CER Review
Fairy Tales on Trial
Last semester we started talking about Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning. To review these
concepts, you will be working in teams to create arguments that provide the strongest evidence
for a fairy-tale character’s guilt or innocence.
Scenario:
You have been hired as part of a legal team compiling evidence in the prosecution or defense of
a fairy tale character involved in a crime. You will start with their actual story, pulling evidence of
their crime or innocence and, from that, finding leads for research you can complete to find
more evidence to strengthen your case in the form of witnesses, expert testimony, legal
precedent, physical evidence, etc. However, remember that any evidence you present must be
reliable and must clearly relate to the case in terms of clearly demonstrating the defendant’s
guilt or innocence.
You will be competing against another team to find the most convincing evidence to present in
the case. The team found to have the most convincing evidence will receive extra credit in both
Knowledge and Thinking and Oral Communication; however, the extra credit will not be
added into your grade until the first progress report.
There are four types of evidence that you can use:
1. Demonstrative evidence - maps, photographs, charts, grids
2. Documentary evidence - documents such as lab results, ballistic results, etc.
3. Testimonial Evidence - people testifying under oath
4. Real or actual evidence - physical evidence from the crime
You will be working on one of the following cases:
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Defendant: Goldilocks
Accused of:
- Trespassing
- Damaging private property
- Theft
Jack and the Beanstalk
Defendant: Jack
Accused of:
- Trespassing
- Grand Larceny
- Second degree Murder
You will have 5-10 minutes to present your evidence to the class. Your presentation must utilize
the CER process to present the evidence. You will start with your claim regarding the
character’s guilt or innocence. Following this, you will present each example of evidence, along
with the reasoning for how that evidence demonstrates the character’s guilt. The class will vote
on which group they feel has the strongest evidence for presenting a case against the
defendant.
Your group will need to come up with a team name for your presentation.
Make a group copy of this doc and save in your English 9 folder. Keep track of the evidence
you intend to present on this doc. You must have a minimum of 4 pieces of evidence. The
more quality evidence you have, the stronger your case. (copy and paste additional tables as
needed)
You will be submitting this doc to Echo.
Each member will be presenting their own evidence and reasoning. Beyond stating the
evidence, you should also be able to show the evidence (e.g. presenting photos, maps, video
testimony, etc.).
Team Name: Goldilocks defence tea.
Add your names to the table below and state a goal that you plan on working towards in this
short team project to be an active participant - how will you push yourself to participate?
Team Member: Actively Participate Agency Goal:
Camden Hartnell To actively participate I will remove
distractions from my surroundings and find
relevance in the topic to further understand
the topic at hand.
Emma Archambeault I will push myself to actively participate by
asking questions when I have them and give
my opinion or advice when discussing the
topic.
Claim: Goldilocks is not guilty of trespassing, breaking and entering, and theft.
Evidence 1 - (camdenc hartnell)
Type of Evidence: Testimonial
Description: The big bad wolf claims to have seen the three bears eat
Include a physical mysterious mushrooms in the forrest outside of the house, he
description, link, photo, etc. also claims that they were tripping over themselves the entire
way home
Reasoning: They could have been hallucinating the whole event
How is this evidence of
Innocence?
Evidence 2 - Emma Archambeault
Type of Evidence: Testimonial evidence
Description: When the wolf went to check on the bears after they ate the
Include a physical mysterious and suspicious mushrooms, he claims that the mom
description, link, photo, etc. and dad bear tried their food and the little bear ate all of his and
then his chair broke due to his weight. Then they all went
upstairs to sleep.
Reasoning: The bears were the ones who ate the porridge, broke the chair,
How is this evidence of and sleep in the beds.
Innocence?
Evidence 3-camden
Type of Evidence: Demonstrative
Description: A local street camera shows goldilocks riding home on her
Include a physical horse while the break in was supposed to take place.
description, link, photo, etc.
Reasoning: It shows that she was nowhere near the house at the time of
How is this evidence of the break in.
Innocence?
Evidence 4 - camden hartnell
Type of Evidence: Testimonial evidence
Description: Ms tub along with other residents of maple drive claim to have
Include a physical seen goldilocks´s horse tied off in her yard, it is important to
description, link, photo, etc. note that the bears house is nowhere near the goldilocks
residence and it would be a near impossible walk from her
house to theirs.
Reasoning: She was home the entire time.
How is this evidence of
Innocence?
Evidence 5- (camden hartnell()
Type of Evidence: Demonstrative evidence
Description: We contacted the local electrical company and gathered
Include a physical records that suggest that she was home with her lights on the
description, link, photo, etc. entire day.
Reasoning: She was home with her lights on.
How is this evidence of
Innocence?
(Copy and paste additional tables like those above if needed - remember - the more relevant,
credible evidence, the stronger your argument. Four pieces of evidence are required, but I
strongly recommend that you find more.)
