Writing for Law Journals

Professor Ursula WeigoldAEP Workshop for 1Ls

April 2013

I. A distinct thesis

II. Organized, clear writing

III. Careful editing

Journal editors want:

I. Have a clear thesis.

II. Organize, explain, and support your thesis.

III. Revise and polish your writing.

To improve your submission

A. Decide what you think.

B. State your thesis in one sentence.

C. Keep it handy as you write.

D. Modify it as needed.

I. Have a clear thesis

How do your sources expand, limit, or change the law?

Do they further the law’s underlying policies?

What impact will this rule have? Whatproblems may arise? Is it good or bad?

A. Decide what you think

“This rule sacrifices the best interests of adoptive children to serve outdated policies relating to Native-American tribes.”

“This rule surrenders a Native-American tribe’s compelling interests in its children and culture to the local prejudices of state courts.”

B. Be able to state yourthesis in one sentence

◦Write it on an index card, and tape it to your computer.

◦Compare all your content to your thesis to make sure it is directly relevant.

C. Keep your thesis handyas you write

◦Keep an open mind.

◦Change your mind, if necessary.

◦Replace extreme statements with more supportable ones.

D. Modify your thesis as needed

I. Have a clear thesis.

II. Organize, explain, and support your thesis.

III. Revise and polish your writing.

To improve your submission

Write for an unfamiliar reader.

Your structure should include: Introduction/Background Analysis/Argument Conclusion

II. Organize your thesis

Give a roadmap of your key points and follow it.

Use topic sentences to lead the reader through your analysis.

Use transitions to link previous points to new ones.

II. Organize your thesis

Explain your arguments, reasons, and authority.

Spell out inferences.

Anticipate and answer questions.

Take counter-arguments seriously.

II. Explain your thesis

A. Check your substance.

B. Check your organization.

C. Check your writing style.

D. Check your mechanics.

E. Check your citation use and form.

III. Revise and polish

Is it accurate?

Is it focused on your thesis?

Have you included enough?

Have you included too much?

A. Check your substance

Is there a clear roadmap?

Do your paragraphs have thesis sentences?

Do you use transitions to link previous points to new

ones?

B. Check your organization

Edit surplus words.

Keep your sentences short.

Keep your sentence structure simple.

Use ordinary words.

C. Check your style.

Check for typos.

Check your grammar.

Check your punctuation.

Use the Redbook or the Texas Manual on Style.

D. Check your mechanics.

Use the Bluebook’s inside cover for examples.

Avoid common mistakes.

If in doubt, look it up!

E. Check your cite form.

I. Have a clear thesis.

II. Organize, explain, and supportyour thesis.

III. Revise and polish.

To improve your submission

Divide your project into smaller chunks.

Start with something easy.

Give yourself permission to write a bad first draft.

Leave enough time for revising andpolishing.

Final advice and strategy