Professor Ursula Weigold AEP Workshop for 1Ls April 2014 Introduction Background Analysis Conclusion The traditional case note I Have a clear viewpoint or thesis II Organize and explain the law ID: 564958
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Slide1
Writing for Law Journals
Professor Ursula Weigold
AEP
Workshop for 1Ls
April 2014Slide2
Introduction
Background
AnalysisConclusion
The traditional case noteSlide3
I. Have a clear viewpoint or thesis.
II. Organize and explain the law.
III. Revise and polish your writing.
For a strong submissionSlide4
A. Decide what you think.
B. State your thesis in one sentence.
C.
Modify it as
you write and edit.
I. Have a clear
viewpointSlide5
How do your sources expand, limit, or change the law?
Do
they
further the law’s underlying policies?
What impact will this rule have? What
problems
may arise? Is it good or bad?
A. Decide what you thinkSlide6
“This
ruling subordinates a
Native-American tribe’s compelling interests in its children and culture to the local prejudices of state courts.”
“This ruling undervalues the best interests of adoptive children to serve outdated federal policies relating to Native-American tribes.”
B. State your thesis
in one sentenceSlide7
Don’t be too wedded to your thesis at first.
Use the writing process to clarify your thinking.
C. Modify your thesis
as you write and editSlide8
Remember the goals of each section. Be mindful of the differences between
scholarly writing and practitioner writing
II. Organize
your discussion Slide9
Give a
roadmap
of your key points in your Introduction and follow it.
Use
topic sentences
where appropriate.
Use
transitions to link previous points to new ones.
II. Organize
your discussion
Slide10
Explain the leading case carefully.
Connect it to the law’s context or history.
Anticipate and answer questions.Take counter-arguments seriously.
II.
Explain the lawSlide11
Sample case notes are posted
on the Law Review’s website:
http://wisconsinlawreview.org/membership-faq
II.
ExamplesSlide12
Check your substance.
Check your organization.
Check your writing style.Check your mechanics.
Check your citation use and form.
III. Revise and polishSlide13
Edit surplus words.
Keep your sentences short. Keep your sentence structure
simple.
Use ordinary words.
Avoid passives and shortcuts.
Check your style.Slide14
Check for typos.
Check your grammar. Check your punctuation.
Use
the Redbook or the Texas Manual on
Style.
Check your mechanics.Slide15
Use the Bluebook’s inside cover
for examples. (Use the examples for scholarly writing.)
If in doubt, look it up!
Check your cite form.Slide16
Divide your project into smaller chunks.
Start with something easy.
Give yourself permission to write a bad first draft.
Keep track of your source pages as you write,
to avoid having
to re-trace
your steps later.
Leave enough time for revising and
polishing.Final advice