Instructor: James H. Donelan
Tuesday 8:00-9:15, HSSB 1233

Thursday 8:00-9:15, Phelps 1530

Enroll Code: 45302

Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office: 1523 South Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-1:50, Wednesday 11:00-1:50 or by appointment.

Texts: All books are available in the UCen Book Store.
Erhardt, Charrow, and Charrow, Clear and Effective Legal Writing
Garner, Black's Law Dictionary (pocket)
A reader at Graphikart in Isla Vista

Computer Program: The course requires the use of an online program, ConnectWeb, which costs $20.

Course Description: Practice in applying rules to facts in analyzing issues and in writing clearly, succinctly and cogently in various forms of legal discourse.

Requirements: The course requires regular attendance, active participation in class discussion and activities, and timely completion of all assignments, including case briefs and legal analysis. You will write a case brief, a legal memorandum, an advocacy letter, an appellate brief, and several pre-writing assignments. The relative value of these assignments and class participation in determining your course grade is as follows:

a. Case brief—10%
b. Memo—20%
c. Letter—20%
d. Appellate brief—35%
e. Participation and completion of other homework assignments—15%

• Assignments must be submitted on time, including drafts and pre-writing assignments. Late or missing assignments will result in grade reductions.

• All assignments are due on ConnectWeb by class time unless otherwise specified.

• Never submit an assignment without proofreading it carefully.

• Your presence in class and full participation count for a substantial portion of your grade.

• University regulations regarding plagiarism will be strictly enforced.

I: Terms, Definitions, and Sentences: The Case Brief

3/30
Introduction and Logistics

4/1
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Reading: Clear, Chapters 1-3
Homework: Two-paragraph description of the structure of the American legal system. Have the assignment available in class as either a Microsoft Word or html file.
In-class: Introduction to ConnectWeb; comparison of descriptions
 
4/6
Reading: Clear, Chapters 4-6; Knowles v. Iowa (reader).
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Knowles v. Iowa, posted on ConnectWeb.
In-class: Case briefs

4/8
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Reading: Clear, Chapter 7
Homework: Rough draft of Knowles v. Iowa brief.
In-class: Creating a comprehensive brief
 
4/13
Reading: Clear, Chapter 8
Homework: Case brief due.
In-class: Getting a brief right

II: Paragraph Development: The Legal Memorandum and the Advocacy Letter

4/15
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 

Reading: Clear, Chapter 13
Homework: Two-paragraph summary of Red and Sue issues (described on ConnectWeb).
In-class: Beginning legal research.

4/20
Class meets in Davidson Library.

4/22
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Reading: Clear, Chapter 10
Homework: Memorandum outline and boilerplate.
In-class: Writing persuasive memos.
 
4/27
Reading: Clear, Chapter 11
Homework: Full draft of memorandum; bring a hard copy to class.
In-class: Editing and proofreading.

4/29
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Homework: Memorandum due.
In-class: Peer review of memoranda.
 
5/4
Readings: Clear, Chapter 9
Homework: Letter strategies.
In-class: Paragraph structure.

5/6
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Homework: Draft of advocacy letter.
In-class: Paragraph transitions and peer review.
 

5/7 Advocacy Letter due.

III: Writing Longer Arguments: The Appellate Brief

5/11
Readings: Clear, Chapter 15; Amarin v. Maryland Cup briefs (reader)
Homework: Summary of Amarin arguments.
In-class: Preparing an appeal.

5/13
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Readings: Appellate brief assignment and accompanying article (reader)
Homework: Find a partner and formulate a timeline.
In-class: Task lists and schedules.
 
5/18
Readings: "Copyright Basics" (reader)
Homework: List of relevant cases.
In-class: Argument and strategy

5/20
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Readings: Clear, Chapters 7-9 (review)
Homework: Outline of appeal.
In-class: Logic and argument
 
5/25
Homework: First half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for clarity

5/27
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
Group Meetings.
 
6/1
Oral presentations
Homework: Second half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for rhetorical force

6/3
Class meets in 1530 Phelps today. 
In-class: Peer review of appeals.
Final class.
 
6/8
Appellate brief due. Place a hard copy in my mailbox by 12:00 noon.