Twelve Angry Men
VOCABULARY ASSIGNMENT #1
PREMEDITATE
HOMICIDE
REASONABLE
UNANIMOUS
MONOPOLY
PROSECUTION
CORONER
TESTIMONY
RAPPORT
ACQUITTAL
DEFENDANT
DEFENSE
JURY
VERDICT
MISTRIAL
INSIGNIFICANT
SIMULATE
ARROGANCE
EVIDENCE
PROOF
THERE WILL BE A QUIZ COVERING THESE TERMS ON MONDAY!
Assignments for Twelve Angry Men
We will be reading the drama Twelve Angry Men in class. Parts will be assigned for each of the three acts. The
characters of the play are jury members deliberating to arrive at a verdict. We learn about the trial through their
discussions and interactions. We also learn about the individual twelve men who compose the jury, why they are
angry, and how that affects their decisions.
The following assignments should be worked on during class time allowed and completed for
homework as necessary.
I. Vocabulary Chart and Stage Diagram: Use the author’s, Reginald Rose, descriptions of the characters found on
pages 4-7 of the book.
II. Discussion Group/Reader’s Response Log: After each class period reading of the script, each student will
complete a response log. This log will consist of questions you will answer in a small group (EACH GROUP
MEMBER MUST HAVE THE QUESTIONS ANSWERED IN HIS/HER LOG) and then an INDIVIDUAL reflection on
one of two topics.
Topic #1 is if you READ A CHARACTER ALOUD:
Describe the character you read the part for. What did you learn about him and what do you understand about how
he acts and thinks? What did you want to convey about him in your reading of the part. Use at least 2 quotes in
your discussion.
Topic #2 is if you DID NOT READ A PART ALOUD:
Imagine that you are member of the jury. Write your response about the evidence and discussion of the jurors that
would influence your decision on a verdict. What evidence is important and why? How do you think you would vote
and why?
For the grade of an A on the refection = 150 word response
For the grade of a B on the reflection = 125 word response
For the grade of a C on the reflection = 100 word response
For the grade of a D on the reflection = less than 100 word response
YOU MUST MARK THE WORD COUNT AT 25 WORD INTERVALS. QUANTITY, QUALITY, AND NEATNESS
CONTRIBUTES TO THE GRADE. WORD COUNT ALONE DOES NOT DETERMINE YOUR GRADE!
Point Break Down for the Unit:
Vocabulary and Stage Diagram
Act I Discussion Questions
Act I Reading Log
Act II Discussion Questions
Act II Reading Log
Act III Discussion Questions
Act III Reading Log
Vocabulary Quiz
Critical Thinking and TAM
Notes on Jury Deliberation
Understanding the Characters
Unit Test
52 points
40 points
60 points
45 points
55 points
40 points
60 points
20 points
48 points
30 points
10 points
100 points (60 pts Multiple Choice & 40 pts Essay)
Twelve Angry Men Vocabulary
Word
petty
dogged
meek
sadistic
appalled
naïve
dull-witted
bullying
compassionate
shielding
antagonistic
bigot
subservient
superficial
Juror#
Definition
Antonym
Twelve Angry Men Act I
1. What are the basic facts of the case, including the testimony of two witnesses against the
nineteen year old boy?
2. What are some of Juror #8’s reasons for his uncertainty about the defendant’s guilt?
3. What two jurors seem to show prejudice against the defendant? What are their prejudices?
4. Juror #2 thinks the defendant is guilty because “nobody proved otherwise.” How does this
conflict with the legal system’s belief of innocent until proven guilty?
5. How would criminal trials be different if defendants were considered guilty until proven
innocent?
6. As the jury files into the jury room early in the play, we learn something about the time of day,
the weather, and the nature of the room. How do you think these circumstances might affect
the jury deliberations?
7. What is the difference between homicide and premeditated homicide?
8. A defendant must be found not guilty if a “reasonable doubt “of his or her guilt exists in the
minds of the jurors. What is important about the meaning of reasonable in this phrase?
Twelve Angry Men Act II
1. What evidence does Juror #8 first offer to discount the testimony of an old man at the trial?
2. What is the connection between the el train’s noise and the old man’s testimony?
3. What is the importance of Juror #10’s comment that the defendant “don’t speak good
English”?
4. At the end of Act II, Juror #3 shouts, “I’ll kill him!” Why is this important at this point in the
play?
5. Which juror has emerged as the main antagonist by the end of the Act?
6. Contrast the attitudes of this juror with those of Juror #8.
7. Discuss the definition of Sound Argument and Unsound Argument. Find one sound argument
and one unsound argument in Act II. Explain why you judge each sound and unsound.
Sound:
Unsound:
Twelve Angry Men Act III
1. At the beginning of Act III, the jurors vote for a third time. What is the result of this vote
Which jurors have changed their votes?
2. What information does Juror #5 provide that shows a piece of evidence to be false?
3. How does Juror #8 prove that the evidence provided by the woman is invalid?
4. Reread Juror #10’s monologue. Explain why most of the other jurors turn their backs on Juror
#10 during his speech.
5. At the end of the play, has the jury proven the defendant not guilty? Explain by giving at least
2 reasons why or why not.
6. In some court cases, people can choose to have a jury trial or a bench trial, in which the case is
decided by a judge. Having read this play, would you prefer a bench trial or a jury trial?
Explain your choice in 4-5 sentences.
7. Read the definition of hasty generalization. Reread the speech of Juror #10 in Act III. Is
Juror #10’s argument a hasty generalization? Why or why not?
8. If Juror #8 had not been chosen for this jury, the outcome might have been much different.
This play points out how important the role of each juror can be. After reading this play, what
questions would you ask if you were responsible for choosing a jury?
Essay Question (40 points)
You may choose ONE essay to complete.
In light of the statement Juror #9 makes, “It takes a great deal of courage to stand alone,”
compare the characters of both Juror #8 and Juror #3. Discuss the situations in which they
“stand alone” and describe how they behave in these situations. Conclude by defining when
standing alone is courageous.
The title of Twelve Angry Men directs our attention to the possible motives of all the jurors in
their decision of a verdict. Write a persuasive argument for the role of critical thinking in
directing anger toward a positive outcome or result. Be sure to include a definition of critical
thinking and give specific references for how different characters applied or did not apply these
skills.