Question:
To practice rhetoric, let’s look at two pieces of writing that feature a profession famous for its rhetorical giftsâ€â€lawyers. Lawyers have a very short amount of time to get jurors to agree with them.
The first passage you’ll look at is a piece of fiction, linked below. It was written by Harper Lee in her book To Kill a Mockingbird. In this scene, Atticus Finch is defending a black man who is accused of attacking a white woman. This is his closing argument. Pay close attention to the very thoughtful word choices that Atticus uses to get the jurors to be on his side.
The second passage you’ll look at is from a real trial in 1926, also attached below. Henry Sweet was a black man who moved into a mostly white neighborhood at a time when there was a lot of racial tension. The white neighbors were not happy about this, so one night a mob broke into Sweet’s house. As Henry Sweet (and others) tried to defend the house, a white man ended up getting shot and killed. Henry and others were charged with murder. Clarence Darrow, a well-known white lawyer, took the case. This is his closing argument. Again, pay close attention to the very thoughtful word choices that Clarence uses to get the jurors to be on his side.
Read both of the following links, “Atticus Finch Closing Argument” (scroll down to see the text) and “Clarence Darrow Closing Argument” (read the section titled: “Conclusion: A Little Glance at the History of the Negro Race”), then answer the questions in the activity below. Include a MLA citation for each of the sources. This will give the authors proper credit andâ€â€in your own writingâ€â€will keep you safe from plagiarizing (which means using someone else’s ideas as your own).
WEBSITES:
http://www.americanrhetoric.com/MovieSpeeches/moviespeechtokillamockingbird.html
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/Ftrials/sweet/darrowsummation.html#They Were Arrested
1-What words does Atticus Finch use to convey his message? Why does he choose these words, instead of other words with similar meanings? Explain your answer.
2-Pick one word that Atticus Finch uses in his argument and explain how that word is carefully chosen to convey a certain message. What are the connotations of that word? Think of another word with the same definition–do they have different connotations? Explain your answer.
3-What is the most powerful, convincing line in Atticus’ speech and why?
4-What words does Clarence Darrow use to convey his message? Why does he choose these words, instead of other words with similar meanings? Explain your answer.
5-Pick one word that Darrow uses in his argument and explain how that word is carefully chosen to convey a certain message. What are the connotations of that word? Think of another word with the same definition–do they have different connotations? Explain your answer.
6-What is the most powerful and convincing line in Darrow’s speech and why?
7-Based on Atticus’s closing argument and what you may know of the book or the time period, what do you think the verdict will be? Explain your reasoning.
8-Based on Darrow’s closing argument and what you may know of the time period, what do you think the verdict will be? Explain your reasoning.
CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS. IT’S DUE TOMORROW. IF YOU DO HELP PLEASE POST THE ANSWER IN THE COMMENTS. THANKS AGIAN. I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT. 🙂
Delivering a high-quality product at a reasonable price is not enough anymore.
That’s why we have developed 5 beneficial guarantees that will make your experience with our service enjoyable, easy, and safe.
You have to be 100% sure of the quality of your product to give a money-back guarantee. This describes us perfectly. Make sure that this guarantee is totally transparent.
Read moreEach paper is composed from scratch, according to your instructions. It is then checked by our plagiarism-detection software. There is no gap where plagiarism could squeeze in.
Read moreThanks to our free revisions, there is no way for you to be unsatisfied. We will work on your paper until you are completely happy with the result.
Read moreYour email is safe, as we store it according to international data protection rules. Your bank details are secure, as we use only reliable payment systems.
Read moreBy sending us your money, you buy the service we provide. Check out our terms and conditions if you prefer business talks to be laid out in official language.
Read more