Lesson4 The Trial That Rocked the World

 

IV. Text Introduction and Organization

4.1 Text Introduction

 “The Trial That Rocked the World” is a piece of narration, an account of the author’s personal experience. The trial is known as “The Monkey Trial”, “The Scopes Trial”, “The State of Tennessee vs. Scopes” and “John Scopes Evolution Trial”.

The story features first-person narrative, in which the narrator speaks for or about himself or themselves. 

4.2 Theme

The case was neither isolated nor accidental, but was a result  of the clash between modernism and fundamentalism then. 

The trial also escalated the political and legal conflict between strict creationists and scientists.

4.3Text Organization

Part 1 (Paras. 1-9): 

This part is about what happened preceding the trial 

that rocked the world.

Part 2 (Paras. 10-29): 

This part is about the debate between the prosecution 

and defense before the climax of the trail.

Part 3 (Paras. 30-43):

This part is the climax of the trial.

Part 4 (Paras. 44-48):

This part is about the results of the trial and also the 

changes the writer sees in Dayton years later when he 

pays a visit to it.