Group+35


 * 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.

Prosecuting Brutus Zach Mortenson Bell 4 11/15/11 __ Thesis statement: __ The honorable Brutus used his personal motive to murder the supposedly ambitious Caesar. Throughout the entire play we notice that Brutus is very honorable. After the assassination of //Gaius Julius Caesar we really see that Brutus isn’t as honest as most think. Leading straight up to the death of Caesar, Brutus uses his morals and honor to make his decisions. In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar Antony says “Your minds to mutiny and rage, I should do Brutus and Cassius wrong, who (you all know) are honorable men.” (III. ii. 134-136). Antony is saying that he doesn’t want to change minds on killing Brutus or Cassius, but are they actually honorable? This quote is connected to the thesis because it shows that Brutus isn’t as honorable as we think. “If there be any in this assembly, any dear friend of Caesar’s, to him I say that Brutus’ love was no less than his. If then that friend demand why Brutus rose against Caesar this is my answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more.” (III.ii.19-24). Brutus is saying to the plebian’s that he loved Caesar as well as them but he loved Rome more so he had to protect it. The connection to the thesis is that Brutus’ honor and loving of Rome drove him to kill Caesar to try and protect it. // //Brutus’ personal motive drove him to kill Caesar to protect Rome. He also could have killed him because Caesar used Brutus’ mother as a mistress. In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar Brutus says “Had you rather Caesar were living and all die slaves, than that Caesar were dead to live all freemen”. (III.ii.24-26). Brutus is trying to convince the citizens that Caesar needed to die or Rome would have been a bad place to live in. The quotes connection to the thesis is that Brutus’ personal motive drove him to convince the conspirators that killing Caesar was right, when it was actually wrong. “Despite Caesars indulgent treatment of him all his life, that the straight laced Brutus resented even more the man who used my mother as his mistress.” (III.ii.140-157). Brutus is saying that Caesar is greedy and used his mother for fun. This is connected to the thesis because it shows resentment and personal motive to kill Caesar. // //<span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Caesar was accused of being too ambitious and so Brutus thought he should murder him. Was Caesar really all that ambitious? In the Tragedy of Julius Caesar Antony says “You all did see that on the Lupercal I thrice presented him a kingly crown, which he did thrice refuse. Was this ambition? Yet Brutus says he was ambitious.” (III.ii.95-98). Antony is saying to the citizens that Caesar declined the crown three times because he didn’t want to be king. Was this ambitious? The connection is that the quote shows that Caesar is not ambitious. “He hath brought many captives to Rome, Whose ransoms did the general coffer fill; did this in Caesar seem ambitious?” (III.ii.88-90). Antony is saying that when the wars were over and Caesar held captives for ransom, that money went to the citizens to help them. This is connected to the thesis because Caesar could have kept the money for himself but not being ambitious he gave it to the citizens. // //<span style="font-family: 'calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Brutus is guilty and should be punished for his crime because he still murdered a friend and that is a crime. No matter what the reason or cause that Brutus decided to do this, it should still go with punishment. Brutus could have had Caesar step down from power or have him imprisoned but not murdered. //
 * Post Prosecution Closing Statement Here:**

Kara Vennemeier Bell 5 11/16/11  Some say when killing people, the killer should automatically get executed. But in this case it is a different and more understandable reason why Marcus Brutus has done this killing. I am defending the honorable and courageous Brutus who killed the ambitious Caesar in order to protect the people of Rome. Brutus cared for the people of Rome and would rather have Caesar dead and the people live free than Caesar alive and the people die slaves.
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**
 * I am defending the honorable Brutus.**

Even though Brutus killed Caesar, it was done with honor, and respect for Caesar, and for the good of Rome. In Shakespeare’s play //the tragedy of Julius Caesar,// “as Caesar loved me, I weep for him; as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; as he was valiant, I honor him. But he was ambitious, I slew him.” Act III scene ii, Lines 24-26. Brutus is saying that Brutus honored and loved Caesar, but he loved Rome and wanted the best for the people .Brutus was honorable and did everything for a reason and for the good of things. Also from the play, “for let the gods so speed me, as I love the name of honor more than I fear death.” Act I, scene ii. Lines 88-89. This means that Brutus is willing to die for honor, and in the end he does die for honor. Brutus is respectful and courageous to take his own life for honor. Caesar was ambitious and needed to be killed. He turned down the crown three times when he could have just taken it the first or second time. In the play Brutus says, “there his tears for his love; joy, for his fortune; honor, for his valor; and death, for his ambition.” Act III scene 2. Brutus did the right thing, Caesar was becoming too ambitious and it needed to be handled before it got out of control. This was the right thing to do even if murder is a crime. Brutus saved all of Rome from being destroyed by Caesar. “If the tag-rag people did not clap him and hiss him according as he pleased and displeased them, as they used to do the players in the theater, I am no true man.” In act I scene ii, lines 257-258. In this quote Cinna is backing up Brutus by saying Caesar is being ambitious of turning the crown down three times when he can just take it. The only reason Caesar is turning it down is because he wants the people to get anxious and want him to accept the crown even more. Also, he is meaning that everything Caesar does is fake. Caesar is just putting on a show to get the people on his side, and then he’s going to turn against the people. Brutus obviously wants the best for Rome or else why would he and the conspirators go through all this trouble and not do anything good with it. They cared for Rome that is why they killed Caesar. They honor Rome and Caesar. “Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more. Had you rather Caesar be living and die all slaves than Caesar dead and to live all free men?” In act III, scene ii. Brutus loved Caesar but loved Rome more, and wanted the people to feel cared for and not let down by him and the conspirators. It was not fair for the people to get played by Caesar just so Caesar could feel powerful. “Liberty! Freedom! Tyranny is dead!” As they are saying this, it means that the people are finally free.

Brutus was courageous and brave for leading his mean through war against Octavius and Antony. “And come, young Cato. Let us to the field. Labeo and Flavius set our battles on. Tis three o’clock and romans yet ere night we shall try fortune in a second fight.” In these lines, Brutus is very upset about Cassius’s death, but he must continue on to fight against Octavius and Antony and lead his mean to victory. Not very many people can have their best friend pass away and be this strong to keep their mind on the good for the people. “Friends, I owe moe tears to this dead man, than you shall ever see me pay.” In these lines Brutus is saying he cares about Cassius and all the other men who have died, but he must not risk his feelings at this moment, for the people.

The honorable Brutus is not guilty of killing the ambitious, dangerous Caesar. In Brutus’ last words, “Caesar now be still. I killed not thee with half so good a will.” In that quote Brutus declares, before his death, that in killing himself he acts on motives as pure as those with which he killed Caesar and Caesar should consider himself avenged. Brutus shall be free, just like the people of Rome with Caesar no longer around.

**__ Works Cited __** Shakespeare, William. //Julius Caesar//. New York: A Washington Square Press, 1992. Print.

<span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Gelzer, Matthias. //Caesar: Politician and Statesman//. Translated by Peter Needham. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1968. <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif';">Holt, Rinehart, and Winston. //Elements of Literature.// Austin: A Harcourt Publication Company,2005. Print. <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Harcourt