Group+17


 * 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:**

ColtonZeinner English 10 CP Bell3

Trial of Marcus Brutus During the times of ancientRome the poor went a concern of any of the governmental powers. The city and its entire people were not of the highest importance in the minds of some politicians. During the election of 60 B.C one man rose to power above the rest and brought great change to the roman people and great ideas forRome it’s self. That man was Julius Caesar, yet his term as leader ofRome was cut short due to the criminal actions of Marcus Brutus. Who helped lay out a plan for the assassination of this honorable man. When Caesar was elected to power inRome he had great ideals for the city its self, to make the city more plentiful that it already was. “He was planning to build a great library, to drain marshes, to build canal, to improve roads and harbors. He even passed a law that forbidding carts laden with goods except those being used for building, to appear in the streets ofRome between sunrise and sunset."Gabsky, Phil. I, Caesar. Ruling theRoman Empire.London: BBC Books, 1997. Print. This shows that truly Caesar had great ambition for Rome, and wanted the city to progress and advance. Caesar also created many laws such as a law for the redistribution of public lands to the poorand he passed a debt restructuring law, which ultimately eliminated about a fourth of all debts owed by the roman people. He was greatly loved by the people, During the funeral speech of Anthony he questions the people “you all did love him once, not without cause; what causes withholds you then to mourn for him" Questioning why the people don’t mourn for the man who had such great ideals for them. Brutus killed such an honorable man of Rome, and during his actions he broke quite a few ancient roman laws which were punishable by death. “Some conspirators were waiting. Then, In an instant, His toga was pulled down around his shoulders so he could not fight back, and the daggers of more than twenty men struck home" Grabsky, Phil. I, Caesar Ruling the Roman Empire. BBC books, 1997. Print. Table IX: Public law #5 States "Putting to death of any man, whosoever he might be, unconvict is forbidden" Caesar was put to death without any trial of his actions; all of the conspirators including Brutus broke the law. Brutus then takes the body of Caesar and attempts to ceremonially cremate him, As if it were a religious murder. The torn body of Caesar was taken away by servants.After five days, in front of a huge crowd of distraught Romans, It was ceremonially cremated." Grabsky, Phil. I, Caesar Ruling the Roman Empire. BBC books, 1997. Print. Table X: Sacred laws. #1 states "A dead man shall not be buried or burned within the city." During the final days of the conspiracy and planning for the death of Caesar, Brutus calls all of the conspirators to his house at night for the final planning.Act II Scene i line 79 " Sham'st thou show thy dang'rous brow by night, When evils are most free?" Act II scene i line 88,89 "I have been up this hour, Awake all night. Know I these men that come along with you?" (Said to Cassius) Table VIII: Torts or Delicits. #26 states that: "No person shall hold meetings by night in the city" Brutus broke this law.

Brutus states that Caesar was ambitious, and says that he was protecting rome from a man who would have turned every roman into a slave. Yet when Anthony presented Caesar with the crown to be king, he refused.You all did see that on Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which hedid thrice refuse." During the funeral speech of Julius, Anthony speaks of Caesars past actions for Rome “He has brought many captives home to Rome, whose ransom’s did the general coffers fill." This is showing that Caesar cared highly for the Roman people and used money he could have kept for himself for the roman general public. "When the poor have cried, Caesar hath wept; ambition should be made of sterner stuff" Anthony is pointing out clearly that Caesar had no ambition for himself but he wanted the best for the good of Rome. Brutus said that Caesar was ambitious, but both acts Anthony speaks of shows that Caesar had no ambition. Brutus killed a man who cried for the poor and used the money of captives to help Rome rather than himself. Brutus hindered the roman people rather than saved them from an ambitious man. All of the planning and back stabbing against Caesar took him by such a surprise he uses his final words to question Brutus "Et tu, brute, Then fall Caesar." Brutus delived the final blow to Caesar killing such a great man.

Defending Brutus  The honorable Brutus killed the ambitious Caesar for the people of Rome. Many believe that Brutus killed Caesar out of hate but Brutus loved Caesar. Brutus killed Caesar because in that time Caesar was becoming a tyrant. If Brutus did not stop Caesar he would have taken over Rome. Caesar was a part of the first triumvirate. The three people were Caesar, Pompey, and Crassus. These three men got into a civil war. Caesar came out on top in this horrible war between the nation. Caesar was trying to become a one man power and many people disagreed with this because they still believed in the past’s government.  Brutus is a man of honor. Brutus shows his honor by his actions and his words. Brutus had to kill Caesar or Brutus and the people would be under Caesars command and Caesars only. In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus says" Let us be sacrificers, but not butchers, Caius. We all stand up against the spirit of Caesar, and in the spirit of men there is no blood. O, that we then could come by Caesars spirit, and not dismember Caesar! But alas Caesar must bleed for it. And gentle friends, let’s kill him boldly, but not wrathfully; let’s carve him as a dish fit for the gods, not hew him as a carcass fit for hounds." (II.i.166) Brutus is saying let’s kill Caesar out of honor not hate. Brutus says let us be sacrificers in Rome when you sacrificed someone they were sent to the gods by the people. Brutus shows his honor by telling the conspirators to kill him boldly no wrathfully. The character of Brutus then says "Do so; and let no man abide this deed but we the doers."(III.i.94) Brutus is saying no man shall take the blame for the killing but only us the conspirators, and if the people like this killing they shall know we have done this deed. Brutus shows his honor by willing to take the blame for such a huge action if they get in trouble with the law.  Caesar is an ambitious man. Caesars shows his ambition by trying to become a tyrant and overpowering all Roman people. In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Cassius says "And why should Caesar be a tyrant then? Poor man, I know he would not be a wolf but he sees the Romans are but sheep". (I.iii.104) Cassius is stating that Caesar is trying to be a tyrant and knows that the Roman people are weak, and he will be able to overpower them. Caesar shows the ambition by wanting to be more powerful than everyone else. In the book The Ides Caesar's Murder and the war for Rome. Dando-Collins, "This one-day consulship, to many staid romans made a mockery of the office. To Caesar, it was one way of putting a member of nobility in his debt.' Make way for the dictator came the cry of Caesar's chief lictor.” Caesar basically thinks he is the dictator. The chief lictor is telling people to move for Caesar. This also shows arrogance in Caesar by Caesar telling his Chief lictor to tell everyone to make way for him.  Brutus was protecting Rome from the man Caesar. Brutus cared about the people, while Caesar cared about himself. In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Brutus says "If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar. This is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living, and die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all freemen.”(III.ii.20) Brutus is saying that he likes Caesar but Brutus loves Rome more. Brutus would rather have the people live free then everyone die slaves to the tyrant. The character Brutus says "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) Brutus says that he does not have a problem with Caesar it would just be better for the people if Caesar was killed. Brutus is thinking about what will happen to the people instead of thinking what will happen to him.  The honorable Brutus was talked about by Antony. In Shakespeare’s play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Antony says "This was the noblest Roman of them all. All the Conspirators save only he did that they did in envy of Great Caesar; He, only in the general honest thought And common good to all, made one of them. His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him that Nature might stand up and say to all the world 'This was a man!'" Antony states that Brutus did what he thought was for the people and the common good. Brutus was the noblest Roman of them all. Brutus was the only conspirator to kill Caesar out of honor. Brutus did everything out of the kindness of his heart for the country of Rome. Brutus was a man for others not like Caesar who was for himself.
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**