APPENDIX

Mock Trial Reflection Essay

Write a reflection on the mock trial following the instructions below. Your essay should be thorough,
please do not ask about word count. Use the rubric carefully to get a full picture of what is expected.
It might be helpful to plan using one of the thinking tools you have been trying out in class.

When you are finished with your essay grade yourself using the rubric and attach to your essay.


1. Summarise the case. Make sure to include and evaluate key points from each team including
the points made by witnesses.
2. Discuss the Jurys decision? i.e. Was it fair? Was the onus on the prosecution to prove guilt
rather than on the defence to prove innocence? Explain your opinion citing evidence from your
notes of the case.
3. Were there any court procedures that were not followed include any issues with court layout,
dress, behaviour and language. What were they and how and by whom were they addressed?
4. How would the case have been different if it were in the Koori court? Do you think it would
have changed the outcome? Explain your opinion.
5. What did your team do well? Explain the effort and strategies that lead to the achievement.
6. What did I do well? Explain the effort and strategies that lead to your achievement.
7. What would I do differently next time? Give specific examples of what you would do and what
difference it would have made

Name:_____________________________________________________

I received this assignment on: _______ /__________ /_________

This essay is due on : _______ /__________ /_________

I do not understand some elements of this assignment and I have emailed or spoken to my
teacher on Date: _______ /__________ /_________

The elements I do not understand are:






Strategies I have used to find the answer independently:

APPENDIX 6
Criteria
Presentation/
Structure

Re-submit
(1)
Essay does not have a
clear Introduction that
sets out the structure
for the essay.

Each paragraph does
not have a topic
sentence, contains
assertions and has poor
or no evidence to
support the assertion
and is not linked to the
following paragraph.

There is not a clear
conclusion that links
back to what has been
covered in the essay.

Cite sources
using Harvard
referencing
system

In-text referencing is
inconsistent and
references list is
missing 3 or more of the
in-text references
Appropriate referencing
rules were not followed

Summary

Student gives brief

overview of the case
but poorly explains 3 or
more aspects i.e. who is
accused, what the
charges were, what
were the two main
assertions from each
team, what was the
verdict.

Student poorly uses
subject-specific
terminology.

Evaluation of
Jurys decision

Student provides a
loosely evidence-based
argument that
incorporates the view of
the Jury and compares
it to their personal view
on the verdict.


Very little nalysis of Jury

Satisfactory
(2)
Essay has an
Introduction that sets
out the structure for the
essay although it is not
clear.

Each paragraph has a
topic sentence, contains
assertions and some
evidence to support the
assertion and is loosely
linked to the following
paragraph and in some
cases not linked at all.

There is a clear
conclusion that links
back to what has been
covered in the essay..
In-text referencing is
mostly consistent with 3
or less errors and
references list reflects
most of the in-text
references with 1
missing but uses
appropriate referencing
rules
Student gives brief
overview of the case
but does not fully
explain two aspects i.e.
who is accused, what
the charges were, what
were the two main
assertions from each
team, what was the
verdict.

Student uses subject-
specific terminology
inconsistently


Student provides an
evidence-based
argument that poorly
incorporates the view of
the Jury and compares
it to their personal view
on the verdict.


Analysis of Jury

Distinction
(3)
Essay has a clear
Introduction that sets
out the structure for
the essay.

Each paragraph has a
topic sentence,
contains assertions
and evidence to
support the assertion
and is loosely linked to
the following
paragraph.

There is a clear
conclusion that links
back to what has been
covered in the essay.

High Distinction
(4)
Essay has a clear
Introduction that sets
out the structure for
the essay.

Each paragraph has a
topic sentence,
contains assertions
and strong evidence to
support the assertion
and is linked to the
following paragraph.

There is a clear
conclusion that links
back to what has been
covered in the essay.

In-text referencing is
mostly consistent with
2 or less errors and
references list reflects
all of the in-text
references and uses
appropriate
referencing rules

In-text referencing is
consistent and
references list reflects
all of the in-text
references and uses
appropriate
referencing rules

Student gives brief

overview of the case
but does not fully
explain one aspect i.e.
who is accused, what
the charges were,
what were the two
main assertions from
each team, what was
the verdict.

Student consistently
uses subject-specific
terminology with
some circumlocution.

Student provides an
evidence-based
argument that
incorporates the view
of the Jury and
compares it to their
personal view on the
verdict.

Student gives brief

overview of the case
including, who is
accused, what the
charges were, what
were the two main
assertions from each
team, what was the
verdict.

Student consistently
uses subject-specific
terminology.

Student provides an
evidence-based
argument that
incorporates the view
of the Jury and
compares it to their
personal view on the
verdict.

APPENDIX 6
comments to support
arguments.

Use of knowledge of
principle of parsimony,
fair trial, presumption
of innocence and your
opinion rarely citing
classroom notes or
online references.

Court
procedure

Comparing
traditional
county court
with Koori
Court

Reflection on
effort,
strategies and
achievement

comments to support
arguments.

Use of knowledge of
principle of parsimony,
fair trial, presumption
of innocence and your
opinion with some
citing classroom notes
or online references.

Thorough analysis of
Jury comments to
support arguments.

Use of knowledge of
principle of
parsimony, fair trial,
presumption of
innocence and your
opinion with affective
citing classroom notes
or online references.

Extensive analysis of
Jury comments to
support arguments.

Firm knowledge of
principle of
parsimony, fair trial,
presumption of
innocence and your
opinion affective and
frequent citing
classroom notes or
online references.

Student does not
Student identifies 1
Student identifies 2 -3 Student identifies 3 or
identify procedural
procedural issues,
procedural issues,
more procedural
issues or explains what explains what the
explains with some
issues, explains in
the correct procedure
correct procedure
detail what the correct detail what the correct
should have been, how should have been, how procedure should
procedure should
the issue should have
the issue should have
have been, how the
have been, how the
been addressed in a real been addressed in a real issue should have
issue should have
court and compare how court and compare how been addressed in a
been addressed in a
it was corrected during it was corrected during real court and
real court and
the trial.
the trial.
compare how it was
compare how it was


corrected during the
corrected during the
trial.
trial.




Student compares at
Student compares at
Student compares at
Student compares at
least 1 main difference least 1-2 main
least 2 main difference least 3 main difference
of the Koori court and
difference of the Koori
of the Koori court and of the Koori court and
Traditional Court and
court and Traditional
Traditional Court and Traditional Court and
demonstrates very little Court and demonstrates demonstrates
clearly demonstrates
knowledge of the Koori some knowledge of the knowledge of the
knowledge of the
court system to discuss Koori court system to
Koori court system to Koori court system to
how the case would
discuss how the case
discuss how the case
discuss how the case
have been different
would have been
would have been
would have been
citing specific examples. different citing specific different citing specific different citing specific

examples.
examples.
examples.



Student clearly links
Student clearly links
Student clearly links
Student clearly links
strategies and effort to strategies and effort to strategies and effort
strategies and effort
achievement providing achievement providing to achievement
to achievement
2 examples total for self 3 examples total for self providing 2 examples providing 3 or more
and for the group.
and for the group.
for self and 2
examples for self and
examples for the
3 or more examples
group.
for the group.