JuliaCrucible Final Reflection

LT.5CCSS.ELALITERACY.RL.910.2
Determineacentralideaofatextandanalyzeitsdevelopmentoverthecourseofthetext,
includinghowitemergesandisshapedandrefinedbyspecificdetailsprovideanobjective
summaryofthetext.

LT6CCSS.ELALITERACY.W.910.1.B
Developclaim(s)andcounterclaimsfairly,supplyingevidenceforeachwhilepointingoutthe
strengthsandlimitationsofbothinamannerthatanticipatestheaudience'sknowledgelevel
andconcerns.

LT7CCSS.ELALITERACY.RI.910.9
AnalyzeseminalU.S.documentsofhistoricalandliterarysignificance

After the trial: Write a brief summary reflecting on the following: (minimum of 3
sentences each)
How prepared were you for your role in the mock trial?
What did you learn from the trial experience?
Who do you think did the best job presenting their case, the defense or
prosecution, and why?
What could be done better the next time?
What can we learn from this case regarding human nature and freedom?

Reflection:
- I believe that I was well prepared for the trial. I did a lot of research, read many
articles on my character and took many notes. I learned that she was a very
respected women and that she was strongly against the witch trials.
- I learned that things arent always fair in the judicial system, especially when
the judges are biased against the prosected. I was astonished by the heat in the
room and the tension that was given off. I was also really annoyed that I learned
the Jury could object at the end of the trial.
- Definitely the prosecutors did better because the defense only had one person
asking questions. The Prosecutors were also talking to the judges that I believe
were biased at the beginning. The defense stated many good points, but the judges
and the prosecutors both overlooked them. The defense also had some pieces of
evidence that were grotesquely incorrect.
- I believe that the prosecution and the defense should have been split up evenly
based on academic and HOW grading. Again, there was only one person talking on
the defense and all really did speak on the Prosecution side, which wasnt very
fair. The Prosecution also had all their information straight.

- Like I said, the Prosecution and defense should have been chosen based on
academics. It really seemed unfair how it was played out. Other than that, I think
it would be fine.
- Human nature tends to have a predestined idea if the prosecuted is guilty or
innocent, especially if they are coming in with background research on that
person. People take their own biases and twist them to fit the picture that they are
faced with. Most likely taking away the freedom of the other person.

Final reflections:
Write a report reflecting on 3 of the 4 points listed below (1 page
typed, 11 font, Times New Roman, double spaced, each paragraph 5-7 sentences in
length)
Does our judicial system assure a fair trial for the accused?
Are some parts of the trial more important than others?
Would you trust a jury of your peers to determine your guilt or innocence?
Explore your reactions to playing your role, as well as your reaction to the
outcome of the mock trial.

Ibelievethatthesystemwehaveinourcountryisasfairasitcanbeatthemoment,butitcan
certainlybebetter.Prejudicesinthecourtsismostdefinitelyanissue,asIstatedbeforeinthe
firstreflection,humannaturehasbiasesprogrammedintotheirmindssothatwecanfeelsecure.
Itisextremelydifficulttoextractthatoutofapersonwhenitistheirinstinctuallyandmanywill
denycompletelythatitisthereatall.However,10,000wronglyaccusedpeopleareconvicted
eachyear,thismakesup0.5percentoftheabouttwomillionpeoplesentenced.Itmaynotsound
likealot,butonetakeintoconsiderationthethousandsoffamiliesthatareimpactedandhundred
ofthousandsoffriendsareimpactedbecauseofthis.
Iwouldnotevertrustmypeerstodeterminemyfutureofinnocentorguiltysincethey
knowme.TheyknowwhoIamandtheyknowwhatIamcapableof.Someofmypeersmaynot
likeme,andthatwilladdtotheoutcomeofthetrial.Idonottrustmypeersanyway,andwould
nottrustthemtogivemebackapencilneverthelessmylife,whichwouldprobablybethecaseif
wewerefollowingthesystemthatweusedinclass.Theyalreadyhavetheirmindsmadeup
aboutmysentencebecausetheyeitherlikemeortheydont.

IwasextremelyhappytobeplayingtheroleIgotandwasreadytogetdowntobusiness
withresearchandtounderstandmycharactersothatIcouldportrayhermoreaccurately.I
thoroughlyenjoyedtheprocessandIthoughtthatIalreadyknewwhattheoutcomeofthetrial
wouldbe,notguilty,butastheIsatinonthetrailsbeforeRebeccaNurses,Irealizedthateven
withthelittleevidenceshehadagainsther,itwouldbeextremelydifficulttoproveher
innocence.AsIwentup,Iwasanxiousthatthedefensewouldnthaveanycredibleevidence
basedontheirpreviouscases.Ilistenedtotheopeningwitnessesofthedefenseandcringed
whenIheardthequestionstheywereaskingforIknewIdidalotofresearchandIknewthat
thesethingsdidnothappen.IwasneithersicknorhadanyrelationwithSarahGood,andhasthe
caseclosed,IrealizedthatwaswhatthejudgeswouldholdRebeccaNurseon.TheJudgescame
out,eventhoughtheJuryhadfoundhernotguilty,theydecreedherguiltyofWitchcraft,whichI
thinkisunfair.IwasextremelyupsetwithboththeJudgesandthesituation,andIamstill
extremelyupset.
Conclusion(oneparagraph)
Youhaveexploredandexperiencedhowthereligious,social,and
politicalatmosphereof1692ledtotheSalemWitchTrials.DoyouthinktheSalemWitch
Trialscouldhappentoday?

ItdependswhatyoumeanbytheSalemWitchTrials.Ifyoumeanpeopleaccusingothersof
beingliteralwitches,thennonotatall.Theaccuserswouldbelaughedoutofcourt,butifyou
meantheprincipleofthething,thenIdobelievethatitcanhappenagain,justnotwithwitches.
Terrorismisahugeissuearoundtheworldatthemomentandwitchesintheirtimeseemedtobe
domesticterrorists.Itisquitepossiblethatpeoplestarttotwistthisissuearoundanditturnsinto

amoderndaywitchhunt.Peoplecouldbegintoaccuseothersleftandrightofterrorismwith
littlecredibleevidenceandtheycouldbethrowninprison.Idontthinkitcouldendupas
drasticasitwasinSalematthetime,butprisonsentencesdontseemunlikely.