Group+08


 * 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:**

Amanda Worley bell4 Prosecuting My opponent the so called "honorable" Marcus Brutus has committed the murder of Julius Caesar with personal intentions and with his very bad decision making. We claim that Marcus Brutus has done this crime out of honor. We find differently. Marcus Brutus has done this out of his own ambition not honor. For example Act I.ii lines 86-87 "Set honor in one eye and death i'th" the other and I will look at them both indifferently." Brutus quotes that he will look at them both and decide which would turn out to be the right choice. And he choose death. Choosing death was the wrong choice for him to do because he made a bad decision due to his peers. If Brutus is so honorable you would think he would not choose to kill his friend because of a unknown leadership. I don’t think so. Another quote stated in ActIII.ii lines 25 "I honor him but he was ambitious, I slew him." Brutus is killing Caesar for being ambitious! Brutus has no real intentions to murder him. Brutus claims he will be ambitious and ruin Rome has a whole.. Yet.. Caesar never got the chance to become king and "Dictate" Rome. How do we know he's ambitious if he has never had the chance to hold the crown as his own. Brutus thinks he is doing this out of honor yet he is not. He's is doing it out of pressure and his own form of Ambition.

For our next Prosecution we will look at how Brutus has a tenancy to have bad decision making. Brutus bad decisions has lead to many of the reasons why he is guilty. Something that Brutus quotes in Act III.ii lines 22-24 " Had you rather Caesar were living and all die slaves? Than that Caesar were dead to live all freedman?" Brutus is saying in this quotes at Caesars funeral that Caesar would have turned everyone in Rome into slaves. Caesar has done nothing wrong to make Brutus think he will become a dictator and rule has a horrible king. On the other hand Caesar has done a lot of good for Rome. Brutus was jumping to conclusions about Caesar being ruler. Brutus's bad decisions has caused him to commit a crime with no real intentions. Brutus also says in Julius Caesar: Michael Grant, page 87," Attempt to take over by assination, yet have Romans already been slaves. No doubt he acted on the pressure of others." In this quote it says he was going to take over Rome by just killing Caesar, some Romans already felt as if they were slaves with out Caesar as ruler, no doubt he will do something cause of the pressure of other peers. Brutus made a choice he can't take back, He chose to kill Caesar because of others telling him and enforcing their opinions on him. Brutus made the wrong choice by falling into the peer pressure the conspirators put forth against him and now he must pay the conquences and come forth guilty of murder.

Brutus is not only guilty of murder because of being "honorable" and making bad decisions, Brutus is also guilty of murder because some information shows he had more than "honor" he might have had personal intentions also. Sources say in book Julius Caesar: Michael Grant page 148, " There was no need to fall back on compulsion." Saying that there is no need for Brutus to fall back on his irritable impulse to get after Caesar. Claiming that Brutus didn’t only take the advice from others he used personal spurns to get at him. Also another example is in Caesar against Rome: Ramon. L. Jimenez page 233, " Despite Caesars indulgent treatment of him all his life, that the straight laced Brutus resented him even more the man who used mother as a mistress." Good explanation of this that Caesar used Brutus mother as a mistress and possibilities show he could possibly be the father. We look at this as a personal intention that led him up to this. Brutus was protective of his mother and stood up for her because of him using her.. But this is not an excuse to murder someone. They will not be okay with a crime because someone personally has something against them. Brutus has NO creditable reason to murder Caesar, from what we claim,” honor."

We’ve gotten the facts and the resources saying that he is guilty. Brutus is not honorable, he made bad decisions, and he did it out of personal intentions not for the greater good of Rome. Now lets look off of Brutus and turn our focus on to Caesar. Caesar is not some killing bad guy. As a matter of fact in the book The Boy Who Conquered an Empire; Ellen Galford on pages 54-56 they say, “ He increased the number of government official’s, would help get things done. Caesar built a new senate house, temples, and markets. Caesar also pleased the roman crowds.” Now by this statement it does not seem like Caesar is such a terrible person. Brutus is guilty for the murder of Julius Caesar for those reasons.

Honorable Brutus is not guilty for the murder of his friend Julius Caesar because he was protectingRome.
 * Post Defense Closing Statement Here:**

Brutus is a very honorable man. The quote form ( Act 2 scene 1 line 279), it states “Kneel not, gentle Portia” This quote is saying that he didn’t want her on her knees and begging. He had to much respect for her showing that he was a very honorable man and will do anything to keep his name of honor. The next quote is form (page 793 lines 288- 290), “My true and honorable wife as dear to me as are ruddy drops that visit my sad heart” In this quote it states that Portia is as dear to him and as important to him as the blood going through his veins. The connection is that he is a very honorable man and loving and caring person and would only do something if it had to be done.

Brutus was a very good friend and loved and cared about his friends. (Act 2 scene 1 lines 10-15), it states “ I must be by his death and for my part I know no personal cause to spurn at him” This quote is saying that he does not have any personal reason to be mad at him he just has to do what’s right. The connection to this is that Brutus is or was friends with Caesar and Brutus would do what is necessary. Support number two is “I do believe applauses are for some new honors that are heaped on Caesar” The connection is that he is helping Caesar.

Brutus did what he had to do for the protection of Rome. “But for the general he would be crowned” This is saying that he would be crowned king he would destroy Rome. Connection to this is that is that he killed Caesar for the good of Rome. “And not dement Caesar but also Caesar must bleed” (Act 2 scene 1 lines 120-171.) This is saying that Caesar must be killed or Rome is going to go down hill fast and will be destroyed. Connection to this is that Brutus didn’t think Caesar wouldn’t destroy Rome he would have not kill him.

If Caesar would be crowned. “He would be crowned how might changes his nature there the question it’s the bright day that brings forth the adder” (Act 2 scene 3) This is saying that Caesar is bad for Rome and that Caesar is more dangerous than danger itself. The connection to this is that Caesar is more dangerous than danger itself and that Rome would be destroyed. “And uttered such deal of crow that it had almost choked Caesar for he swallowed it and fell down” In this quote it is saying that Caesar turned the crown and it almost choked him showing that he really wants the power and the crown.

I rest my case that Brutus is not guilty for the murder of Julius Caesar. Brutus did what he had to do to protect Rome, if Brutus didn’t think Caesar was good for Rome he would have never murdered Julius Caesar.

By: Zachary Harper