Speech & Debate / Mock Trial Syllabus
Doral Academy Preparatory
Class: Speech & Debate/ Mock Trial
Teacher: Mrs. Ortega
Email: nortega@doralacademyprep.org
Room: 104A
Phone: 305-597-9950
Course Description:
Welcome to Speech and Debate! This course provides a general introduction to public speaking with a
focus on mock law trials. Students will learn why some arguments are more effective than others and
become experts at argumentation, organization, and oral advocacy. Students will gain extensive experience
in trial simulation in both civil and criminal trials and obtain an insider's perspective of courtroom
procedures. Students will complete the courts with a thorough understanding of the legal mechanism
through which our society resolves many disputes.
Course Objectives:
 Learn the fundamentals of effective public speaking and argumentation.
 Acquire superior skills in debate and mock trial through extensive practice and individualized
instruction.
 Intelligently analyze major current events.
 Operative effectively in a team-learning environment.
 Apply legal reasoning to various scenarios.
 Become a scholar in trial procedure.
 Develop critical thinking skills, oral advocacy skills and understanding of substantive law.
Texts:
Street Law’s Classroom Guide to Mock Trails and Moot Courts, Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

All students will be provided with in-class textbooks. It is the responsibility of the student to take care
of the textbooks while using it in class.

Additional Internet reading material will be assigned as homework for various class discussions.
Readings will include seminal cases and current events.
Students will be required to purchase or print:
A personal working copy of the class’ most extensive mock trial, likely released by the district in midOctober. It is roughly 104 pages (approximate cost is $20.00 at Kinkos). I will upload the file to the
school’s website when it becomes available.
Required Materials (Materials are due at the end of the first week of school.):
Blue/ Black Pen
3 Ring Binder or Folder with 1 divider (Notes/Mock Trials & Speeches)
Loose Leaf Paper
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Grading Scale:
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
<60
A
B
C
D
F
Exams: 30%
Projects: 25%
Quizzes: 20%
Classwork/Homework: 15%
Participation: 10%
Class Policies & Expectations:
 All school policies and rules will be enforced in Mrs. Ortega’s classroom.
 Students must be in their seats when the bell rings or will be considered tardy.
 All materials must be brought to class daily.
 Internet, text messaging, emailing and recording are prohibited in class. All cellular phones and MP3
players must be turned off and not visible.
 All assignments must be turned in on time. Late work will not be accepted. If a student has an
excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to find out what assignments he or she has missed
and turn them in by the due date assigned.
 Food, beverages and gum are not permitted in the classroom.
 Students are expected to be ready to discuss the readings in class. I will call on students to answer
various questions and pose general discussion questions to the class. Class participation is encouraged
and everyone should have the opportunity to share his or her own opinion.
 Each student is responsible for completing all assignments and attending class.
 Academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the
following: cheating on an examination; receiving help from others in work to be submitted, if contrary
to the stated rules of the course; plagiarizing: that is, the taking and claiming as one’s own the ideas,
writings, or work of another, without citing the sources; submitting work from another course unless
permitted by the instructor; stealing examinations or course materials; falsifying records; assisting
anyone to do any of the above. Consequences for academic dishonesty include failure of the
assignment, failure of the class, and/or disciplinary action by the school.
Consequences for Violations of Classroom Policies:
 Verbal warning
 Student/teacher conference
 Parent contact and/or detention
 Parent/teacher conference and/or counselor conference
 Administration disciplinary action.
*No Credit (NC)*:
 Any student who accumulates 10 or more unexcused absences in an annual course and 5 or more
unexcused absences in a semester course will receive a No Credit (NC) automatically through the
Electronic Grade Book.
Note to Parents:
I look forward to working with you and your child this school year. Please feel free to contact me at any
time that you would like to discuss your child’s progress. Please note that email is the quickest way that I
will be able to respond to you.
*To schedule a parent conference with me, please contact the school’s main office at 305-597-9950.
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Mrs. Ortega’s Course Syllabus
Please sign and return Page 3 and Page 4 for a grade.
NAME: _____________________________________
PERIOD: _____________
After reading Mrs. Ortega’s course syllabus, including policies and expectations, please sign and return
page 3 and 4. It is the responsibility of the student to keep this syllabus in his or binder all year.
I have read Mrs. Ortega’s syllabus for the 2015-2016 school year and I will abide by all of her policies and
expectations. I also understand that there are requirements for this course and a deadline for all class
materials; therefore, I will comply with this date.
Student Signature: ____________________________________
Date: _______________
Print Parent Name: ___________________________________
Parent Signature: _____________________________________
Parent E-mail Address: ________________________________
Parent’s Best Contact Number: __________________________
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Date: _______________
Instructional Film Consent Form
Dear Parent(s)/Guardian(s),
During the course of the 2015-2016 school year I plan to show legal clips from PG or PG-13 rated movies
and documentaries in full or as an excerpt/clip to enhance our class curriculum.
Our school requires parental permission for your son/daughter to view movies and or video clips that are
used in our curriculum which are rated PG or PG-13.
Below are the films and or video clips (usually, trial scenes) that may be shown throughout the year:
The Rainmaker
12 Angry Men
Ghosts of Mississippi
Run Away Jury
A Civil Action
Philadelphia
O.J.: The Untold Story
Dateline Clips – current events
Various Court T.V. Trial Scenes
Michael Sandel’s Harvard Lectures (Justice)
Sincerely,
s/ N. C. Ortega
Mrs. Ortega
*****************************************************************
____ Yes, I give my son/daughter permission to view curriculum and school appropriate full-length
movies/excerpts rated PG or PG-13.
____ No, I do not give my son/daughter permission to view curriculum and school appropriate full-length
movies/excerpts of the types mentioned in this letter. I understand alternate learning experiences will be
provided for my child while the movie is being watched.
Name of Student: _______________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature:_______________________________________
Date: __________________
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