Reading comp PrepTest 122 · Section 3 · Question 3

Topic: Legal Studies

Paragraph 1

• Paragraph note
  • Trend and benefits of it
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Trend - Computer-generated visual aids in trials
  • Benefits:
    • Show different vantages
    • Highlight specifics
    • More impact on jury (better retention/stats)
    • Help with technical info
    • Seamless

Paragraph 2

• Paragraph note
  • Critics - List of downsides
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Downsides - Abuse and misuse
    • Manipulate impression of event
    • Undermine critical faculties
    • Bias to one side if only one can afford them
    • Can incorporate evidence otherwise inadmissible

Paragraph 3

• Paragraph note
  • Author - Steps to avoid misuse
• Views, minor Meta-Structures, and the author's attitude
  • Steps to avoid misuse:
    • Counsel alert to misuse, data analyzed, judges vigilant
    • Judges forewarn juries
    • If one side uses, ensure other side can, too (financial aid)

Main Point: There are both pros and cons to the use of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms, so practical steps must be taken to allow their use while avoiding their downsides.

Lines 1-3 - A new trend

Line 15 - Pros are introduced

Lines 26-28 - Cons are introduced

Lines 46-47 - The Author weighs in and introduces a list of safeguards

Resolving Debate by looking at Pros/Cons - The Author here presents the advantages of computer-generated visual displays in courtrooms (starting in Line 15, though a few are noted before then), and the disadvantages of that technology as brought up by some critics (Paragraph 2). When an Author presents the pros and cons of something, representing two sides of a debate, her opinion on the balance of those tends to be the main point - in other words, is the underlying idea a good one? Here, the Author splits the difference. She accepts both the advantages and disadvantages - the advantages explicitly by being the one to present them in Paragraph 1, and the disadvantages implicitly by recommending in Paragraph 3 safeguards to address them. Since the Author is recommending that the technology have safeguards put in place, that’s the main point, as summarized above.

Recommendation - The Author presents a series of practical steps that should be taken in order to prevent the abuse and misuse of computer-generated visuals in the courtroom. This serves as a recommendation that highlights her views on the pros and cons of the technology, which reinforces that as the main point, as summarized above.

Lists - Each of the paragraphs includes a list. Paragraph 1 has a list of advantages of computer-generated visual displays. Paragraph 2 has a list of disadvantages. Paragraph 3 has a recommended list of practical steps so that computer-generated visual displays can be used in courtrooms without being misused. The elements on these lists are going to be important in the questions, so we should be sure to have noted in some way the elements on each list. This can be with full notes in the margins, or with numbers inside the text to highlight where each starts. Develop your own method for doing so, but be sure to develop some method!

These questions are likely going to be an exercise in time management because of how many elements were included across three lists, so let’s head to them ASAP!