“The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & The Trial of the Century” by Sarah Miller is about the famous case of Lizzie Borden, who was accused of killing her father and stepmother. This trial was also known as the “trial of the century” as it was very intense and took thirteen days long. The book explores the events leading up to the murders, the trial, and what happened afterwards. It provides insights into the evidence, the society at that time, and why this case continues to fascinate people. Furthermore, “The Borden Murders” wraps around the social and cultural context of the time, exploring the societal norms, gender roles, and attitudes towards crime and justice in the late 19th century. It shows us insights into the impact of the case on public opinion and the lasting legacy it created in history.

Three main ideas in the book are the unjust accusations against Lizzie Borden, the portrayal of sexism towards women, and the presence of implicit bias. The book explores the consequences of unfounded accusations, highlighting how implicit biases can influence perceptions and judgments, particularly in relation to women. It examines how societal expectations and gender biases contribute to unfair treatment and the perpetuation of stereotypes. By addressing implicit bias, the book emphasizes the importance of recognizing and challenging these hidden biases in order to promote fair treatment of women in the justice system and society.

In my notebook page about informational texts I focused on the themes related to women’s treatment based on behavior and appearance, implicit biases, societal expectations, and the impact of judgment and rumors on reputations. I explored how these ideas were interconnected and shed light on the issues of gender roles and societal norms in their society. I also discussed the consequences of judging and spreading rumors, highlighting how reputations can be ruined. I incorporated key vocabulary terms such as “acquittal,” “axe,” and “hearing” to enhance the analysis. Overall, my notebook page offered a comprehensive exploration of these themes, deepening my understanding of the novel and its societal implications.

In my analysis on the notebook page below, I explored what the effect of Andrew Borden’s death caused Lizzie and summarized that even after being accused and standing trial for Andrew Borden’s murder, Lizzie faced a long period of social stigma. Despite her acquittal, she encountered skepticism and distrust from her community. Lizzie received isolation and a wrecked reputation following her father’s death. Additionally, I summarized all my effects and discovered new ideas form that could possibly be put into my main idea. By connecting my two main ideas, I uncovered an impact relationship between them and found another possible main idea: “Judging and assuming things about others can have a massive impact on them”.

As I went through the book, I noticed several conflicts presented in the book, including the main points that these conflicts highlight and two other hidden ideas which were racism and classism. The Portuguese were suspected first even though the detectives have not investigated on anything yet, showing that their first thought about crime and murder was the Portuguese.

On my notebook page, I discussed the main ideas in Sarah Miller’s documentary novel “The Borden Murders: Lizzie Borden & The Trial of the Century.” I examined how women face different treatment based on their behavior and appearance, leading to implicit biases. I also explored the idea that accusations without evidence are unfair. Additionally, I highlighted the negative outcomes of racism towards others and the wrongness of judging people solely based on their wealth. Overall, the page offered a thoughtful analysis of these themes, promoting critical thinking about important societal issues.