HELP!! Terrible at English!

[J_Rho]

The task;

Choose a side of the argument.
 Either:
12 Angry Men is still relevant today
OR
12 Angry Men is no longer relevant
Following your discussion, write a few sentences which outlines your reasoning and point of view. About 50 - 100 words.

My Writing;

‘Twelve Angry Men’ is still relevant in today’s society.
Reginald Rose’s play shows the mindsets and flaws in today’s society.
Themes of gender and racial inequality.
 
From the opening scene alone, we see a jury, a completely male jury.
The play, written in the 1950’s obviously has many differences, but the underlying themes still present as issues in our society today.
In the 21st century, women serve on the jury and have been for about 40 years. However, gender inequality is more prominent than ever.
Another theme seen in Reginald Rose’s play, especially demonstrated through Juror 10 and his largely racist views, is racial inequality – while the play is based in 1950’s America, and admittedly a lot has changed in people’s views the views on people of colour. Although racism is an issue in 2019 Australia, things have changed since 1950, but the Indigenous community and immigrants experience racism especially in a small community like * with narrow minded views.

Both gender and racial inequality is a problem in our society now as well as when the play ‘Twelve Angry Men’ was written, 50 years ago.

* - Town name removed

[OZLexico]

Hi there, your set topic seems to be a sort of trial run at giving a supported opinion that responds to a prompt.  This will be good preparation for writing text essays. As this is not a formal essay and it is meant to be short, you have a bit of a plan but you should filter down the main ideas that support your view - that Rose's play is relevant today. You actually have two very strong points to support your view. You say that the play deals with (1) "inequality"  and (2) that it examines "mindsets and flaws." These need a bit more explanation. I'm not sure if you're studying the play or one of the films of this play but you should be careful about referring to "racism". This is definitely, strongly implied in the films but the inequality the play refers to is about poverty and social disadvantage - in the play we never see "the boy" the jurors must judge. So, how is Rose's exploration of inequality "relevant today"? The jurors reveal different prejudices that give the audience some material for their own personal reflections on their own views of inequality. These forms of prejudice help Rose connect the audience with his characters. Even a modern audience is likely to have experienced or witnessed prejudice. Your second point about "mindsets and flaws" refers to the flaws of these individuals that affect their judgement of the boy's case and these range from a desire for punishment to indifference to the boy's fate. So how is this relevant to a modern audience? These mindsets and flaws are successfully challenged by one juror (No 8 I think), suggesting Rose's optimism that such mindsets and flaws can be overcome and individuals can become open to change.

Once you've got your main ideas clear, your writing has to be organised in orderly paragraphs. If your first point is about inequality, what forms of inequality are mentioned? Use some brief quotes about the slum where the crime took place and emphasise the choice of words the jurors use that reveals their prejudice. This could be contrasted with Juror 8's(?) comment "a boy may die." Rose exposes the prejudices through this contrast with the compassion of Juror 8. Your second point should also mention the range that these "mindsets and flaws" take. Use some brief quotes. At what point do these mindsets seem unchangeable? Where is the turning point for the jurors or is the most important change seen in the final Juror to change his mind?

Then you have to outline your reasoning and point of view. You've said that your two main points are relevant to modern audiences because the jury system is familiar in the 21st century and that these themes remain challenging for modern societies, whether it relates to stereotyping of victims of social disadvantage in Australia or debate over the use of the death penalty which is still used in many countries today.