ABSTRACT
Contemporary rhetorical theory and cognitive science agree that interpretive frameworks are always at work to filter, focus, and frame what people see and think. Stories are the frames that help us make sense out of a series of chronological events otherwise lacking in coherence and consistency. To construct the most persuasive case for their clients, lawyers must be able to uncover the embedded stories and images that affect how audience members interpret and react to their arguments. Among those underlying stories and images, some narratives and some metaphors are especially helpful for persuasive purposes because they are so deeply embedded within the history and culture. Embedded schemas and stereotypes may exert powerful, and very harmful, influences on decision makers. Inevitably, every advocate's version of the facts tells only part of the story. When there are two advocates, people try to reassure themselves that together, they will present a sufficiently full and fair accounting for what happened.
