The students who audition for the Mock Trial Team have an intrinsic motivation to step out of their "comfort zones" and find out what they are truly capable of achieving. These "comfort zones" changed in many ways during the COVID shut down, but kids are resilient and these students are forging the path back to in-person socialization. The majority of high school students are so terrified of public speaking that they would never voluntarily join a group which performs publicly and is adjudicated while doing so. The 21 kids who chose to take the leap into joining this year's Mock Trial Team are motivated, dedicated students who have a vision of their own individual future success.
My goal, as their coach, is to provide them with the resources they need and to enable them to reach their goals. What I love about the Mock Trial Team is seeing the kids collaborate, as a team, to form case theories, prepare witness testimonies, and polish their delivery skills in order to persuade a jury.
Although this is an extra-curricular activity, which requires that the team meet after school, it is also a team activity that meets numerous Nevada Academic Content Standards.
An excerpt of the many Speaking and Listening standards met by the Mock Trial Team is found in the Course Goals of the Public Speaking and Argumentation Course:
1. To initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions. [SL.9-10.1; SL.11-12.1; L.9-10; L.11-12.1-3]
2. To integrate information in order to make informed decisions and solve problems. [SL.9-10.2; SL.11-12.2]
3. To evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric. [SL. 9-10.3; SL.11-12.3]
4. To present findings and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective. [W.9-10; W.11-12.1; W.9-10; W.11-12.2a-f; SL.9-10.4; SL.11-12.4]
About my class
The students who audition for the Mock Trial Team have an intrinsic motivation to step out of their "comfort zones" and find out what they are truly capable of achieving. These "comfort zones" changed in many ways during the COVID shut down, but kids are resilient and these students are forging the path back to in-person socialization. The majority of high school students are so terrified of public speaking that they would never voluntarily join a group which performs publicly and is adjudicated while doing so. The 21 kids who chose to take the leap into joining this year's Mock Trial Team are motivated, dedicated students who have a vision of their own individual future success.
My goal, as their coach, is to provide them with the resources they need and to enable them to reach their goals. What I love about the Mock Trial Team is seeing the kids collaborate, as a team, to form case theories, prepare witness testimonies, and polish their delivery skills in order to persuade a jury.
Although this is an extra-curricular activity, which requires that the team meet after school, it is also a team activity that meets numerous Nevada Academic Content Standards.
An excerpt of the many Speaking and Listening standards met by the Mock Trial Team is found in the Course Goals of the Public Speaking and Argumentation Course:
1. To initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions. [SL.9-10.1; SL.11-12.1; L.9-10; L.11-12.1-3]
2. To integrate information in order to make informed decisions and solve problems. [SL.9-10.2; SL.11-12.2]
3. To evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric. [SL. 9-10.3; SL.11-12.3]
4. To present findings and supporting evidence, conveying a clear and distinct perspective. [W.9-10; W.11-12.1; W.9-10; W.11-12.2a-f; SL.9-10.4; SL.11-12.4]
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