THE TRIAL OF TOM ROBINSON
PROJECT DUE DATE:
REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH ROLE:
JURORS:
Each juror must type on a paper headed for Literature the following information:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Your name (first and and last and fits the time and place - note* all jurors are male)
Your occupation (jurors were not businessmen or professionals)
Your address (must live in Maycomb or surrounding farming area)
Your background ( must include such information as age, marital status, children,
church affiliation, schooling, community services, association with either
lawyer, witness, and defendant, and any beliefs that would affect your verdict.)
This information will be ready the day of the trial and will be used to answer the
questions put forth by the judge. Papers will be turned the next day in class.
You also have a jury paper to fill out for each witness during the trial. This
needs to be turned in the day after the trial.
Jurors must dress according to what they wrote. Uniforms are worn for the first part of
the day. After lunch you will change into your juror outfit. When done with the
trial, you will change back into your uniform.
Your grade will depend on the quality, accuracy, and amount of information you provide
about your character and how well you become that person on the jury.
LAWYERS:
All attorneys must have your questions typed before the trial. Attorneys are to follow
what happened in the book as far as facts and statements that you are trying to
get across to the jury.
Attorneys must dress appropriately for the court in suits. Uniforms are worn for the first
part of the day. You will will change at the same time as the jurors.
Specific assignments:
Atticus Finch (defense attorney)
Each lawyer must type on a paper headed for Literature the following information:
1) Atticus #1 - Your name, lawyer name and number, an opening argument for Tom
Robinson s acquittal, and ten questions that will cross examine Heck Tate
adequately.
2) Atticus #2 - Your name, lawyer name and number, and twenty questions that will
cross examine Bob Ewell adequately.
3) Atticus #3 - Your name, lawyer name and number, and twenty questions that will
cross examine Mayella Ewell adequately.
4) Atticus #4 - Your name, lawyer name and number, ten questions that will examine
Tom Robinson adequately, and the closing argument for Tom Robinson.
Mr. Gilmer (prosecuting attorney)
Each lawyer must type on a paper headed for Literature the following
information:
1) Mr. Gilmer#1 - Your name, lawyer name and number, an opening argument for
Tom Robinson s conviction, and ten questions that will examine Heck
Tate adequately.
2) Mr. Gilmer#2 - Your name, lawyer name and number, and twenty questions
that will examine Bob Ewell adequately.
3) Mr. Gilmer#3 - Your name, lawyer name and number, and twenty questions
that will examine Mayella Ewell adequately.
4) Mr. Gilmer #4 - Your name, lawyer name and number, ten questions that will
cross examine Tom Robinson adequately, and the closing argument for
Tom Robinson conviction.
Your grade depends on what you write and if you followed the directions for
your particular lawyer. All statements and questions must follow the
story. Your grade also depends on how well you handle the responses
you get from the witnesses.
JUDGE:
On paper you are to type a set of 20 questions that you can ask each juror to
bring out who they are and what their feelings and beliefs are regarding
rape, capital punishment, the rights of blacks, and any other areas you
feel are important to how they would vote for the final verdict. We will
call this a summation of the voir dir process that had taken place earlier.
When done you will ask the lawyers if they are satisfied with this jury.
They will answer yes and then you will proceed with the trial. You are
also to have a specific plan of action typed up of what witnesses are to
be called and in what order. You are to know the lawyers names and
be able to run the courtroom in an orderly fashion. You must meet with
me before the trial to go over your plan of action. Your grade depends
on what your questions are and your plan of action. It also depends on
how your run your courtroom and follow your plan of action.
You are to dress as a judge and change when the others do. Uniforms are worn for the
first part of the day.
BAILIFF:
You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You are also to type a plan of
action for your role and what you will say. You need to dress with a tie
and nice shirt and pants. (Male)
COURT STENOGRAPHER:
You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You are also to type a plan of
action for your role and what you will say. You need to dress neatly as a
woman of that period.
COURT CLERK:
You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You are also to type a plan of
action for your role and what you will say. You need to dress neatly as a person
of that period.
Video CREW: You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You will need to
present a video of the trial for the class to view.
NEWS TEAM: You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You will need to
present a news report of the trial the day after the trial for the class to view.
NEWSPAPER REPORTERS: You are to prepare a paper just as the jurors do. You will
need to prepare a paper for the Maycomb Tribune telling of the trial and its
results. It will be due the day after the trial.
WITNESSES:
1) Heck Tate - You must dress as the sheriff of Maycomb. You are to type a
detailed paper with your account of what happened the day you were
called in to investigate the “rape” of Mayella Ewell. You are also to
indicate your attitude and beliefs about the townspeople, black, capital
punishment, and rape. Your grade depends on what you type but most
importantly, how you remain in character on the stand and answer the
questions put to you as Heck Tate would. You must follow the story.
2) Bob Ewell - You must dress as Bob Ewell would. You are to type a detailed
paper with your account of what happened the day you claimed Tom
Robinson raped your daughter, Mayella Ewell. You are also to indicate
your attitude and beliefs about the townspeople, blacks, capital
punishment, and rape. Your grade depends on what you type but most
importantly, how you remain in character on the stand and answer the
questions put to you as Bob Ewell would. You must follow the story.
3) Mayella - You must dress as Mayella Ewell. You are to type a detailed paper
with your account of what happened the day you claimed Tom Robinson
raped you. You are also to indicate your attitude and beliefs about the
townspeople, blacks, capital punishment, and rape. Your grade depends
on what you type but most importantly, how you remain in character on
the stand and answer the questions put to you as Mayella Ewell would.
You must follow the story.
4) Tom Robinson - You must dress as Tom Robinson. Remember the condition
of one of his arms. You are to type a detailed paper with your account of
what happened the day you were accused of raping Mayella Ewell. You
are also to indicate your attitude and beliefs about the townspeople,
capital punishment, and rape. Your grade depends on what you type but
most importantly, how you remain in character on the stand and answer
the questions put to you as Tom Robinson would. You must follow the
story.