Third , effective opening statements take advantage of persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions and inoculation strategies, carefully weaving them into the fabric of the presentation. Rhetorical questions help persuasion by guiding the jurors' search for answers and, in some cases, implying answers on their own. For strong cases, placing rhetorical questions near the beginning of the presentation or subdivision of the statement fosters persuasion because the answers will be forthcoming. However, for weak cases, rhetorical questions placed in the beginning of the presentation reduce persuasion because the answers to these questions are either not forthcoming or are equivocal. Rhetorical questions are also effective when placed near the end of the presentation when they address the weak points of the opponent's case.
Inoculation is a technique which increases the resistance to persuasion.
As the name implies, this technique is analogous to the medical technique of inoculating patients to increase their resistance to disease. Inoculation in persuasion occurs by exposing jurors to a weakened version of the opponent's arguments and successfully refuting these arguments, thus making the jurors aware of counterarguments to the opponent's position. When the opponent later raises the argument, jurors are able to more successfully resist it. Fourth , persuasive opening statements enable the jurors to see the case from the client's perspective. They take jurors from the realm of the outside observer to that of an actor in the event being recreated by describing the events as seen through the client's eyes.