Transcript A Defense of the Jury System Persuasive Essay by Thomas M. Ross

A Defense of the Jury System
Persuasive Essay by Thomas M. Ross
Villines
English 1A
TITLE
 Look
at the title. Is this essay
going to be PRO jury system or
ANTI jury system?
PARAGRAPH 1 – Why does the author start
with criticism for the jury system if he is trying to
defend it?
 To
acknowledge that the jury system is
not perfect and therefore to disarm critics
who would use the same example to call
for abolishing the jury system (counterargument).
PARAGRAPH 2 – Identify the author’s two
main generalizations.

1. “Juries are criticized for deciding cases based
upon their prejudice or emotions, rather than
rationally applying the law to the evidence presented
in the case.”  9th grade language: Juries are
criticized for being overly emotional and
irrational.

2. “They are also criticized for being incapable of
understanding the complex financial and scientific
issues that sometimes arise in today’s court cases.”
 9th grade language: Juries are criticized for not
understanding complex issues.
PARAGRAPH 3 – What analogy does the
author make in this paragraph?

Critics of the jury system are like critics of the
democratic process of voting.

“democracy is the worst form of government—
except for all the others”  democracy (giving
the citizens the right to vote) is better than any
other form of government (dictatorship,
monarchy, socialist/communist governments)
PARAGRAPH 4 – What type of evidence is
presented in this paragraph?

Statistical evidence based on surveys of jurors
and judges

What rhetorical appeal is being used?
 Logos  facts, statistics, surveys with HIGH
percentages in favor of the jury system.
 Ethos  National Law Journal sounds
important/credible resource, judges are considered
the authority of the courts and “…judges
themselves…have confidence in most jurors…”
PARAGRAPH 5 – What reasons does the author
give to support his opinion that judges would be no
better than juries?
 Judges
are capable of making the same
misjudgments as jurors.
 Judges
are generally white, affluent males,
who often cannot relate to the diverse
experiences of defendants.
PARAGRAPH 6 – What FURTHER reasons does the
author give to support his opinion that juries are better
than a single judge?

Juries are made up of DIVERSE populations 
diverse viewpoints and experiences

The jury system helps ensure fairness so you
don’t have ONE judge (maybe with certain
biases/lack of understanding of motive or
situation of person on trial) controlling the
verdict.
PARAGRAPH 6 – In your own words, state
the author’s main claim, or opinion, in this essay.
 Try
it!
 While
the jury system is not
perfect, it is the best system we
have to bring about justice.
Note the italics at the end of the essay…
 How
might the author’s position in
the legal system influence his
purpose in arguing for the jury
system?
○ As a lawyer and assistant district attorney, he may
be biased toward the existing system and have a
vested interest in keeping it as it is.