Writing 109L—Writing for the Legal Profession
Instructor: James H. Donelan
Tuesday, Thursday 8:00-9:15, Enroll Code: 44487
Tuesday, Thursday 11:00-12:15, Enroll Code: 53611
HSSB 1233
Email: donelan@writing.ucsb.edu
Office: 1310 Girvetz Hall
Office Hours: Tuesday 1:00-1:50, Wednesday 1:00-1:50 or by appointment.
Texts: All books are available in the UCen Book Store.
Clapp, Random House Webster's Dictionary of the Law
Stark, Writing to Win (Writing)
Behrens, Making the Case (Making)
Tuman and Rodriguez, Writing Essentials and ConnectWeb
A reader at Graphikart in Isla Vista (Reader)
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%
In addition:
- 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.
Syllabus
I: Terms, Definitions, and Sentences: The Case Brief
4/1
Introduction and Logistics
4/3
Class meets in the lab today.
Reading: Making, "Preface" xxii; Hricik, "The American Legal System"
2
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
4/8
Reading: Making, Group 1 Readings, 419, Williams v. Ellington
, 476-478; Reader, Knowles v. Iowa and "Comprehensive Brief."
Homework: Summary of Williams v. Ellington
In-class: Case briefs
4/10
Class meets in the lab today.
Reading: Making, "IRAC" 59; Writing, Chapters 1-5
Homework: Thumbnail Brief of Knowles v. Iowa
In-class: Creating a comprehensive brief
4/15
Reading: Making, Izzy, "Ten Ways…" 76.
Homework: Rough Draft of Comprehensive Brief
In-class: Getting a brief right
4/17
Class meets in the lab today.
Homework: Comprehensive Brief Due
In-class: Peer Review
II: Paragraph Development: The Legal Memorandum and the Advocacy Letter
4/22
Class meets in Davidson Library.
4/24
Class meets in the lab today.
Reading: Making, Stracher, "The Memo" 32; Reader, "Writing
the Memorandum"; Writing, Chapters 6-7.
Homework: Making, Writing Exercise 2, 83
In-class: Writing persuasive memos.
4/29
Reading: Making, Group 3 Readings, 456; Writing, Chapter
13
Homework: Draft of memorandum.
In-class: Editing and proofreading.
5/1
Class meets in the lab today.
Homework: Memorandum due.
In-class: Peer review of memoranda.
5/6
Readings: Making, "Broken Engagements" 487; Writing, Chapter
14
Homework: Write a brief, but persuasive letter for one side of a broken
engagement case.
In-class: Paragraph structure.
5/8
Class meets in the lab today.
Homework: Draft of advocacy letter.
In-class: Paragraph transitions and peer review.
5/13
Readings: Reader, "The Appellate Brief"
Homework: Advocacy Letter due.
In-class: Preparing an appeal.
III: Writing Longer Arguments: The Appellate Brief
5/15
Class meets in the lab today.
Readings: Reader, Amarin v. Maryland Cup briefs
Homework: Summary of Amarin arguments.
In-class: Work group formation; task lists and schedules.
5/20
Readings: Reader, "Copyright Basics"
Homework: List of relevant cases.
In-class: Argument and strategy
5/22
Class meets in the lab today.
Readings: Writing, Chapter 8
Homework: Outline of appeal.
In-class: Logic and argument
5/27
Homework: First half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for clarity
5/29
Class meets in the lab today.
Group Meetings.
6/3
Oral presentations
Homework: Second half of appeal draft.
In-class: Editing for rhetorical force
6/5
Class meets in the lab today.
In-class: Peer review of appeals.
Final class.
6/10
Appellate brief due. Place a hard copy in my mailbox by 12:00 noon.