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Columbus Mock Trial 
Columbus Mock Trial
This role-play will begin with the premise that a monstrous crime was committed in the years after Columbus's arrival in 1492, when perhaps as many as three million or more Tainos on the island of Hispaniola lost their lives. Who --- and / or what --- was responsible for this slaughter? This is the question that students confront here. Students are organized into five defendant groups (Columbus's Men, Columbus, King Ferdinand and Queen Isablela, The Tainos, and The System of Empire) Each of these groups is charge with the genocide of the Tainos people. As a group they will portray the defendants, their attorney, and a defense witness of their choice. Your teacher will act as prosecutor for each defendant. Each group has a two-fold responsibility - Defend yourselves against the charges and explain / prove who they think is guilty and why.
Rubric Code: TX3CB72
By MisterBonifacio
Ready to use
Public Rubric
Subject: Social Sciences  
Type: Project  
Grade Levels: 6-8

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  Poor

0 pts

Needs Improvement

5 pts

Fair

10 pts

Good

15 pts

Very Good

20 pts

Outstanding

25 pts

Opening Statement
1 pts

Poor

The Group had no opening statement.
Needs Improvement

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial.
Statement only has one of the 5 above criteria.
Fair

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement only has two of the 5 above criteria.
Good

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement only has three of the 5 above criteria.
Very Good

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement only has four of the 5 above criteria.
Outstanding

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement includes all of the 5 above criteria.
Defendant Questions
1 pts

Poor

The Group had no defendant questions
Needs Improvement

The group will develop a well thought out plan of defense, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression.
Questions only have one of the 5 above criteria.
Fair

The group will develop a well thought out plan of defense, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have two of the 5 above criteria.
Good

The group will develop a well thought out plan of defense, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have three of the 5 above criteria.
Very Good

The group will develop a well thought out plan of defense, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have four of the 5 above criteria.
Outstanding

The group will develop a well thought out plan of defense, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions have all of the 5 above criteria.
Witness Questions
1 pts

Poor

The Group had no witness questions
Needs Improvement

The group will develop a well thought out plan of attack, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have one of the 5 above criteria.
Fair

The group will develop a well thought out plan of attack, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have two of the 5 above criteria.
Good

The group will develop a well thought out plan of attack, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have three of the 5 above criteria.
Very Good

The group will develop a well thought out plan of attack, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions only have four of the 5 above criteria.
Outstanding

The group will develop a well thought out plan of attack, through numerous questions, to show that their group is not the responsible party. The questions must show a point and a logical progression. Questions have all of the 5 above criteria.
Closing Statement
1 pts

Poor

The Group had no closing statement.
Needs Improvement

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement includes not much of the above criteria, but does not include all of their main points.criteria.
Fair

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement includes some of the above criteria, but does not include all of their main points.criteria.
Good

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement includes most of the above criteria, but does not include all of their main points.criteria.
Very Good

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative opening statement that includes who they are, a brief description of why they are not guilty, who they will blame during the trial. Statement includes all of the above criteria, but does not include all of their main points.
Outstanding

The group will create a well written, interesting and creative closing statement that includes the main points they discussed in their trial presentation. Statement includes all of the above criteria.
Overall Performance
2 pts

Poor

Group did not perform their case at all.
Needs Improvement

Students are able to preform in this role play / mock trial with minimal reading from notes / papers. They remain in character and take the performance seriously. Student performance met few of these criteria
Fair

Students are able to preform in this role play / mock trial with minimal reading from notes / papers. They remain in character and take the performance seriously. Student performance met some of these criteria
Good

Students are able to preform in this role play / mock trial with minimal reading from notes / papers. They remain in character and take the performance seriously. Student performance met most of these criteria
Very Good

Students are able to preform in this role play / mock trial with minimal reading from notes / papers. They remain in character and take the performance seriously. Student performance met nearly all of these criteria
Outstanding

Students are able to preform in this role play / mock trial with minimal reading from notes / papers. They remain in character and take the performance seriously. Student performance met all of these criteria
Resources
2 pts

Poor

The group did not use resources in their trial.
Needs Improvement

Students are able to offer specific evidence from the project resources to support their arguments of innocence and guilt. This can be done in the form of quotes, citing specific events, or showing knowledge of a persons life. Evidence of the use of resources was found in at least one part of the trial
Fair

Students are able to offer specific evidence from the project resources to support their arguments of innocence and guilt. This can be done in the form of quotes, citing specific events, or showing knowledge of a persons life. Evidence of the use of resources was found through some parts of the trial
Good

Students are able to offer specific evidence from the project resources to support their arguments of innocence and guilt. This can be done in the form of quotes, citing specific events, or showing knowledge of a persons life. Evidence of the use of resources was found through most parts of the trial
Very Good

Students are able to offer specific evidence from the project resources to support their arguments of innocence and guilt. This can be done in the form of quotes, citing specific events, or showing knowledge of a persons life. Evidence of the use of resources was found through nearly all parts of the trial
Outstanding

Students are able to offer specific evidence from the project resources to support their arguments of innocence and guilt. This can be done in the form of quotes, citing specific events, or showing knowledge of a persons life. Evidence of the use of resources was found through all parts of the trial
Written / Digital Copies
1 pts

Poor

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. No parts of the document are complete.
Needs Improvement

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. At least one part of the document are complete.
Fair

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. Some parts of the document are complete.
Good

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. Most parts of the document are complete.
Very Good

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. Nearly all parts of the document are complete.
Outstanding

A written / digital copy of the opening statement / closing statement / defendant questions & answers / witness questions & answers is either handed in or posted on the groups Google Document. All parts of the document are complete.
Group Participation
1 pts

Poor

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.
Needs Improvement

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.
Fair

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.
Good

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.
Very Good

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.
Outstanding

Your Group will rate your participation in the group from 0 to 25. This number will be averaged and each member will receive an individual participation grade.





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