47 pages • 1 hour read
Jonathan HarrA Civil Action
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1995A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Essay Topics
How did reading A Civil Action change your understanding and/or opinion of the American Legal system?
After seeing the intricacies of jury selection, and the demands placed on the jurors, discuss how you feel about the possibility of being tried by a jury of your peers. Would you feel confident in their abilities? Why or why not?
How did your view of Jan Schlichtmann evolve during your reading of the book?
If you had been one of the Woburn parents, what would justice have meant to you?
A judgment that has been rendered in court must remain, even when there is new, or conflicting, evidence. Is this sensible to you? Why or why not?
Schlichtmann comes to believe that Judge Skinner is biased against him. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Do you believe that Schlichtmann was patronizing with the Woburn families, as Anne Anderson came to believe? Discuss.
The financial problems of Schlichtmann’s firm are prominent throughout. What does the link between financial resources and the best execution of a case suggest about the pursuit of justice?
Why does Anne choose to stay in Woburn instead of going to Toronto with her husband? Do you agree with her decision?
Would you have reached the same verdict as the jurors? Why or why not? What confused you in the case?
