EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
MOCK TRIAL
PLSC 314-FALL, 2014
SYLLABUS
Instructor: Professors Mark Maironis
Office: 601T , Pray-Harrold
Office Phone: (734) 487-1461
E-Mail: mmai r onis@,emich .
edu
Office hours: 1 1 : 0 0 a . m . t o N o o n , 2:00 to 3:30p.m.
, Monday & Wednesday
5:00 to 6:00p.m.
, Thursday & by appointment or before / after class.
Class time : 6:00 to 8:40p.m.
, Thursday
Location: Room 419, Pray-Harrold
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Mock Trial is an introduction to the concepts and practices of trial advocacy. This course will provide you with an basic understanding of civil law , court procedures and the legal system. It will familiarize you with the preparation for adjudication, its application and potential outcomes. It will increase your proficiency in basic life skills such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning. Trial court simulations are an integral part of the course and one entailing complete student participation .
REQUIRED READING
AMTA Case Material---See Course Homepage
SUGGESTED READING
Pleasing The Court, Fourth Edition , John R. Vile, Houghton Mifflin Company,
2009 . (Suggested only)
EXAMS AND ASSIGNMENTS
There will be two exams , two homework assignments. Additionally , there will be two trial competitions, one requiring the student to act as an attorney and the other as a witness.in class which is mandatory for all students , and one outside tournament which is optionaL Participation in the mo.ck trial simulation is mandatory. however Exams will cover both reading and lecture materials and with an emphasis on the facts of the case material as well as the Rules of Evidence. The exams will consist of multiple choice ,

true or false , or fill-in-the blank questions. Exams must be taken at the regularly scheduled time unless another time has been previously approved by the instructor or in the case of a documented emergency. Each exam will constitute 15% (or 75 points) of your grade; Class attendance and participation will constitute 10% of your grade; the in class competition the 40% and the homework assignments the remaining 20%.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS
There will be two homework assignments. The first consists of preparing 20 relevant questions to ask either the prosecution's witnesses or the defense's witnesses, you decide which side. The questions should be part of the direct examination of that witness and should be the most relevant and meaningful which are helpful to that party's case . The second assignment will consist of preparing 30 relevant cross-examination questions to ask each of the plaintiffs or defense's witnesses. However , the witnesses must be of the opposite party form the first questions you submitted. For example if you did 20 direct examination questions of the prosecution's witnesses, the second assignment must consist of 20 cross-examination questions of the defense witnesses.
SCHEDULE OF TOPICS
9 / 4/14 Introduction
9 / 11/14 Preparing the Case
9/18 / 14 First Homework Assignment Due
Preparing the Case
9 / 25/14 Second Homework Assignment Due
Rules of Evidence Lecture
10 / 2/14 First Exam ( Fa c t s)
Rules of Evidence Simulations
10/9 / 14 Mock Trial Practice
10 / 16/14 Mock Trial Practice
10 / 23 / 14 Mock Trial Practice
10 / 30 / 14 Rules of Evidence revisited
2

11/6/14
11/13 / 14
11/20 / 14
11/27 / 14
12 / 4 / 14
12/11 / 14
12/18 / 14
Second Exam (Rules)
Mock Trial Practice
Mock Trial Practice
Mock Trial Practice
No Class
Mock Trial Simulations for Grade
Mock Trial Simulations for Grade
Mock Trial Simulations for Grade
Class Participation & Attendance
First Exam (Factual)
Second Exam (Rules)
Homework Assignments
First Assignment
Second Assignment
Mock Trial Presentations & Role Play
Attorney
Witness
Total
Grade Percentages
10%
15%
15%
10%
10%
20%
20%
100%
Points
50
75
75
50
50
100
100
500