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Has the jury reached a verdict?

Ninth graders were eager to hear a verdict in the case of People v Frankenstein.  As a culminating assignment for the quarter, freshmen participated in a mock trial in which they worked for the prosecution or the defense, trying to prove whether or not Dr. Victor Frankenstein was responsible for several tragic events caused by his creation.  Before the trial, students read, annotated and discussed Mary Shelley's novel.  They completed a literary analysis assignment designed to push their analytical thinking and explore how the text can support a debatable thesis.  Finally, they began working in teams to prepare for the trial.  The prosecution determined the charges and both teams chose witnesses, found evidence and built a case around the main ideas they developed as a group.  On Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9, students argued their cases in front of a jury of teachers and administrators who decided whether or not to convict Victor of the charges filed against him.  Ninth grade English teachers Sara Ringe and Emily Chrysler served as judges.