The high costs of the death penalty are for the complicated legal process, with the largest costs at the pre-trial and trial stages. King Henry VIII of England is infamous for having had six wives. In this blog post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to write a stellar opening and closing argument for Mock Trial. For these reasons, your Closing must be strong and compelling. A closing statement often proves to be the most dramatic or memorable part of the legal process. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal How to Start a Closing Statement. Concluding sentences restate the _____ sentence. For example, if an attorney wishes to draw attention to the plight of a victim and evoke sympathy, a strong, harsh and forceful presentation may not be the most effective. The amount of storytelling involved will vary depending on many factors, including whether the argument is for the prosecution or the defense team. When teaching students how to write concluding sentences, you may need to provide a few examples they will be able to use as a guide for their own writing. 9x+6+4x+5=? This is the place for a recap of anything that tends to prove or disprove elements of the crime. description of what the prosecution or defense intends to prove or show. Join Yahoo Answers and get 100 points today. Example 2: Hence, the colonists' desire to worship freely and escape punitive taxes was much more appealing than continuing to live under the authoritarian system of intolerance that was commonplace in England. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. flashcard set{{course.flashcardSetCoun > 1 ? I have a debate in school and the topic is the death penalty. Relevance. 3. Carl types 180 words in 2 minutes. The closing argument is not only the place to reaffirm one’s argument but to help discredit and tear down the argument of the opposing side. Although these two parts of a case—the opening argument and the closing argument—may seem similar and certainly require the same foundational skills, they are different enough in purpose to require specific and targeted preparation. For the defense, a focus should be placed on the weakest legal elements that the prosecution must prove. Memorizing one’s argument accomplishes three major things: it shows confidence, helps the attorney focus on delivery rather than content, and allows for freedom of movement throughout the courtroom that can make the presentation of an opening or closing statement more dynamic. A short explanation of the evidence that will be presented. DNA is rarely available in homicides, often irrelevant (as in the Willingham case) and can’t guarantee we won’t execute innocent people. It illustrates most of the points raised in later sections. Such an intensive retelling is not necessary for the defense, as they must simply cast a reasonable doubt on the allegations made. How a lot sales will be generated to help decrease the nationwide deficit? As mentioned earlier, a core set of skills is required for nearly all parts of Mock Trial competition, including opening and closing statements. For example, if an attorney intended on having a particular piece of testimony included in the case, but this testimony was excluded because of an objection, it is stricken from the record and cannot be used as evidence. The most important tip for writing a good opening or closing is to first. This allows for a much more direct attack on the weak legal points of the opposing side’s case than anywhere else in the trial. 2 Answers. And, for statements of victims’ families: Article about CameronTodd Willingham: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/0909... How about remaining with some questions? The most recent FBI data confirms this. The original paragraph focused only on the reasons for which the English colonists wanted to settle in the New World. Although both teams have a pretty good idea of what the other will attempt to prove and what evidence or witnesses they will use because of the structure of Mock Trial, this knowledge should not be used in opening statements. My job is the closing statement but i have no idea what to do. It also requires a review and summarization of the evidence presented during the case and a legal argument regarding the evidence and what it proves or disproves. Not sure what college you want to attend yet? However, another important part of an event is the closing ceremony. Just seeing an attorney enter the well without any aids and begin an argument is powerful. One of the most common mistakes is to incorrectly quote the opposing counsel’s argument. Practice what you have learned using the exercises below. Making sure these elements are solid both factually and legally, will create a foundation upon which witnesses and examining attorneys will be able to build on. The more an attorney moves about a courtroom, the greater control they have over it. Ending the case is the closing argument, which is the judges’ final impression before an attorney rests their case. lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. This provides a roadmap for the judge and scoring attorneys and helps them know what to expect from each witness. Whether your objective is to close the event with a happy or sad tone, it is up to you. . All good concluding sentences, no matter the type of writing, should share some things in common. For the prosecution, this can include actual physical evidence, such as a diagram or letter. Answer Save. | 2 Responsible for extending the government case and summating the debate in favour of the government. This allows an attorney to speak much more concretely about what evidence favors their case. One of the most often encountered occurs when. Memorizing one’s argument accomplishes three major things: it shows confidence, helps the attorney focus on delivery rather than content, and allows for freedom of movement throughout the courtroom that can make the presentation of an opening or closing statement more dynamic. Mock trial cases will never favor one side over the other, so there will always be the opportunity to poke holes in the argument of the other side. http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/COcosttestimony.pd... http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/0909... Simplify the expression first and then substitute 2 for x. Homicide rates for states that use the death penalty are consistently higher than for those that don’t. It is often longer and more detail-oriented in its argumentation than the opening statement. It may reaffirm why the argument is correct and the consequences that may occur if the argument is not heeded. Linsey is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in English Literature at Claremont Graduate University and has taught students of all ages in English and the humanities for 10 years. This allows for a streamlined introduction to the facts, as well as the structure of the case, and minimizes confusion created by varying orders. Although some attorneys and coaches may argue that bringing up notes and referencing them occasionally is acceptable, top teams don’t employ this practice. The second common mistake to avoid is drawing legal conclusions. Phrases such as “the evidence will show” are always good ways to make a point while observing this boundary. For people who lack a conscience, fear of being caught is the best deterrent. Closing a debate is an opportunity to restate compelling arguments, discredit opposing views and end with final thoughts or a relevant quote to leave a lasting impression. When a judge hears which elements that will be proved, and understands how the other side must respond to win the case, they will be able to follow the testimony of witnesses much more closely and understand the significance of facts presented. 4. ought to its reward from legalization (use as a criminal drugs, lowering the type of folk in penal complicated, lowering the expenditures of more advantageous human beings in penal complicated, ...) be more advantageous than its expenditures? At this rate, how many words can Carl type in 5 minutes? Important parts of a case such as the burden of proof, the elements of the crime, and the requirements to find guilt or innocence can only be brought up during opening or closing arguments. Opening and closing arguments are critical to any high school Mock Trial case and serve several important functions. Additionally, both the prosecution and defense should be sure to emphasize particularly important facts to their side during the opening. 3. It often helps to present a side’s witnesses in the order that they will appear. Contrary to popular belief, the death penalty isn't reserved for the worst crimes, but for defendants with the worst lawyers. . Keeping killers off the streets for good: Life without parole, on the books in 49 states (all except Alaska), also prevents reoffending.