Context

You have been learning about how texts can be designed to persuade an audience, whether these texts are presented in the form of advertising, current affairs, political speeches or literary texts. Speeches can be made for political or ideological reasons and have enormous power to move and motivate an audience.

Task

Your task is to demonstrate your understanding of how texts can be used to convince an audience of a point of view. In the role of legal counsel for the defence, you will present a brief closing argument to your audience, the jury. Your client is an infamous historical figure who has been put on trial for crimes against humanity. You must try to convince the jury that your client is not guilty of any crime, or (if their guilt is too obvious to deny) you may be able to lighten their sentence or show mitigating circumstances. You will use persuasive techniques to draw attention to, and from, selected facts.

To complete this task, you must:

 Develop a clear thesis for your closing statement.

 Formulate three arguments to persuade the jury, making use of the ways cultural assumptions, attitudes, values and beliefs underpin perspectives and representations of your client.

 Select and synthesise subject matter to support your argument.

 Use rhetorical and persuasive to position your chosen audience to accept your thesis.