1. Q UINCY COLLEGE Paralegal Studies Program Paralegal Studies Program Legal Research & Writing LAW-215 Legal Writing Skills Part Three: The Process of Writing

2. Prewriting Have something to say and think it through. Have something to say and think it through. This is the biggest challenge – before you sit down to write, you should know generally what you want to say! This is the biggest challenge – before you sit down to write, you should know generally what you want to say!

3. Prewriting Consider: Consider: What is the purpose for writing the document? What is the purpose for writing the document? What is your goal? What is your goal? (Remember that legal writing is intended to inform and/or convince the reader, and not to entertain the reader.)

4. Prewriting Consider: Consider: Who is the audience? Who is the audience? What are the issues? What are the issues? How does the audience benefit from the results? How does the audience benefit from the results? What are the points of emphasis? What are the points of emphasis? Is there a length restriction? Is there a length restriction? What is the required completion date? What is the required completion date?

5. One Method: Writing as a Four-Step Process 1. Brainstorming: Think of things you want to say (as many as possible as quickly as possible). 2. Outlining: Figure out a logical order for those thoughts. 3. Writing: Write a draft, using your outline as a guide. 4. Revising: Edit the draft after setting it aside for a period of time. Repeat as necessary!

6. Step 1: Brainstorming The imaginative, creative side that generates ideas. The imaginative, creative side that generates ideas. Write them down, fast and furious. Write them down, fast and furious. One idea: Use a non-linear outline. One idea: Use a non-linear outline.

7. Step 2: Outlining Take the ideas generated in Step 1 and organize them. Take the ideas generated in Step 1 and organize them. Create a linear outline of the various points you want to address in your written document. Create a linear outline of the various points you want to address in your written document. Try to figure out a logical sequence – does the reader need to know something first before a second point will make sense? Try to figure out a logical sequence – does the reader need to know something first before a second point will make sense? Keep related material together. Keep related material together.

8. Step 3: Writing Using the outline drawn up in Step 2, start to create your written document. Using the outline drawn up in Step 2, start to create your written document. Begin writing! Don’t worry about typos or grammar – just get something out there to work with. Begin writing! Don’t worry about typos or grammar – just get something out there to work with.

9. Step 4: Revising Put aside the document created in Step 3 for awhile. Now you are ready to edit! Put aside the document created in Step 3 for awhile. Now you are ready to edit! Start big: Start big: Transitions between sections and between paragraphs Transitions between sections and between paragraphs Paragraph-level: have you used effective topic sentences? Does each paragraph contain information about one point or idea? Paragraph-level: have you used effective topic sentences? Does each paragraph contain information about one point or idea? End small: End small: Sentence-level: eliminate verbosity & jargon Sentence-level: eliminate verbosity & jargon Strive for clear, concise, easy-to-understand language Strive for clear, concise, easy-to-understand language Check for typos Check for typos

10. Another Method “Direct Writing” Divide your available time in half. Divide your available time in half. First half: First half: Fast writing without worrying about organization, language, correctness, or precision Fast writing without worrying about organization, language, correctness, or precision Second half: Second half: Revising Revising

11. Additional Postwriting Tips Try reading your draft out loud. Try reading your draft out loud. Sometimes our ears catch typos or awkward language that our eyes miss. Sometimes our ears catch typos or awkward language that our eyes miss. Print out a copy of your draft and edit by hand. Print out a copy of your draft and edit by hand. Our eyes miss a lot when we read from a computer screen. Our eyes miss a lot when we read from a computer screen. Give yourself enough time. Give yourself enough time. Editing after being away from the document for a bit will give you a fresh perspective. Editing after being away from the document for a bit will give you a fresh perspective.

12. Postwriting Checklist  Check your document for organization.  Verify the existence and adequacy of the Thesis Paragraph.  Be sure that the document opening clearly and concisely introduces the intended topic.  Verify proper topic sentences and proper transition of paragraphs.

13. Postwriting Checklist  Be sure that each paragraph contains facts supporting your thesis.  Confirm that verbs are active and appropriate  Verify the proper use of transition words and phrases.  Verify that the conclusion properly ties the document together.

14. Legal Writing Skills End of Part Three