Group+32


 * 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:**

Jacob Tedeso Bell 5 **//__ Prosecution __//** **//__ The trial of Markus Brutus __//** I feel that Markus Brutus is guilty for the murder of Julius Caesar. The ambitious Brutus obsessively murdered the honorable Caesar for personal motives such as, the way that he wanted the crown for himself. Brutus is ambitious, because he had murdered Caesar to get him out of power so he could get in, I feel this way because in the play I.V.51-53 Brutus says, “Caesar now be still. I killed thee with half so good a will.” Brutus suggests in this quote that he regrets Caesar being killed. That must mean that the conspirators killed Caesar for an ambitious fault. In Phil Grabsy’s book he states that “yet having survived countless battles, he was murdered in Rome by Romans.” His means that the people that murdered Caesar because they did not feel that he should get the crown even though he has led Rome to many wins in battle. This must reveal that Caesar was honorable and the people that killed him were ambitious. Caesar is extremely honorable because Antony states in the play, “hath told you Caesar was ambitious. If so it was a grievous fault.” When Antony states this he implies that Caesar was not ambitious at all he was obviously one of the most honorable men in Rome. This reveals that Caesar is in fact a honorable man. Antony supports that quote with another quote when he says, “when the poor hath cried Caesar hath wept. Ambition should be made of sterner stuff.” When Antony says that quote he means that Caesar has done everything he could have done to protect and better Rome. Caesar has felt the same amount of pain that the citizens of Rome did when the economy was down and all the Romans were poor. This truly states that Caesar was an honorable man. Some personal motives that Brutus and the conspirators have used can be found in the quote that Casca says right before brutally stabbing Caesar which would be in the play III.i.76-77, “speak hands for me!” It was the day that Caesar was supposed to receive the crown and become the King of Rome, so obviously the conspirators and Brutus murdered Caesar so they could rule Rome and not him, which in fact also failed when they went to war against Antony and Octavious. At Caesars funeral Antony also says, “I thrice presented him a King which he did thrice refuse, was this ambitious?” so, Caesar was in fact not even planning to become King of Rome, and Brutus had brutally murdered him, which was a grievous fault and was exceedingly ambitious. As I have stated and proven many times, Caesar was a very honorable man who was murdered by ambitious people that wanted the crown to go to them or someone else, which would have been a very bad idea.

Mike Merk Bell 4 Defense of Marcus Junius Brutus The truly honorable Brutus kill’s the ambitious Julius Caesar for the good of Rome and its people. Brutus possibly saved the people of Rome from Years of slavery under the rule of the powerful but wasteful Caesar. Many people in the beginning were not upset with the death of Caesar. In the end when the majority of the conspirators were murdered many people of Rome were out to kill them. I feel the main reason people were so anxious to kill the conspirators were because they were just jumping on the bandwagon because everyone else was rioting.
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

When Caesar ruled Rome he had lots of ambition. Brutus showed and said many times that he had respect for Caesar and the people of Rome. When the killing of Caesar occurred Brutus says “Let’s kill him boldly, not wrathfully”. Brutus wanted to show respect for Caesar and Rome. He didn’t want to completely destroy Caesars body. He wanted to also keep some peace between him and the people of Rome by not making a big mess and making a big deal about it but in the end he didn’t take enough precaution tom keep the people under control and explain himself. This shows that the killing of Caesar was not a sign of personal envy but for the prevention of a dark Rome to come. Brutus also says in one of his lines “I am nothing jealous” and he says that because he truly has no personal envy. He only wanted to keep people safe.

Many times Brutus and the conspirators thought about if it would be worth killing Caesar and in the end they thought it would be worth it. A few of the conspirators had mixed feelings about killing him. In the play Brutus says “Our hearts stare pitiful and pity to the general wrong of Rome- As fire dries out fire so pity pity hath done this deed on Caesar”. This shows that Brutus knows he did what was right but he still feels pity for the wrong of Rome. He also feels sorry for Caesar, but he was just getting to powerful for his own good. Brutus also says “Why I that did have Caesar when I struck him have thus proceeded”. This means that he knows it was worth it so that many didn’t have to suffer but he is having regret.

Plebeians of many towns hear of Caesars death and knew who did it and those people’s names so they took revenge into their own hands even if it wasn’t the conspirators. There was a poet that was murdered because his name was Cinna. Here is a short 2 lines from the play between the first plebian and Cinna the poet. “First plebian- “tear him to pieces, he is a conspirator” Cinna- “I am Cinna the poet” First plebian-“kill him anyway”. This shows that people were only killing because others are rioting and doing the same not out of personal reason. Just because others are doing it does not make it right. Another sign of bandwagoning is when the fourth plebian says “Pluck down forms, windows, anything”. The citizens did not care about laws, just about their own wants. Many were mad because others were and killing and rioting and it wasn’t right.

As you can see I have proof of Brutus’ innocence because people were killing even though they knew it wasn’t right. Brutus is innocent because he speaks and shows how he is not envious and only helped murder Caesar for the good of Rome and its people. The only conspirator that showed envy was Cassius and he got what he deserved in the end. Brutus did not receive the right ending because he only did it to save Rome. He still showed his respect for Caesar by allowing him to have a proper funeral, funeral speeches, proper burial, and kept his body in tact.