Persuasive Essay Assignment
“Lamb to the Slaughter”
Your Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Your Goal
Defense
Attorney or
Prosecuting
Attorney
Judge
DeVito and
Cluster 6L
Closing Argument
The main character
(Mary Maloney) is
not guilty by reason
of insanity or guilty.
Convince or
persuade your
audience of
Mary’s innocence
or guilt
You will identify important quotes from “Lamb to the Slaughter,” then use those quotes
to write a persuasive essay in the form of a closing argument from a defense attorney.
You are to imagine that the murderer, Mary Maloney, has been apprehended and put on
trial for what she has done. You have the role of being her defense attorney or the
prosecutor and it is your job to either prove her innocence or her guilt. You must
look for evidence in the story that can be used to support your closing argument and your
case for temporary insanity or guilt. You will need to gather at least three pieces of
evidence from the story that support that your client, Mary Maloney, was of a diminished
mental capacity at the time of the crime and is no longer in that state, in order to avoid
prison time or that she is guilty as charged.
Your persuasive argument should be THREE paragraphs (Introduction, Body,
Conclusion) and should be approximately ONE page long (single-spaced, Times New
Roman, 14 pt. font).
Introduction
Use a lead that grabs the
jury’s attention. Give
background information
about the situation. Tell the
jury/judge what you plan to
prove.
Body
Conclusion
Use quotes and specific
evidence from the story to
provide reasons why your
client is not guilty by reason
of insanity or guilty as
charged.
End big. Your closing is the last
time to make an impression on the
jury. You should end with a strong
message about why they should rule
in your favor. Don’t be afraid to
make an emotional appeal. Once
again, tell the jury directly what you
need from them and why.