Summation and Argument

Summation gets a chapter that treats it as the single most-rehearsed performance in any trial. It explains what may and may not be argued, the structure of facts versus inferences, exhibits and visual aids, law and theory, anecdotal references, and the technique of urging a result. Long sections cover early and continuing preparation, anticipation of opposing positions, length, sequencing, rebuttal, and rehearsal — alongside content choices for jury versus professional decision makers and an extensive objections taxonomy (golden rule, appeals to passion, prosecutorial misconduct, improper inferences, and more). The chapter’s depth on improper-argument categories makes it particularly valuable for ethics-conscious advocacy courses and appellate-skills courses studying preserved error.