Group+24


 * 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 a Criminal ** **By: Robby Nash **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Brutus is guilty of murdering Caesar. All the evidence is there. The law of Rome states, “putting to death of any man, whosoever he might be, unconvicted is forbidden.” Brutus never convicted Caesar. Convicting somebody means you have to take them to court to justify your purpose. Brutus was so arrogant that he thought he was above the law; he thought he could do whatever he wanted whenever he wanted. Brutus is a criminal and has no honor; he killed Caesar who was a great leader.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Brutus is just a bad person. “Forcing loans on subject cities at usurious interest rates was forbidden by the Lex Garbinia, but Brutus had contacts in the senate who got him an exemption.” (Page 110). New York: The News Press, 2003. Print. This is saying that it is illegal to force people to pay loans at usurious interest rates. That is just like stealing. Brutus finds ways around the law, that makes him just as bad as somebody who would walk up to a random person on the street and steal everything they have.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Brutus killed one of the best leaders that Rome has ever seen, Caesar. Caesar did lots of good things for the City of Rome, and did lots of things to help the people that he led. In act 3 scene 2 line 91 Antony says, “When the poor have cried Caesar wept.” This shows how Caesar was a good leader. When the poor begged, Caesar helped them out. He was a caring person and a great leader. “He sought to provide opportunities to the poor. He launched massive building projects that created thousands of new jobs.” Rinaldo, Denise. Julius Caesar Dictator for Life. New York: Franklin Wats, 2010 (Pg. 108) Caesar wanted the people of Rome to be happy. That is what this quote is saying, that he provided opportunities for the people. That is another reason that Caesar was a good leader for Rome.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> Throughout the entire play, they talk about how Brutus does everything with honor. He did not do one thing honorable for the good of Rome. Portia says “If this were true, then should I know this secret.” Act II, I, 291. Portia is Brutus’s wife, and he could not even tell her what he was planning on doing to Caesar. If he thought this act were honorable he would have told some people, at least he would have told his wife. The definition of honor is a good name or public esteem. That is the opposite of Brutus.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Brutus is a criminal, has no honor, and killed a great leader, Caesar. He stole from people, and murdered Caesar. Caesar was a great leader. He did nothing but good for the city of Rome. I think Brutus was jealous of Caesars power, so I guess you could say he is ambitious like the play said about Caesar. Brutus should either be put to death or put in jail for life for assassinating Caesar


 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

The Trial Against Marcus Brutus. Defending. By: Natalie Decker I believe that Brutus is innocent because when he killed Caesar he did it with honor, and gave good reasons for doing so. He also claims the people will benefit from this. Brutus is honorable because in the book __the Assassination of Julius Caesar, A peoples history of Rome__. Pg. 171 "Brutus thought it impolitic to kill all three men (Antony, Lepidus, Caesar) He only wanted Caesar out of the picture." Brutus intentions are only to kill Caesar; he has no desire to kill the other 3 men. Another Quote from Brutus that proves he was an honorable man is “Grant that, and then is death a benefit? So we are Caesar’s friends that abridged his time of fearing death. You can find this quote in Act 3 Scene 1, lines 103-105. Brutus has helped Caesar from fearing death. He killed Caesar himself instead of letting someone else.

Brutus also has given us good reasons for what he did. He goes on saying in Act 3, scene 1 pg.815 #224. "Our reasons are so full of good regard.” This means that he did it for all the right reasons and will follow through with it. Why would he do something that he new was the wrong idea. He new what he was getting himself into in the frist place and pulled it off in the end. The second quote that he gives is “Caesar shall have all true ceremonies. It shall advantage more than do us wrong.” This quote simply means that him and the people will benefit from this killing and thank him in the long run. Brutus will also give Caesar the proper type of ceremony for his funeral. This shows that Brutus is not a coward and has a great deal of respect for the dead. Even though he had killed Caesar he knew having a ceremony was the right thing to do.

I’m not saying what Brutus did was right, but on the other hand it was for all the Right Reasons. Every decision he made was for his people, and new that he had chosen the right one. In Act 1, scene 2 pg. 765. Lines 42-43 Brutus says “Though Antony had no hand in Caesars death, he shall receive the benefit of his dying. “ Brutus now brings in a very important character from the story and uses him as example to prove that what he did was right! He knows that Antony will thank him in the long run. I think when Brutus said that even Antony would benefit from this that’s when I truly believed that he was innocent. Because Antony never once wanted Caesar dead and for him to say that he will benefit from it just threw me a huge curve ball.

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<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 14.6667px;"> Brutus also goes on saying “Had you rather Caesar were living and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all free men.” Act 3, scene2, pg.820 line 36. One of, if not Brutus’s best quotes to prove his innocence. He tells his people why you would want to live in a society where you will be told what to do all the time, and pretty much become a slave? Because that’s what it would have been like if I don’t kill Caesar. Or would you rather live in a free society where you can have a great ruler, vote on your own laws and pretty much just enjoy life. I totally agree with Brutus on this, he knew from the beginning that Caesar was a very ambitious man and wouldn’t stop until he got things his way. These are all of my reasoning’s that Brutus is innocent and I don’t think anyone could change my opinion other whys. ======