Augustine: City of Man vs City of God — A Short Ally McBeal Legal Brief

(For a 12-year-old student doing an ACARA v9 English and Legal Studies task — short, clear, and a little playful.)

Case Title

Augustine v. The Modern Heart — Do human law and love of God aim the same way?

Issue

Which way of living should guide people who make laws and decisions: the City of Man (earthly order) or the City of God (love of God and eternal hope)?

Facts (short & simple)

• St. Augustine wrote about two "Cities": the City of Man (people loving themselves and earthly things) and the City of God (people loving God and others).
• We use these ideas to think about how laws and schools and leaders should act.

Arguments

A. For the City of Man (Earthly Focus)

1. Practical order: It builds rules to keep people safe and make towns run smoothly.
2. Human motivations: Laws reflect what people want now — safety, property, friendships.
3. Useful for courts and governments because it focuses on results and fairness today.

B. For the City of God (Spiritual Focus)

1. Higher purpose: It asks people to love God and others, not only themselves.
2. Long-term justice: It tries to guide choices by moral values and hope, not only by rules.
3. Good for leaders who want laws to promote compassion, forgiveness, and meaning.

Counterargument

The best choices usually mix both. The City of Man gives order; the City of God gives heart. Augustine himself explains that life on earth needs laws, but people also need higher goals.

Conclusion & Recommendation

Mix them — like a duet. Use City of Man to keep order and protect people today. Use City of God to remind leaders to care about justice, love, and long-term good. If you were the lawyer in Ally McBeal’s world, say it this way: "We seek rules that work and hearts that heal."

How to present this in class or in a brief (step-by-step)

1. Start with a one-sentence thesis: say which City you think matters most for this problem (or that both do).
2. List two facts or examples: one from Augustine and one modern (e.g., a school rule or law).
3. Give two short arguments for your side and one short counterargument.
4. Finish with a clear recommendation: what should be done and why.
5. Read it out with rhythm — Ally-style: a little drama, a little smile, and one strong final line.

Teacher Rubric Comments (ACARA v9 English & Legal Studies) — Ally McBeal cadence

Proficient (200 words)

Proficient — You showed a steady, clear understanding of Augustine’s Cities. Your opening lines caught the ear — like Ally, you sighed then spoke. You explained the City of Man as focused on earthly goods: laws, power, friendships. You explained the City of God as focused on love of God, eternal hope. You compared them with simple examples and gave one or two short quotes. Good use of paragraphs and headings. Your legal brief structure was present: issue, facts, arguments, conclusion. Next time, push analysis: explain not just what Augustine said, but why it matters in a courtroom or classroom today. Use one more piece of evidence and cite it. Work on transitions so each idea sings into the next — a little like a bridge in a song. Tone was appropriate — a little playful, but respectful. Language was mostly precise; watch for repeated words and tighten sentences. Legal reasoning was emerging: connect the facts to the issue more directly, and spell out the practical outcome you recommend. Overall: solid, promising, like Ally taking on a case — confident, human, and ready to deepen the argument. Keep experimenting with voice and rhythm; your brief can sparkle with clearer links and sharper examples soon please.

Exemplary (200 words)

Exemplary — This brief sings. You captured Augustine’s two Cities with grace and legal clarity, like Ally narrating a dream. Your thesis was sharp: City of Man focuses on earthly order; City of God prioritises divine love and eternal justice. Evidence was chosen carefully: a balanced mix of Augustine’s lines, modern examples, and persuasive hypotheticals. Structure was impeccable: title, issue, facts, arguments for each City, counterarguments, resolution. Your legal reasoning connected values to outcomes and predicted possible objections. Language was vivid yet precise; sentences varied in length and rhythm, creating momentum. You demonstrated critical thinking by questioning assumptions and by showing how Augustine’s ideas can inform modern law and ethics. Where to go next — push intertextual connections: link Augustine briefly to another thinker or a contemporary case for added depth. Consider one compact citation style for academic polish. Keep your voice — warm, witty, incisive — and ensure every paragraph ends with a sentence that propels the reader forward. This is classroom-ready and courtroom-smart: a model brief that teaches others how to argue with heart, mind, and charisma. Share this brief aloud; its rhythm will help classmates feel the argument, remember the points, and learn to speak law with soul and joy today.

If you want, I can turn the brief into a one-page handout, an oral script for a class presentation, or a short marking checklist that matches ACARA v9 criteria.