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Choose five of the following themes and answer the questions below. This assignment is worth 50 points. Each question should be answered in at least one paragraph. You may write separate paragraphs for questions A and B. This needs to be typed, double spaced, regular font, and size 12 typeface.

A. How do these lessons apply to 12 Angry Men?
B. How can we apply these themes to real-life situations?

1. Prejudice gets in the way of the truth.
2. Getting to the bottom of a complex issue takes time and effort.
3. Check your intuitions -- neither dismiss them, nor trust them blindly.
4. Details can be important, in context; think in terms of contingencies.
5. There are many interpretations of "the facts."
6. Test others' opinions, question their assumptions, and draw your own conclusions.
7. Civility will encourage your opponents to keep listening to you.
8. Tailor your tactics to your target.
9. Coalitions can work for or against you -- and they can shift.
10. Reason and assertiveness can both be powerful tactics, depending on the situation.
11. Patient silence and loud persistence can both be powerful, at the right times.
12. One determined and skilled individual can wield a lot of influence.

12 Lessons from 12 Angry Men Rubric

To earn an "A," your paper must

• be well-thought out and organized,
• thoroughly answer both questions,
• be free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

To earn a "B," your paper must

• be logical and organized,
• answer both questions well,
• be free of major grammatical and mechanical errors.

To earn a "C," your paper must

• be fairly organized and coherent,
• adequately answer both questions,
• contain a few grammatical and mechanical errors.

To earn a "D," your paper must

• be unorganized and somewhat coherent,
• fail to adequately answer both questions,
• contain many grammatical and mechanical errors.

To earn a "F," your paper must

• be poorly organized, sloppy, and show little to no effort,
• fail to adequately answer both questions,
• contain an unacceptable number of grammatical and mechanical errors.

Content Outcomes: 6
Process Outcomes: 19

Copyright 2008, Jon Mueller. Professor of Psychology, North Central College, Naperville, IL. Comments, questions or suggestions about this website should be sent to the author, Jon Mueller, at jfmueller@noctrl.edu.