Sunday, December 19, 2010
Blog Assignment # 4: Persuasive Argument
People of the jury, I insist that my client Mr.Edward Hyde has been accused of a heinous crime that was not indeed beyond a shadow of a doubt, entirely his fault. There is no denying Mr.Hyde has had confrontation with Sir Danvers Carew, from the Member of Parliament, but how do we punish Mr.Hyde without the innocense of Dr. Henry Jekyll being prosecuted. Because you see, though Dr.Jekyll and Mr.Hyde are two different people, they still share the blood running through one body. It is very important for the jury to understand the great breakthroughs of Dr.Jekyll and what he has given to science. It would be unethical for you to find my defendant guilty because you would be convicting not only a guilty man, but an innocent one as well.
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This is a great start Madison. I applaud your understanding of the appropriate point of view for this writing/speech as defense attorney speaking directly to the jury (Victorian citizens). Your point of view is very clear throughout. You writing shows that your main reason for not convicting Hyde is that you would be simultaneously convicted the innocent along with the alleged guilty. This is a solid reason: however I think you need to reinforce this reason by adding some solid facts such as evidence of the duality, eyewitnesses that have seen this "change" occur in Hyde (think of Dr. Lanyon's Narrative), or Dr. Jekyll's own testimony possibly. From here however, I think that you need at least one more reason to prove Hyde's innocence. Try to think about other courtroom TV dramas that you have seen. What types of reasons do the defense usually present (lack of credibility of witnesses or prove the respectable character of your client, and many others.) Try to push this just a little further. I like that you end your writing piece with thoughts about ethics. Thinking about what this Victorian jury's ethics, morals, fears, and hopes might be is a good way to sway them to see your side. But what particular ethic or moral could you tap into that would allow them to see your client as innocent? Think about this a bit because I think it could provide a very powerful closing. Best of luck.
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