Jury Instructions – People v. John Brown Trial
Part 1- The Jury’s Newspaper
The year is 1859. You have recently been hired as a team of reporters to create a newspaper that will
inform your classmates about the major events going on around the country and world while John Brown is
on trial. The newspaper must contain stories about national news and world news, but it should also have
stories about culture, fashion, inventions, etc. The paper will also need to have advertisements, cartoons,
obituaries, personal columns and other fun stuff you can come up with. All features will require some typed
text! After the trial, we will deliver our news to the class.
You will contribute at least 3 pieces to the newspaper. Two pieces must be a traditional news article and the
third must be a different feature of the newspaper. You are free to explore any topic you like, as long as it
relates to daily life in 1850 and complies with school rules. Only students who turned everything in on time
will earn an advanced grade.
Checklist for Article I
Article has a title _________/ 2pts
At least two paragraphs of typed and edited text _______/5pts
Article describes a topic or event from 1859 ________/5pts
Includes at least 5 facts about the topic or event ________/5pts
Includes at least one picture with a caption ________/3pts
Checklist for Article II
Article has a title _________/ 2pts
At least two paragraphs of typed and edited text _______/5pts
Article describes a topic or event from 1859 ________/5pts
Includes at least 5 facts about the topic or event ________/5pts
Includes at least one picture with a caption ________/3pts
Other Feature
Has typed and edited text explaining feature ________/3pts
Is related to the context of American society in 1839 ______/5pts
Creativity _______/2pts
Part 2 –Before and During the Trial
You have been summoned to be on the jury for a serious case. It is 1859, and John
Brown has been charged with treason. In the form of a mock trial that takes place in 1859
you must determine if John Brown is guilty of this charge.
The prosecution charges John Brown with ______________________________
Before the Trial - Complete the Jury Questionnaire
____/10pts
During the Trial – You will receive a Juror’s Notepad, which you must complete during
the trial. It will help you when you meet with the other jurors to decide the fate of the
John Brown.
Take detailed notes on your Juror’s Notepad
_____/10pts
Submit one relevant question to the judge during examination of a witness. ____ /10 pts.
Part 3 – After the Trial
After the trial you will write a summary of your verdict, regardless of how the overall
jury decides. After you have listened to all of the other jurors and as a group reached a
verdict of guilty or innocent, type or neatly write your final verdict. This should be at
least a paragraph long. Your verdict does not have to agree with the group’s verdict.
Your final verdict must include
_____ a heading
____ a title
____ a topic sentence stating your position ( guilty or innocent)
____ at least three supporting details that support your position
____ a concluding sentence
Summary of verdict stating your opinion
_____/10pts
Summary has at least a strong topic sentence, 3 details to support your opinion, and a
clear concluding sentence.
______/10pts
Only students who turned everything in on time will earn an advanced grade.
Total ____________/100