Page 55 - FDCC Deposition Drills

Deposition Drills How to Teach Deposition Skills
Expressing Your Theme
Your case theme holds your case together. Learning how to weave your theme into your questioning to have witnesses bolster your theme is an important skill to develop. This exercise addresses how to express your theme through cross examination.
EXPLANATION
Participants learn to weave their theme into their questions.
EXERCISE
Identify a witness you cross-examined in deposition and describe the case and the role
of the witness in the case to the participants. Explain the importance of theme in a case and in a deposition and how to weave one’s theme through deposition questions. Have the participants question you (as you role play the witness) in such a manner as to use a case theme in and through the questions.
LESSONS LEARNED
This exercise teaches how to use your questions as a vehicle to highlight your theme and get the witness to agree with it and support it.
A FEW QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS
Why is it important to weave your case theme through your questions? How do you weave your case theme through your questions?
What do you achieve by weaving your case theme through your questions?
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SECTION 04 CROSS EXAMINATION