This document provides instructions and discussion prompts for a 9th grade English class debate activity on determining who was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Students will analyze passages from the play to form arguments about characters like Friar Lawrence, Balthasar, and the Apothecary. They will prepare notes, separate into groups based on the character they chose, and participate in a class debate. The goal is for students to cite evidence from the text to convincingly defend their position on who or what caused Romeo and Juliet's demise.

1. Preparing for Debate
Who was responsible for deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
9th grade English
Mr. Orellana

2. Who was responsible for the deaths
of Romeo and Juliet?
 CCSS.RL.9-10.1. Cite strong and thorough textual
evidence to support analysis of what the text says
explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
 CCSS.RL.9-10.4. Determine the meaning of words
and phrases as they are used in the text, including
figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the
cumulative impact of specific word choices on
meaning and tone (e.g., how the language evokes a
sense of time and place; how it sets a formal or
informal tone).

3. Educational Hook
 Let’s all imagine that you are the detective and that
the mayor, governor, and the entire community are
looking to you to deliver justice to the city by solving
the biggest tragedy in the community- the deaths of
Romeo and Juliet. The responsibility lays on your
hands. How do you respond? How would you
approach this bold task?

4. Daily Journal
 Write down in your journals how you would respond to
the hypothetical question. Answer in at least 5
sentences.

5. Discussion
 In groups of 3-4 per group, discuss your approach to
this bold task.

6. Identify
 Which character(s) in Romeo and Juliet were
increasingly involved in Romeo and Juliet’s
relationship, particularly in their demise?

7. Analyze
 In retrospect, did some of the character’s tone indicate
their true intentions? If so, in what way did tone and
language contribute to finding out who was
responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

8. Formulate
 Formulate a potential argument that you will be ready
to defend with supporting evidence for a future
debate.

9. Choose
 Choose 2-3 passages from the Romeo and Juliet text
to support your argument or claim.

10. Pair Share
 Discuss the previous question with your elbow partner.
As a pair, you have 5 minutes to discuss each
question, then 5 minutes for the second question.
 After listening to each other’s responses, have a
conversation about how your conclusion of whose
responsible for the death has changed or not.

11. Graphic Organizer
Who was responsible for the
deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
Friar Lawrence is
responsible because he
purposely and secretly
marries them knowing
something bad will
happen to them.
Balthasar is responsible
because he informed
Romeo about Juliet’s
passing.
Apothecary is responsible
because he prescribed the
actual poison that led to
Romeo’s eventual death.

12. Video Reference
 Although this clip is of Hamlet, keep in mind how the
actor delivers the performance with such confidence
and conviction. Keep this in mind for future debate
reference.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV4fF3rqWqQ

13. Compare & Contrast

14. Preparation
 Prepare notes for ensuing debate. Think about the
core of your argument or claim and how you will
arrange your arguments. Do you have strong
supportive evidence that will make your argument
convincing?
 Separate into groups according to the characters you
chose that you think are responsible
 Begin the debate.

15. Debate Activity
 Debate time!!
 As a class, you will debate each other with the
arguments you have developed regarding ‘who was
responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?’ You
will elaborate and include reasons why you believe
your reasons to be true, and you must connect your
reasoning to some bigger truth or theme.
 Examples include that their deaths were caused by
the youth’s inexperience, due to the adults in the play,
or society and the world and conditions they live in,
etc.