Goal:
Student will understand and appreciate the complexity of the insanity plea. Students will understand mens rea. Students will develop the skill of observation and application of the M’Nagten test that is used prevalently in criminal law. This lesson plan will take a block day and one regular day. (90 minutes and 48 minutes)
Objective:
Students will read the case aloud taking different parts. Students will answer the questions provided by the M’Nagten test as applied to Joy Baker.
Activity:
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A courtroom stage will be set.
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Students will decide who will take which role in the case by consensus decision making.
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Students will read the role they accepted.
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Students will be given the M’Nagten questions as a hand out and each will the questions providing an example and reason for their answer.
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As a class we will discuss the importance the M’Nagten test. Why is it important to ask these questions?
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How do we think M’Nagten came up with these questions?
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Are there questions we should add to the test? If so what questions?
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Can we empathize with someone who is deluded?
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Do they believe people decide to be insane?
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Are all impulses controllable? Have you ever felt impulse that are destructive?
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What do you do to control impulses?
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Have you ever seen anyone out of control? Have you ever seen anyone delusion?
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What is psychotic?
Assessment:
Quality of participation.
Quality of reasoning.
Creative application of the M’Nagten test.
Comprehension of the process