Honors English 9 Brings Literature to Life in Mock Trial Activity

Mr. Dereck Majors' Honors English 9 students brought literature to life as they participated in a mock trial based on the plot of John Knowles’ A Separate Peace. 

Students played roles as attorneys, jurors and witnesses to determine the fate of Gene Forrester, the novel’s central character, in The People vs. Gene Forrester. Gene, a high school student, was accused of murder in the death of his friend and roommate Finny. Mr. Len Caric presided over the trial as judge, guiding the prosecution and defense teams as they argued their cases. 

“I always strive to create a bridge between my classroom and the real world in order to ensure that my students are college, career and community-ready,” said Mr. Majors. “This project provided an opportunity to enrich students by going beyond what was written in the novel.”

Students took turns in their roles, serving as jurors on one day and then either a member of the defense or prosecution in another class period. Each trial included opening statements from both sides, two direct witnesses from each side with cross-examination, and closing arguments. 

The students presented evidence and explored Gene’s possible motives, including jealousy of Finny’s athletic accomplishments, while also challenging witness credibility, such as questioning Leper’s claim of a photographic memory after he failed to recall crucial details. The defense team suggested alternative theories, including placing responsibility on the surgeon, Dr. Stanpole, and suggesting another student, Brinker, deliberately orchestrated a rift between the boys. 

Jurors evaluated the proceedings by tallying key points from each side and noting convincing arguments before huddling to determine a verdict. Each juror wrote 1-2 sentences to support their decision for the trial’s outcome.

Following weeks of reading, literary analysis and trial preparation, the activity offered students an engaging, hands-on way to deepen their understanding of the novel’s themes and connect literature to real-world problem-solving and critical thinking skills.

“I'm really proud of how my students went from having a limited understanding of the procedures of mock trial to fully embodying the roles of lawyers and classic literary characters,” said Mr. Majors. “We will be using this newfound knowledge of our justice system as we begin our next unit with Harper Lee's classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.”