Group+12


 * 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:**

Alyssa Borgemenke

Bell: 5

11/16/11 I am prosecuting Brutus. Brutus murdered an honorable and selfless leader of Rome because of the jealousy of how Caesar loved the people of Rome.

You say Caesar was ambitious but to be a king you have to be ambitious but Caesar never crossed the line of being to ambitious. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Anthony states “Did this Caesar seem ambitious? When the poor have cried Caesar hath wept; Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.” If he was so ambitious he would never waist his time on one poor person that does not mean anything. Also Anthony states “You all did see what in the luperal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse.” This means he was offered the crown three times but he never once took it. Ambiton means you will destroy anything that gets in your way.

Brutus is claimed to be honorable to most but no one can be honorable and kill someone with an excuse like he thought it was for the good of Rome, maybe someone else thought Caesar was the best for the good of Rome. Anthony states “For Brutus as you know was, Caesar’s angel. Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him! This was the most unkindest cut of all.” This means that since Brutus is his friend and he stabbed him it is like stabbing your friend in the back. In this case he killed him. The book “The Assassination of Julius Caesar” it states on pg, 36 that “As a soldier Caesar campaigned in Africa, Europe, and Asia Minor winning victory after victory.” This shows Caesar was honorable he did everything to protect his country. Honorable means when you do everything in your power to do what’s best for everyone else and you can trust that person.

Caesar loved all people no matter how poor or rich you were he still loved them. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Anthony states, “Have patience gentle friends I must not read it. It is not meet you know how Caesar loved you.” In this statement he was saying he would not read the will you know how Caesar loved you so just wait. Anthony also states, “To every Roman citizen he gives, to every several man, seventy-five dranchmas.” This was in Caesars will he gave every single citizen about 200 dollars. Love of the people is when you care and would do anything for anyone.

Everything I just said is why Brutus is guilty. Caesar was a good guy he may not be the most amazing guy ever but no one is perfect. Caesar means well for all the people of Rome he just wants what’s best for the people of Rome.

"Caesar wwas a soldier, a politican, & a orator. AS in order he roused the Roman populace with speeches so emotive & lucid that Cicero, the greatest orator of the day commented, there are those that cannot even match him, even if there given a lifetime to the study of this subject."(page 36).

Brutus is innocent! Brutus is getting all the blame put on him for killing the ambitious Julius Caesar. Honorable Brutus loved Cesar but Casar's ambition made him very dangerous and so therefore Brutus killed him. My topic for showing Brutus' honor are Brutus honor, Brutus loved Caesar, and Caesar's ambition. These are all very important because that is what is going to be my evidence for Brutus being innocent. It will show that yes Brutus did kill caesar but why and that he was not alone. Brutus is a very honorable man. By honorable i mean he is trustworthy and people care for him a lot. In the play it states "I know that virtue to be in you Brutus, as well as i know your outward favor. Well honor is the sunject to my story" (Act 1, Scene 2, Line 90). This shows that Brutus is an honorable man. If other people say it about him it must be true. Now Cassius understands why Brutus killed Caesar and that is does not make him not honorable or untrustworthy. This has a connection to the thesis because it shows how Brutus is honorable. Another quote from the play showing Brutus' honor is "Farewell, good strato-Caesar, now be still; i killed not thee with half so good a will" (Act 5, Scene 5, Lines 90-91). This means Brutus had the strive to kill himself more than he did to kill Caesar. Brutus was not a bad friend he was trying to protect Rome instead of just one person. This connects to the thesis becasue it shows Brutus being honorable to Rome. Brutus did have a lot of love toward Caesar. A quote from the play that Brutus himself states is "Why I that did love Caesar" (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 182). Brutus did not kill caesar becaus ehe did not like him. Brutus would not have said something so meaningful if he didnt mean it. If Brutus did not like Caesar everyone would have known and Brutus would have made that clear. This ties back to my thesis statement because it shows that Brutus did not kill Caesar out of spite it was to protect something huge. In the play it states "I say that Brutus' love to Caesar was no less than his (Act 3, Scene 2, Lines 18-19). This is showing that Brutus did not love Caesar any less that Caesar loved him. Brutus tried to be friends with Caesar but all Caesar would do was stab people in the back. This goes with my thesis because it shows that someone else also sees Brutus' love for Caesar. Caesar's ambition made him very dangerous. Caesar was spiteful and very "power-hungry". When i say power-hungry i mean he wanted to be the ruler and everything he said went. "Ambition is one of the most dangerous- that drive to grab the biggest slice of pie before anyone else. Sometimes even the entire pie. Julius Caesar had plenty of ambition"(212). Forbes, Steve. Power Ambition Glory: United States. Steve Forbes, 2009. Print. Caesar had so much ambition but he was so worriied about being the biggest, most honorable and powerful man he could be and he could not see what was going on around him between other people. So many people then turned away from him and helped Brutus kill Caesar but Brutus was not alone. This helps my opening statement because it shows how Caesat got himself killed and why. Not just Brutus believes Caesar was dangerous. Casca states in the play "How could I, Casca name the a man most like this dreadful night, that thunder lightens, opens graves, and roars, as doth the lion in the capitol ( Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 70-75). Casca is saying that Caesar is this dreadful night and his one and only plan is to destroy Rome. Not only is it showing how dangerous Caesar was it is showing how other people viewed how Caesar acted, and treated people. Brutus was not alone. He had a lot of help. It was very hard for him to step forth and say alright were going do this, were going to kill Caesar. He truley believed Caesar was his friend. In the end the people were not forced to do anything they wanted to help. "Caesar obviously did try to use Vettius, but quickly realised that there was little to be gained and that Vettius could not be relied upon". Goldsworthy, Adrian. Caesar life of a colossus: Yale University Press, 2006. Print. Even though this has nothing to do with Brutus it is showing how conniving Caesar is. Caesar was unreliable. He tried to use Vettius but once he realized Vettius would not affect him in anyway he gave up. Caesar's true colors showed and when they became clear is when he got himself in trouble and was killed. If it was easy for Brutus to kill Caesar afetr he did it, it all would have went away. It did not, it was as if Caesar's ghost came back to haunt him. He appeared in Brutus' room and let him know that they will meet again when Brutus goes to fight in Philippi. Philippi is where the Civil War took place. "Caesar knew he was about to plunge rome into a Civil War and that as a result he would either become master of the Ancient World or be killed, he was willing to accept either outcome"(217). Forbes, Steve, Power Ambition Glory; United States, Steve Forbes, 2009. Print. In this case he got himself killed. He stated he was fine with either outcome so no one can fire it on Brutus and say he did not have a reason. Caesar knew it was coming. Even though Brutus did kill caesar the whole big picture was that he was protecting Rome from a huge disaster. He was not alone!
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**
 * Abby Lommel**
 * Bell 3**
 * 11/16/11**