SLIP OR TRIP
After Margaret and her husband Charles got into a fight, she stormed out of the
house and left him at home alone. Margaret drove to her country club where a
party was going on.
Margaret left just before one in the morning and invited a few friends to follow her
home for one more drink. She got home ten minutes before they arrived, but when
her friends rang the doorbell, Margaret ran outside, saying, "Something terrible
happened! Charles slipped and fell on the stairs. He was coming down for another
drink--he still had the glass in his hand--and I think he's dead. Oh my Gosh, what
should I do?"
The police concluded that Charles died from a wound on the head. What do you
think happened?
You are a member of the investigative team. You must determine whether this was
an accident or a murder. Analyze the evidence in Margaret's story and the picture
and look for clues for how and why the incident occurred. Once you've gathered
the evidence, make your claim. Was it an accident or murder?
1. Do you think Margaret is telling the truth? This statement will be your
claim. If you can prove it, we will call it your thesis.
2. Find all the evidence you can that indicates whether Margaret is telling the
truth. Make a list of all the evidence. Evidence includes any concrete,
observable information (things you can touch or see), personal testimony
(what someone said), the language of documents (what you can read), or
material objects, and their condition or appearance (things and how they
look).
3. Next, explain how each piece of evidence supports your claim that Margaret
is or is not telling the truth.
4. Be prepared to explain why your evidence supports your case.
SLIP OR TRIP
Name: ______________________________________
Per: _____
Date: _______________
Claim
Evidence #1
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I believe that …
It is my opinion that …
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The text states …
Evidence from the
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According to the
___________ …
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If ______________,
then _______________.
This proves ________,
because ____________.
This confirms that
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Furthermore, …
Another piece of
evidence is …
Additional evidence
states that …
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This also proves
____________, because
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This shows
__________, because
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Reasoning #1
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Evidence #2
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Reasoning #2
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Any more evidence & your reasoning behind it:
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