Persuasive strategies and closing arguments in a trial setting: a pilot study

Abstract

Done through a rhetorical examination of the transcripts of closing arguments from high-profile, criminal jury trials, this was an exploratory study aimed at determining the correlation between persuasive strategy, opposing council, and verdict outcome. For the purposes of this study, persuasive strategy refers a pattern of speech organization used to maximize communication effectiveness. The findings suggest that persuasive strategy is not a valid determinant of verdict outcome, and that there is no persuasive strategy more successful or persuasive than others. The findings also indicate that trial lawyers tend to use a combination of strategies rather than one single template.