Legal writing : examples & explanations

A favorite among successful students, and often recommended by professors, the unique Examples & Explanations series gives you extremely clear introductions to concepts followed by realistic examples that mirror those presented in the classroom throughout the semester. Use at the beginning and midway through the semester to deepen your understanding through clear explanations, corresponding hypothetical fact patterns, and analysis. Then use to study for finals by reviewing the hypotheticals as well as the structure and reasoning behind the accompanying analysis. Designed to complement your casebook, the trusted Examples & Explanations titles get right to the point in a conversational, often humorous style that helps you learn the material each step of the way and prepare for the exam at the end of the course.*

Contents

• How to use this book

• Transitioning to legal writing

• Overview : office memos

• Choosing authority

• Interpreting statutes

• Organizing the discussion

• Constructing a rule

• Stating and explaining the rule

• Applying the law : fact-based analysis

• Applying the law : analogical analysis

• Applying the law : policy analysis

• Writing the introduction to the discussion (or argument)

• Writing the question presented (objective)

• Writing the brief answer

• Writing the facts

• Overview : motions and briefs

• Handling standards of review

• Developing a theory of the case and themes

• Writing point headings and subheadings

• Making persuasive arguments

• Making persuasive counterarguments

• Writing the summary of the argument

• Writing a persuasive fact statement

• Writing the question presented (persuasive)

• Overview : revising and rewriting

• Fixing awkward sentence structure

• Starting paragraphs powerfully

• Writing concisely to stay within the word count or page limit

• Bringing it together : transitions and coherence

• The writer's life : where to go from here