Vocabulary
Define the legal term Mens rea.
"Guilty mind" or the intention/knowledge of wrongdoing.
What is the difference between a "Verdict" and "Sentencing"?
The verdict is the decision of guilt/innocence; sentencing is the formal declaration of the punishment.
In the video regarding Lionel Tate, what was the primary defense used to explain the death of 6-year-old Tiffany Eunick?
What is the "Pro-Wrestling Defense" (claiming he was imitating moves he saw on TV and didn't intend to kill her).
If a writer uses a quote from a world-renowned neuroscientist, which rhetorical appeal is mainly being strengthened?
What is Ethos?
What is a synonym for "Juvenile" often used in legal or social contexts?
Minor, adolescent, youth.
Paul Thompson’s research found that teenage brains undergo "pruning." What is being pruned?
Unused neurons and connections make the brain more efficient.
Jennifer Bishop Jenkins critiques her opponents for using "propaganda photos" of much younger children, arguing that they are manipulating this specific rhetorical appeal to create unearned sympathy.
What is Pathos?
In the debate “Should 11-Year-Olds be Charged for Adult Crimes?”, what is a common "counter-argument" used by those who say YES?
What is the "Adult Crime, Adult Time" argument (if the crime is heinous enough, the age shouldn't matter; the focus should be on the victim)
If an author writes a story about a juvenile's life in prison just to make the reader feel sad and reflective, what is the primary Author’s Purpose?
What is Entertainment? (focusing on emotional resonance rather than a specific call to action).
According to David Dobbs’ "Beautiful Brains," why do teens take more risks?
It is an evolutionary adaptation to help them leave the "nest" and explore.
Arguments against charging 11-year-olds as adults often highlight the child's small physical stature and 'child-like' features in court. This visual strategy is an appeal to:
What is Pathos?
Paul Thompson’s article “Startling Finds on Teenage Brains” uses what specific evidence (Logos) to show that the brain is still "under construction"?
MRI scans showing the loss of gray matter and the "pruning" process.
According to "Startling Finds on Teenage Brains," what is the "gray matter" doing during adolescence?
It is thinning as the brain matures and becomes more specialized.
In the article "Should 11-Year-Olds be Charged for Adult Crimes?", what is the likely author’s purpose?
Persuasive or Argumentative (taking a stand on a legal issue).
When opponents of adult charges for children argue that 'a brain that cannot yet anticipate consequences cannot be held legally responsible,' they are primarily using:
What is Logos?
What word from your vocabulary list describes a teen’s tendency to act without thinking?
Impulsive.
According to David Dobbs in “Beautiful Brains,” why is the "slow" development of the frontal lobe actually an evolutionary advantage?
It makes teens more open to new experiences and more social, which was necessary for human ancestors to leave their tribes and find mates.
This is the age range in which language systems grow the fastest in juveniles
What is up to 13 years old?
Why do ELA students study the brain in a Juvenile Justice unit?
To understand "intent" and whether a juvenile can be as "culpable" (responsible) as an adult.
A speaker uses strong, emotionally charged language to make the audience feel a deep sense of patriotism and national pride.
What is Pathos?