Group+33


 * 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:**

The so-called honorable Brutus murdered Ceasar based on personal motive and speculation.

Althrough-out the play it is said that Brutus is an honorable man, but is that true? It is said in a book by Philip Matyszack, " forcing loans on subject cities at unsurious interest rates was forbidden by the Lex Garbinia, but Brutus had contacts in the senate who got him an exemption"(p. 210). Bassically what this quote is saying is that even though it was illegal to charge such high rates, Brutus used his political and personal connections to get away with charging so much. This proves that Brutus isn't honorable because he charged his people high interest rates knowing it was wrong and deliberately went around the government. Another quote to prove Brutus' honorability is in the same book, "(Brutus and Cassius) squeezed every last drop of tax revenue from their subject people, and mustered an army." (p. 211). This quote is saying that both Brutus and Ceasar took all the money they could from their people and gathered an army to fight a war they caused by murdering Ceasar. This proves that Brutus is not honorable because after they caused caused a war their people financed and fought it. Also in the same book it is stated that, "Also like many of his(Brutus') contemporaries he treated the subject peoples of the empire with callous disregard"(p. 209). This quote is saying that Brutus did not treat his Fellow Romans with respect. This proves that Brutus is dishonorable because he does not treat his people as well as he should. These quotes prove that Brutus is not honorable because it gives prime examples of Brutus' dishonorability.

More proof that Brutus is guilty of murdering Ceasar is that he did it based on personal motive. An example of this is in an article by Jona Lendering, " he (Ceasar) had an affair with Brutus' mother, and he did not want to bring the young man whom he had often met at the house of his mistress into troubles". This quotes means that Ceasar was having an affair with Brutus' mother and had often ran into him at their house and didn't want any trouble for Brutus. This proves Brutus' personal motive because he could have been mad at Ceasar for sleeping with his mother. A quote that backs this up is in __The Chronicle of the Roman Republic__, "It may be that Ceasar's relationship with his (Brutus') family had inclined Brutus towards assassination"(p. 209). The relationship that this quote is referring to is also to Ceasar and Brutus' mom. This quote also proves personal motive because it proves that it is not only me that believes this relationship could have caused it. These quotes proves Brutus' guiltyness because it gives him motive for killing Ceasar.

Brutus' speculation also proves his guiltyness because he jumped to conclusions. An example of this is in William Shakespear's __The Trajedy of Julius Ceasar__ when Brutus says, "I do fear the people choose Ceasar for their king" (I.ii.78-79). This quote is saying that Brutus assumed that the Romans appointed Ceasr as their king. This proves that Brutus was speculative and could have used this speculation in killing Ceasar. Another quote to prove this when Cassius says, "Here is the will, and under Ceasar's seal. To every Roman citizen he gives to every several (individual) man seventy-five drachmas.(equivelent to about $100 U.S dollars)" (III.ii.240-243). This proves that Brutus was speculative because he assumed that Ceasar was ambitous but in reality he was thinking of all the Romans.

With personal motive and speculation the not-so honorable Brutus ruthlessly killed Ceasar.


 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

Jacob Urbanski November 16, 2011 Bell: 5

Defending Brutus

The honorable Brutus killed the ambitious Caesar for the good of Rome. Brutus felt that if Caesar was to become king that he would overturn the power of the people. He felt that Caesar was being treated like a god but he was only a man. He was no better than Brutus. Fearing that this was going to come true that Caesar was to be king, Brutus and others decided to change his fate by killing him. Brutus tells the crowd that though he loved Casesar he loved Rome more.

Through the years that Brutus was in Rome he had shown his honor in many ways. Honor is sticking to what you believe in. He did so not only by his action but in the way he spoke. Here is an example from the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, Brutus says, “Set honor in one eye and death i’th’other, and I will look on both indifferently for let the gods so speed me, as I love the name of honor more than I fear death.” (page 764). Brutus in this quote is saying that with his honor he will put his life before he lets someone else die. It does not matter what the situation is Brutus will put others before himself.

Caesar had proven his ambitious ways not only by his actions but what he says about himself or others. Ambition is the desire to succeed at any cost. As the character Caesar, he says, “let me have men about me that are fat sleek-headed men, in such sleep a nights.” Caesar is saying he wants men that are happy with their lives and won’t try to do anything to harm him. Once again Caesar is showing how he only cares about himself and no one else. This is seen by this quote Caesar says, “I’d rather tell thee what is to be feared than what I fear; for always I am Caesar.” Caesar is saying that he will not tell what he fears but he will tell them what they should fear, because he is Caesar. These quotes show how Caesar choses to succeed no matter what the affect has on others.

The honorable Brutus proves his actions in many ways for the good of Rome. He does this by the killing of Caesar. This is shown in the following quote by Brutus. He says, “It must be his death, and for my part, I know no personal cause to spurn at him but for the general. He would be crowned.” Brutus is saying that he had no personal grudges toward Caesar. So no emotions had any reason for the decision of killing Caesar.

Brutus being the honorable man he was thought that Rome would be better off if not ruled by Caesar. This decision was hard to make being that Brutus and Caesar were friends at one time. Though times were rough Brutus decided on what was best for Rome and the people. Brutus shows this by saying, “Then none have I offended. I have done no more to Caesar than you shall do to Brutus. The question of his death is enrolled in the Capitol; his glory not extenuated, when he was worthy, nor his offences enforced, for which he suffered death.” Brutus is saying that what he has done to Caesar that the people will be justified in doing it to him if he does the wrongs that Caesar had done.