship; speaks against Odysseus on a couple
occasions throughout the text.
Polites – solider/comrade on Odysseus’ ship.
Elpenor – solider/comrade on Odysseus’ ship;
dies on Circe’s island after getting drunk
Mock Trial Schedule Trial #1
Start
Stop
Task
10:45 am
-
10:50 am
Prepare and settle
10:50 am
-
11:00 am
Opening Statement
11:00 am
-
11:07 am
Direct Examination Witness #1 (prosecution)
11:08 am
-
11:15 am
Cross Examination Witness #1 (defense)
11:15 am
-
11:22 am
Direct Examination Witness #2 (prosecution)
11:23 am
-
11:30 am
Cross Examination Witness #2 (defense)
11:30 am
-
11:37 am
Direct Examination Witness #3 (defense)
11:38 am
-
11:45 am
Cross Examination Witness #3 (prosecution)
11:45 am
-
11:52 am
Direct Examination Witness #4 (defense)
11:53 am
-
12:00 pm
Cross Examination Witness #4 (prosecution)
12:00 pm
-
12:10 pm
Closing Argument
12:10
pm
-
12:20
pm
Mock Trial Questionnaire Per Role
12:20 pm
-
12:30 pm
Deliberation
12:30 pm
-
12:35 pm
Verdict
Mock Trial Schedule Trial #2
Start
Task
10:40 am
-
10:45 am
Prepare and settle
10:45 am
-
10:55 am
Opening Statement
10:55 am
-
11:02 am
Direct Examination Witness #1 (prosecution)
11:03 am
-
11:10 am
Cross Examination Witness #1 (defense)
11:10 am
-
11:17 am
Direct Examination Witness #2 (prosecution)
11:18 am
-
11:25 am
Cross Examination Witness #2 (defense)
11:25 am
-
11:32 am
Direct Examination Witness #3 (defense)
11:33 am
-
11:40am
Cross Examination Witness #3 (prosecution)
11:40 am
-
11:47 am
Direct Examination Witness #4 (defense)
11:48 am
-
11:55 am
Cross Examination Witness #4 (prosecution)
11:55 pm
-
12:05 pm
Closing Argument
12:05 pm
-
12:15 pm
Deliberation
12:15 pm
-
12:20 pm
Verdict
Homework
Stop
Mock Trial Questionnaire Per Role