(BQ) Part 2 book "Foundations of legal research and writing" has contents: Fundamentals of writing, appellate brief, memorandum of law, law office memo, pleadings, transmittal letter, client opinion letter, and email correspondence. | CHAPTER 10 Fundamentals of Writing INTRODUCTION This chapter introduces you to certain writing fundamentals that apply to all types of legal writing. The writing process comprises three steps, from the prewriting stage, to writing, to editing and proofing. After covering the prewriting stage, the chapter discusses matters to keep in mind while writing, editing, and proofing. These include organization, topic sentences, transitional language, signposts, paragraphing, format, and avoiding errors peculiar to legal writing other than errors in quotations and short-form citations. These errors include quoting from a headnote or case syllabus, not using plain English, not giving a page reference to material from a primary or secondary source, not quoting exactly, plagiarizing, using contractions in more formal legal documents, using the word “I” in more formal legal documents, and elegant variation (using more than one word to refer to the same thing). WRITING PROCESS The writing process should have three steps: 1. prewriting 2. writing 3. editing and proofing The novice writer plunges into writing without going through the prewriting step and may not spend enough time on the third step. Some of you will be slow to be convinced and some of you will never be convinced that all three steps are necessary. If your professor does not force you to proceed through all three steps by requiring you to turn in an outline, a written document, and a revision of the written document, try completing the three steps on your own. You will be pleased with the results. PREWRITING Prewriting involves performing any necessary research, formulating a writing “plan,” and outlining. Do not skimp on any of these activities. Your “research strategy” should include good notetaking and case briefing as you go along. You may spend a little more time doing research, but a little extra time on research should shorten the time you spend formulating your writing plan and outlining. 281 282 CHAPTER .
