The Classics Courtroom

This activity asks students to practice their persuasive writing skills beyond an essay on the page. They take on the role of a lawyer, defending or prosecuting a real (though, adapted for the classroom) legal case from the ancient world. These are some of the strangest and often the silliest cases, so they will be challenged to think outside the box! This activity can be run in any number of ways, but my students arranged their desks in a circle, portfolio of cases in hand. Then, I read their case and split them into two groups, defense or prosecution. They all were to take written notes on their case, then step forward and present their argument to the other side of the room. No verdict is formed from their personal arguments, as the goal is not “winning and losing.”

This activity is designed to accommodate students who enjoy public speaking and those who don’t. All students will be forming their speeches in their small groups, but if a particular student isn’t comfortable reading in front of the group, I allowed them to pass their argument to another student in their team to present with all of their courtroom drama bravado.