This week’s class will consist primarily of you watching a movie. But not just any movie: a movie with a purpose. We are watching 12 Angry Men, a 1957 film about a 12-man jury “that is sent to begin deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of an 18-year-old Latino accused in the stabbing death of his father, where a guilty verdict means an automatic death sentence. What you need to do, on your blog, due by Friday, is to write a response detailing how this film relates to our class’s themes of rhetoric and argument. As you may know from watching popular shows like Law and Order, our judicial system is a magnificent example of effective argument techniques, yet rarely do we get to see inside the minds of a deliberating jury in the media. Even the most scandalous cases in American history have preserved the privacy of their respective jurors. So what does the deliberation show us? How does Juror #8/Mr. Davis, use logic and reasoning? How is his argument effective? Is it ineffective in any way? How does he coerce his fellow jurors, and what types of rhetoric does he use (ethos, pathos, and logos may apply here)?
Pay attention to how the story unfolds and how the jury’s verdict changes and consider these aspects of the film in your blog, with at least a paragraph addressing the questions I’ve posed to you.
A full FAQ/Assignment/Help Sheet is posted under "Course Documents" on Blackboard.
