Law Feb 18
 Opener
(10 min): Introduce Socratic Seminar
 (10 min) Watch “Stop and Frisk Video” Notes
 (30 min) Read “Stop and Frisk” opinion pieces
 HW: Write your own 2-3 paragraph “Stop and
Frisk” opinion paper answering the EQ: Do
policing methods unfairly determine who goes
to jail or runs into trouble with the law?/Are
these methods constitutional?
Know Your Rights
 What
is the only information you should provide
if an officer approaches you?
 What should you say to invoke your 5th and 6th
amendment rights?
 What should you say to invoke your 4th
amendment rights?
 T/F Sarcasm is fine. A little humor never hurt
 T/F Do not reach into your pocket without
asking permission
 T/F Do not talk to anyone except your family
and your lawyer about your case.
Do policing methods unfairly determine
who goes to jail or runs into trouble with
the law?
 http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/12/opin
ion/the-scars-of-stop-and-frisk.html?_r=0
 Always keep the EQ in mind.
 As you watch the video please take
detailed notes (in the right column).
 After viewing the video review your notes
to write questions and main points (in the
left column)
Stop and Frisk Readings

As we read, annotate each article to prepare for
Socratic seminar. Suggestions:
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Underline evidence that helps you answer the EQ
As you come up with answers to the EQ that arise as a
result of the text, record them in the margins
Circle key vocabulary and write definition in the
margins
Record questions that come up as a result of the
article.
You may also choose to write Cornell Notes to help
you to more thoroughly engage with the text
HW:
 Write
a “Stop and Frisk” Opinion Paper
 Opinion Must Include:

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Title for your response
Thesis sentence that answers the EQ: Is stop and
frisk an effective policing technique?”
 Is
it constitutional?
 Who does it protect?
 Who does it harm?

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Use 4 pieces of evidence from the video and
readings
CITE YOUR SOURCES!!!!!!!
Law Feb 19-Plea Bargain

Opening: (5-10
min)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=onXftPcxLX
c
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Plea Bargain Role Play (30 min)
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Students will work in groups of six: 2 defense, 2
prosecution, 2 observers
Closer: How effective is the plea bargaining
system?
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If you were accused of a crime, what are the benefits
of taking a plea bargain?
What are the drawbacks of taking a plea bargain?
Is it constitutional (consider 4, 5, and 6th amendment)
Is it fair to the accused? Is it fair to society?
Homework: Read and annotate “The Problem with
Pleas”

(I will check to see that you have written detailed
annotations)
Plea Bargain Role Play (5 min)

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Students will sit with groups of 6-7 and decide: who
will be observers, who will be defense, and who will
be prosecution
Students will receive relevant handouts
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Fact Pattern: All students
b. Directions for Negotiation: All students
c. Sentencing Guidelines: All students
d. Confidential Information – Defense: defense teams
only.
e. Confidential Information – Prosecution: Prosecution
teams only.
f. Negotiation worksheet: One for each prosecution
team and one for
each defense team.
g. Observer memo: One for each observer team.
Plea Bargain Instructions
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Students will first meet with their “partners” to
discuss their strategy for the negotiation. They will
have 5 minutes to discuss the issues and fill out their
worksheets. (5 minutes)
Next, the teams will meet in their pre-assigned
group of six to conduct the negotiation. (15
minutes)
Students will reach their final settlements and the
observers will collect and turn-in all negotiation
worksheets. (2 minutes)
Discuss the exercise and tally the results of the
negotiations on the board. Poll the observers to
determine what techniques were most effective.
Do you think this process was fair? Why or why not?
(5 minutes)
Feb 20-21: The Plea
 Watch

Frontline: The Plea
http://video.pbs.org/video/2216784391/
 Take
detailed Cornell Notes on the film
 Keep the essential question in mind: To what
extent does plea bargaining fulfill our 6th
amendment guarantee of a right to a fair
trial?
 Homework: Opinion Statement on Plea
Bargaining
Feb 24
 Review
Justices 5-4, Tell California to Cut
Prisoner Population
 Homework:


Prepare 5 open ended questions
Prepare 5 content questions (with answers)