Group+09


 * Minimum Project Requirements:**
 * 5 **//__IN__//** __DEPTH__ discussions with opposing counsel via class network. These discussions must present not only relevant and specific facts from the play, but also from your historical research.
 * Preliminary Draft of Closing Statement entered in your class network. Draft must contain **//__at least 5 detailed paragraphs__//**: 1) Introductory paragraph outlining the overall theme of your case - thesis statement; 2) //at least// 3 paragraphs which include **//__detailed__//** supporting evidence for your case - 1 piece of evidence with explanation per paragraph; and 3) a closing paragraph which ties all the evidence together and solidifies your case.
 * Peer editing of opposing counsel's statement following guidelines to be provided; plus an additional peer revision of your choice.
 * Works Cited page containing **//__at__//** **//__least three__//** **//__(3) sources__//**: 2 book sources for each electronic source.
 * Final Draft of Closing Statement, typed, double-spaced at a 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Please no decorative fonts – use something easy to read.
 * Oral recitation of your Closing Statement before the court. Be sure to use your voice as a persuasive tool to effectively deliver your statement. Suggestions for oral interpretation to be provided.


 * Remember that the above represent the minimum requirements for this project, the completion of which will earn you a minimum average grade of 70%. You can improve this grade by going above and beyond these minimum expectations.**

One way to increase your points will be to complete more than five discussion posts with your opposing counsel. To post a discussion, click the DISCUSSION tab above; click NEW POST, label the subject with a specific name, and then type and post your comment. To reply to a comment, simply click on the post heading, scroll to the bottom of the page, and then type and post your reply. Ideally, discussion topics will reflect either specific research sources or ideas learned from your research. You must cite all sources within your discussions so that your opposing counsel can verify your information.


 * Post Prosecution Closing Statement Here:**

__Brutus is Guilty__

Rome has never been the same since the day Brutus murdered Caesar. Brutus was ambitious of gaining power, and since Caesar was being accused of having all the power in Rome Brutus killed him. Brutus even said that he was Caesars friend. If he was a real friend then he should have never even thought about killing Caesar, but he did. Caesar was also a very honorable man and would never think about doing any harm toRome, which was apparently another reason why Brutus betrayed him. Caesar was actually benefitingRome and never had intentions on doing something that would harm the people. Ambitious Brutus is guilty of murdering and betraying honorable Julius Caesar who was benefiting Rome.

Brutus is an ambitious man who betrayed Caesar. He even had more power then what many other people had but still wanted more. Stewart Perowne even stated in his book “Caesar made Brutus governor ofCisalpine Gaul” (227). This means that Brutus wanted to achieve power even when he had already received power from Caesar. This shows how ambitious of a man he really was. I also read out of Michael Parentis book “Cassius and Brutus had fought under Pompey, only to be pardoned by Caesar after the war” (168). This is a great example of how Caesar gave Brutus and Cassius much respect and forgiveness for there actions. Caesar gave Brutus a lot of respect and power and all Brutus does is betray him.

Caesar was a very honorable man. People thought that he was not honorable though because they herd that he had killed Pompey. I read in Stewart Perownes book "he was in no account to be killed: either he was to be brought to Caesar or allowed to escape" (226). This quote states that Caesar did not even want Pompey to be dead. He only wanted to talk to him or just let him run away. If people knew this then I feel that they all would have had a different opinion of him, and possibly not kill him. Caesar was also honorable in many other ways, too. I read in the Elements of Literature "he hath brought many captives home to Rome, whose ransoms did the general coeffers fill" (III,ii,88-89). This quote says that Caesar brought people, who got captured and taken out of Rome, back into Rome to start a new life. Honorable Caesar always cared for people and this is only one of the many ways that he took care of them.

Caesar was doing good deeds and benefitingRome. When Caesar diedAntony, his servant, gave his funeral speech and talked about all the great things Caesar did and one of those things is that Caesar left a will for the roman people.Antony read "to every roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy five drachmas" (III,ii,241-242). This shows how he benefitedRome by giving all the people a good amount of money to help them economically. When all the people heard the news about the will they all then realized that Caesar was a good man and turned against Brutus. Brutus then fled because he knew that he did wrong and was guilty. Another thing Caesar did was cry for the poor. As I read in the Elements of Literature "when that the poor have cried Caesar hath wept" (III,ii,91). This shows Caesars love towardsRome. He then paid them to help start a new life, then after his death also paid them with his will.

Brutus is guilty for killing Caesar. He is guilty because he had no reason to kill Caesar but he did anyways. He even broke a law. The law was under the category Table IX: Public Law. It was, "putting to death of any man, whosoever he might be, unconvicted is forbidden". That is only one of the things that he did wrong. He also misinterpreted that Caesar was ambitious when he was not, and that he was eventually going to harmRome. Caesar never had any intentions on harmingRome, in fact all of his intentions were to help build upRome, and make them more powerful. Caesar was a honorable man who benefitedRome. Brutus on the other hand is not honorable and was ambitious of gaining power, because of this he killed Caesar. These are the many reasons why Brutus is guilty.

Brutus is not guilty Brutus was not guilty when he killed Caesar. He was an honorable person to do such a brave thing. He didn’t just do it because of ambition, like what most people think, but he did it to save Rome. He cared about Rome and knew that Caesar wasn’t doing a good job at keeping the romans safe. Caesar was so ambitious that it wasn’t good for high power. In the play Brutus said, “It must be by his death. And for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him, but for the general.”(II.I.10-12). This shows that Brutus did it for the people and not for himself. Caesar was the ambitious person. He would only try to win the crowd and use them for his own good. The honorable Brutus saved Rome by killing Caesar, which he accepted, because of Caesars ambition. This is why Brutus is guilty. Why would anyone want a king that was ambitious?
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**
 * April Zieger**

Brutus was an honorable man; he would know how to take care of Rome. Brutus should have been in power instead of Caesar. Brutus was already a good leader and would be fit for king. When Cassius had argued for the assassination not only Caesar, but also of Antony and Lepidus, Brutus took over. In the book, Rubicon- The Last Years of the Roman Republic. It says “Brutus, the other leader, and the conscience of the conspiracy, had refused to hear of it. They were conducting an execution. And Brutus had prevailed. For Brutus was known to be an honorable man, and worthy to serve as the spokesman and avenger, of the Republic.” This shows that he was honorable and that he would be ready for anything. Brutus did the right thing by killing Caesar. If Caesar didn’t need to die then why did he accept that he was going to die? In the play Caesar said,”Et tu, Brute? Then fall Caesar.”(III.i.77) When he said that he was saying that he was okay with dying by his friend, Brutus. Brutus killing him was okay because Caesar wanted him to be the only one to kill him. Caesar wanted a friend to kill him, not a stranger or his enemy. Caesar knew about the Ides of March but never believed or gave any precaution to it, he just let it happen. If Caesar didn’t want to die then why didn’t he do anything to stop Brutus from killing him? Caesar was way too ambitious to have all of that power. When he had all that money all he did was buy things for him. In the book, I, Caesar: Ruling Roman Empire. It shows that he didn’t care or want to help Rome. “Power was clearly getting to his head. He was the first Roman to wear an entire purple as a sign of highest dignity. The colour purple was highly expensive because it was difficult to produce.” This quote shows that he put himself first and not the people. If you only care about yourself then how can you be in power? Brutus would never help himself first then the people because he isn’t ambitious. Brutus was a great man and very appreciated for what he did. Brutus was not guilty for killing Caesar. Caesar was rude and needed to die. Brutus had many reasons for killing him. In the book Caesar said,” Let me have men about me that are fat, sleek headed mean, and suck sleep a hights.”(I.ii.92-93) This shows that he had no respect for anybody. He had to be the best and was conceited. So when Brutus killed him he was very honorable by killing a man that didn’t care about anyone. If Caesar was alive any longer the Roman Empire wouldn’t be powerful. Those are the reasons for why Brutus is not guilty for killing Caesar.