This chapter, which focuses on essay writing, explores the ways source material can be used in coursework. It offers practical advice on interpreting the question, together with guidance on planning, researching, and constructing an essay. It explains how to conduct effective research to find relevant information and to use that information to produce a focused and well-supported essay. It also gives practical advice on producing a well-structured response with a strong introduction and conclusion that demonstrates the required skills and knowledge.
Chapter
9. Essay writing
Chapter
14. Essay writing
This chapter focuses on essay writing. Earlier sections of the book outlined techniques for locating and understanding primary and secondary legal sources. The chapter builds upon those skills by exploring the ways that this source material can be used in coursework. It guides students through the stages of planning, research, and construction of an essay, with practical advice on interpreting the question and producing a structured response that demonstrates the required skills and knowledge.
Chapter
14. Essay writing
This chapter focuses on essay writing. Earlier sections of the book outlined techniques for locating and understanding primary and secondary legal sources. The chapter builds upon those skills by exploring the ways that this source material can be used in coursework. It guides students through the stages of planning, research, and construction of an essay, with practical advice on interpreting the question and producing a structured response that demonstrates the required skills and knowledge.
Chapter
4. From Reading to Writing
This chapter discusses the techniques involved in basic academic legal writing—an important aspect of one of the key skills required by employers, namely written communication. It covers writing legal essays—conveying information, constructing an argument, and applying the information and arguments to the essay title; answering legal problems and considering questions of legal liability; how to present your answers by use of the IRAC system; planning your answers and checking your work; the significance of referencing and the various methods used to reference work; and marking standards used by various quality assurance bodies and how law essays are marked.
Chapter
14. Writing and drafting
Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
This chapter focuses on the development and improvement of writing skills by law students. It then goes on to explore why these skills are needed in practice, and how to continue to improve them at that stage. It also explains what are professional drafting skills and provides guidance for good drafting. The section about academia includes comprehensive writing guidance for law students. This includes spelling, grammar, punctuation, structure, layout, language and proofreading. The section then moves on to explaining plagiarism, honesty and academic conduct. Guidance is provided about how to OSCOLA reference, and how this differs from other styles such as Harvard. Supportive technology is discussed, including Endnote and Grammarly. The section then moves on to how to write good essays, with guidance about planning and structuring essays. Reference is made to assessment criteria, and how to meet the criteria at the highest level in an essay. The professional writing and drafting section explores how to further develop the good writing practice mastered at university. It also explores drafting and dictation skills, and how to use a precedent. Writing and drafting templates are provided, including for an email.
Chapter
14. Writing and drafting
Scott Slorach, Judith Embley, Peter Goodchild, and Catherine Shephard
This chapter focuses on the development and improvement of writing and drafting skills. The discussions cover writing legal essays; the characteristics of good writing; professional writing; drafting; dictation; and writing and drafting templates.
Book
Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski
Legal Skills is structured in three parts, covering a full range of legal skills. The first part deals with sources of law and includes information on finding and using legislation, case law, books, journals, and official publications, making sure you understand where the law comes from, and how to use it. The second part covers academic legal skills and provides advice on study and writing skills, legal reasoning, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, essay writing, dissertations, problem solving, and revision and examinations. The final part of the book covers the practical legal skills of oral presentation, mooting, negotiation, and drafting.
Chapter
17. Study skills
Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, diagrams, and exercises help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress. This chapter offers some guidance as to how to study effectively and how to approach assessments and exams. It discusses how to manage your time effectively and how to get the most out of criminal law lectures and seminars/workshops. It covers how to deal with multiple choice questions and provides advice on writing assignments (answering problem questions and essay questions is considered separately). It also provides advice on how to prepare for and approach exams.
Book
Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski
Legal Skills is structured in three parts, covering a full range of legal skills. The first part deals with sources of law and includes information on finding and using legislation, case law, books, journals, and official publications, making sure you understand where the law comes from, and how to use it. The second part covers academic legal skills and provides advice on study and writing skills, legal reasoning, referencing and avoiding plagiarism, essay writing, dissertations, problem solving, and revision and examinations. The final part of the book covers the practical legal skills of oral presentation, mooting, and negotiation.
