Research Paper on:
Counter Closing Argument Construction

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
arguments from high profile cases, such as The Manson Trial and Gerry Spences closing in the Silkwood Trial. It becomes evident after reading this book that the closing argument carries  great weight in the courtroom and with the jury. Therefore, great care must be undertaken when deciding and composing the closing argument and speech. In the book, Ladies and  Gentlemen, Gerry Spences closing argument is offered to the jury. Spence was so eloquent that he was able to win a ten million dollar jury award for punitive damages for  Karen Silkwoods family. Why was he so successful with this particular closing speech? If one looks at each example closing argument in the book, they all have similar characteristics. One  of those characteristics is form and structure. The information presented is straightforward, easy for the jury to digest and devoid of large unfamiliar words or phrases. In fact, many of  the lawyers seem to attempt to use the vernacular of the area in which he is trying the case. Spence was a natural for this particular case. This was a  rural area and his homespun, Jimmy Stewart-esque, demeanor filled the courtroom. All this aside, he used everyday language and the jury understood the facts and what he was saying. If  one were to counter Spences arguments, one would first have to make the company, Kerr-McGee look as if it were not the big bad industrial company who looked upon its  employees and the people of the town as expendable commodities, but rather was interested in the welfare of the community. A sample dialogue may go something like this: "Ladies and  Gentlemen of the Jury, the tragic events of Ms. Silkwoods death weigh heavy on everyones hearts. Karen Silkwood was wife, mother, daughter, respected citizen of this community and her death